Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

"Indeed. I am Lu Changsheng."

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, completely composed.

The dozens of Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Ones of the Black Light Merchant Association stared at him fixedly, their expressions changing drastically.

"So it's really him?"

"We may have come to the Ancient Region, but news from the Sacred Earth has kept flowing in. Apparently, the Heavenly Sacred City has recently produced a world-shaking Martial Venerable who challenged Sword Venerable Chen Peng alone and cut him down with a single strike!"

"That's right, and then he founded the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect. But what's Lu Changsheng doing in the Ancient Region now?"

"Lu Changsheng has always been shrouded in mystery. He appeared out of nowhere in Heavenly Sacred City, with no word of him before that. Some speculated he came from some remote land beyond the Sacred Earth, and now it seems like that's true. Lu Changsheng must be from the Ancient Region..."

"Damn it. This guy killed a Sword Venerable, and rumor has it he even wields an immeasurable divine ability. It's going to be nearly impossible for the Black Light Merchant Association to conquer the Ancient Region with him here."

"What do we do now?"

The Black Light Merchant Association had clearly heard of Lu Changsheng and his recent accomplishments. Lu Changsheng was the founder of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect. With his immeasurable divine ability, he had slain Sword Venerable Chen Peng, ascending to the rank of Martial Venerable by walking over the corpse of one.

Indeed, Lu Changsheng's reputation as a martial artist was carved in iron!

Ouyang You's group had kept their voices low, but everyone on the Vast Immortal Sect's side was a Grand Elder or Golden Core True One. Naturally, they heard every word, and the more they heard, the more baffled they were.

"What are they saying? Lu Changsheng is a Martial Venerable of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect? A Martial Venerable as we understand the term?"

"Yes. One who dominates an entire region, second only to Martial Saints. And apparently, Lu Changsheng is more than just a Martial Venerable. They say he killed a Sword Venerable and climbed to that rank over the Sword Venerable's corpse! Is that really true...?

"Unimaginable... Did the Ancient Region really produce an expert with an immeasurable divine ability? How come the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect never mentioned anything about this?"

All at once, the many Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Ones of the Ancient Region turned their eyes toward Lu Changsheng, then toward Lu Tong and the other Grand Elders of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.

Those on familiar terms with the sect quietly probed for answers on the side. The Grand Elders gave only ambiguous replies, but they did not deny it. Still, that was no confirmation.

While countless people were still reeling, Lu Changsheng spoke up once more.

"Saber Venerable Zhou Lie! I don't care how the Black Light Merchant Association came to the Ancient Region, nor how it found this place. The Ancient Region is my homeland, and no outside power will be permitted to set foot in it. I will give the Black Light Merchant Association two choices as well. Leave the Ancient Region now, or stay and be buried here."

His words set off an uproar. The crowd on the Ancient Region's side found the declaration deeply satisfying, unbending to the core.

On the Black Light Merchant Association's side, indignation boiled over. This was the first time the people of the Black Light Merchant Association, a faction with a Martial Saint presiding over it, had ever been threatened like this.

"Lu Changsheng, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"So what if you're a Martial Venerable? The Black Light Merchant Association has a Martial Saint. Anger him, and the entire Ancient Region will be flattened in an instant."

"Besides, even among Martial Venerables, do you think the Saber Venerable is a single step beneath you?"

Ouyang You said nothing, his gaze remaining fixed on Lu Changsheng.

"A Martial Saint?" Lu Changsheng said indifferently.

The ten Supreme Elders of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect remained silent. They found it laughable that the enemy expected Lu Changsheng to be afraid of a Martial Saint. The Black Light Merchant Association belonged to the Heavenly Light City, while the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect belonged to the Heavenly Sacred City.

Furthermore, Lu Changsheng was not merely a Martial Venerable. He was closely tied to the Li Clan, and the Li Clan had a Martial Saint of its own. As such, threatening Lu Changsheng with a Martial Saint was utterly ridiculous.

Whoosh!

Ouyang You stepped forward to Saber Venerable Zhou Lie's side.

"Zhou Lie, if we join hands, can we kill this brat?" he whispered.

"Kill him?" Zhou Lie's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ouyang You possessed a major divine ability and was only half a step short of a Martial Venerable. Together with Zhou Lie himself, the illustrious Saber Venerable who considered himself in no way inferior to the Sword Venerable, who beneath the Martial Saints could stand against them?

Indeed, Ouyang You and Zhou Lie would not allow themselves to be threatened.

"Let's go. Hold nothing back. Give Lu Changsheng no opening whatsoever!" Zhou Lie made the call through a voice transmission.

Shing.

In the next instant, Zhou Lie struck without the slightest warning, his saber clearing its sheath in a flash.

The slash that came down seemed even more terrifying than the one that had shattered the Vast Immortal Sect's formation. Merely standing a fraction too close, the onlookers could feel the saber's piercing edge, as if a single wisp of its sharpness could cut them down.

This was a Saber Venerable with a Saber Dao major divine ability! The power of that ability was more dreadful than anything they had imagined. Regardless of how many Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Ones the other side had, that one slash would have spelled certain death without the mountain-guarding formation.

Boom!

Ouyang You struck as well, his vast major divine ability surging toward Lu Changsheng.

"Despicable!"

"They're going two against one!"

"Everyone, attack! We have to at least hold back Ouyang You!"

Seeing Ouyang You join the assault, the master of the Vast Immortal Sect moved almost instantly. The other Grand Elders and Golden Core True Ones did not think twice; they struck too.

The next moment, the Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Ones of the Black Light Merchant Association answered in kind.

The sky blazed with dazzling divine abilities, enchanted treasures, and spells of every kind. It was an all-out battle of Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Ones.

But however many golden cores and divine abilities clashed, everyone understood one thing: the focal point was Lu Changsheng and Saber Venerable Zhou Lie. Their clash would decide the outcome of the entire battle.

Zhou Lie had long since made his move, his vast saber light slashing down toward Lu Changsheng. Ouyang You's Hurricane major divine ability came sweeping in as well, riding its own momentum.

Lu Changsheng glanced up. He saw the Hurricane and the saber light—two major divine abilities.

This joint assault was more fearsome than anything Sword Venerable Chen had ever displayed—but not fearsome enough to shatter Lu Changsheng's reaction. Ultimately, it made no difference whether the enemy unleashed a minor or major divine ability.

"Mental Black Hole!" he roared, raising his hand and pointing upward.

With that, the sky went dark.

"What the...? What's happening?"

"Overhead... There's a vortex overhead?"

"No, not a vortex. That's... a black hole?"

"Agh, my head!"

"Damn it! Is this an immeasurable divine ability?!"

Whether they were Divine Ability martial artists of the Ancient Region or of the Black Light Merchant Association, when they saw that colossal black hole in the void, blotting out the sun and swallowing the entire sky, every last one of them was stunned, their minds quaking.

The enormous black hole hung across the sky like a mountain pressing down from above, exerting a crushing mental pressure. For the ordinary Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core cultivators, it was merely pressure. However, for Ouyang You and Saber Venerable Zhou Lie, it was death descending!

Vhoom!

The black hole descended, the divine abilities and enchanted treasures all paling in comparison.

One might ask, which stood supreme among Martial Dao divine abilities? As it turned out, once the immeasurable ability emerged, everything else came to naught.