Chapter 114.1: Wind Sense Intent! (I)

A northern barbarian let out a wretched scream. "

Ahh!

"

A streak of saber light flashed past and pierced the northern barbarian. To Lu Changsheng, Organ Refinement martial artists were no threat at all.

He had been roaming the grasslands for nearly an entire day, but he still could not find Fat Butcher or Blind Saberman.

No signs of Fat Butcher or Blind Saberman today. Only a few ordinary Divine Strength Realm martial artists.

Truth be told, there were ways to force the meeting. He could publicly challenge and wait at a well-known landmark on the Northern Region Battlefield for them to appear. After what he had done to Bone Ascetic, he was certain that they would eventually show up.

However, this would also turn him into an open target for every northern barbarian. If he were to remain in one place, one of their true experts would easily track him down and kill him before Fat Butcher and Blind Saberman ever encountered him.

Lu Changsheng was confident, not foolish. He had never believed that he was invincible, and he had never believed that no one could kill him, so issuing a challenge was not something he would do.

If he ended up meeting them, it would be thanks to luck. Otherwise, he would slaughter a few more northern barbarians to vent his anger instead.

Bad luck today. I only ran into a few ordinary Divine Strength Realm martial artists. I'll come again tomorrow.

Lu Changsheng left the Northern Region Battlefield at an unhurried pace. The chaos here would not end in a day, so there was no reason to rush. He carried several severed heads with him and went straight to the Martial Pavilion to exchange them for merit.

The price they would fetch was far inferior to Bone Ascetic, but they could still earn him nearly one hundred eighty minor merits, bringing his total to one thousand. This was enough to exchange for a rare treasure.

At the Martial Pavilion, Lu Changsheng dropped the heads off and obtained a Stoneheart Fruit. Then, he refined it and increased his physical strength to two hundred fifty cauldrons.

Over the next several days, Lu Changsheng continued to roam the Northern Region Battlefield and heard all kinds of news. Northern barbarian experts had appeared and had already killed several powerful figures from the Da Yu Dynasty, who ranked on the Divine Strength Rankings.

At other times, ranked experts met and fought, leaving casualties on both sides. Overall, however, the Da Yu Dynasty's martial artists were clearly at a disadvantage.

One day, when Lu Changsheng was at the Martial Pavilion turning in several northern barbarian corpses, a martial artist suddenly stepped in front of him.

He looked up and saw a familiar face before him. It was Lu Jianming.

"Dao Shi'er, want to team up?" Lu Jianming asked. "Just the two of us. I use the sword, you use the saber. We'll conquer the Northern Region Battlefield together."

"Team up? Not interested," Lu Changsheng replied, shaking his head. He was used to acting alone. Forming a team did not appeal to him.

Lu Jianming frowned. "The battlefield has changed. The northern barbarians are already working together. Many people are forming teams now, even top experts on the Divine Strength Rankings. If we keep fighting alone and end up running into a barbarian squad, we'll be killed for sure.

"This is a battlefield. Anything can happen. Fighting solo only works if you're sure you can overpower everyone you meet..."

Dao Shi'er did not say anything in response, as if he had not heard a word.

Lu Jianming shook his head. He had always admired Dao Shi'er and wanted to build a connection with him, but Dao Shi'er was clearly not interested.

Martial artists were selfish by nature, and lone wanderers were common in the jianghu. Those who formed teams were usually disciples of sects or members of great clans.

"Fine. The arrogant don't last long on the Northern Region Battlefield." Lu Jianming dropped the matter and went on to find someone else willing.

The truth was, Lu Jianming was right. More and more martial artists had formed teams, even experts on the Divine Strength Rankings. For ordinary martial artists, it was even more necessary. Refusing to team up was almost the same as suicide.

The northern barbarians started this practice. Their teams dominated the battlefield and slaughtered many martial artists of the Da Yu Dynasty.

After suffering repeated losses, the Da Yu Dynasty's martial artists followed their practice. Group clashes became common, and few people dared traverse the battlefield alone.

Lu Jianming and Lu Changsheng's exchange drew attention. Whispers soon echoed throughout the hall.

"Wasn't that Lu Jianming of Xuanjian Manor? Ranked eighty-ninth on the Divine Strength Rankings?"

"That's right. He knows Dao Shi'er and invited him to join forces, but Dao Shi'er refused."

"Dao Shi'er is ranked eighty-first. If the two teamed up, they would be extremely strong. What a pity."

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Dao Shi'er is a lone wolf. People like him will never join a group. But one man is no match for a crowd. If he runs into a northern barbarian group, he'll be in real danger."

Lu Changsheng understood the situation, but to him, facing one opponent or two made little difference. In fact, others forming teams worked in his favor.

Now that the northern barbarians were moving in groups, a single squad could contain several Divine Strength Realm martial artists, and each trip to the battlefield could allow him to reap many heads and plenty of merit.

As for being in danger, if Lu Changsheng wanted to leave, no one would be able to stop him, thanks to the Nine-Character Mantra.

Today, Lu Changsheng entered the Northern Region Battlefield, as he had done many times before. Lately, however, his efforts hadn't been paying off. The grasslands stretched without end, and he wandered through them like a headless fly, stumbling about at random.

Whether he ran into northern barbarians or not depended almost entirely on his luck. Lu Changsheng paused and surveyed the open plains.

I need a way to know what's happening across the grasslands instead of relying on chance. But how do I do that?

He looked up and realized that the answer was simple. From the sky, he could see everything at once. Regardless of how strong a Divine Strength martial artist was, they could not take to the air to scout the battlefield. If he could not watch from above, then what could allow him to see as far as his eyes could see?

As he pondered, a gust of wind swept past him. The cool air brushed across his face, and inspiration struck him.

The wind... invisible and formless. It reaches every corner of the plains. Wherever it passes, nothing can hide. If I could turn the wind into my eyes and ears...

The wind surrounded everyone. He did not need to control the wind, only merge his awareness into it. Then, wherever the wind blew, Lu Changsheng would be able to sense everything within its reach.

To most martial artists, this idea sounded absurd. However, Lu Changsheng's Perception had already surpassed one thousand points, so he could actually do it. After all, wind itself was also a kind of Intent. All he needed was a spark of inspiration to start contemplating Wind Intent and form the Wind Sense Intent.