Chapter 120.1: He's here! First Place On The Divine Strength Rankings, Tian Xin! (I)

Lu Changsheng summoned the status panel.

[Status Panel]

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 2680 (Praised by All)

[Skills]

Blood Qi Sword Crafting Secret Technique: Sword Crafting, 2 years and 1 month

Wind Sense Intent: Progress 15%

Starry Sky Waterfall Intent: Progress 1%

Wave Intent: Progress 25%

Ninefold Carp-Dragon Ascension: Fifth Level

Lu Changsheng discovered that Wind Sense Intent had improved the fastest. In just a little over a month, his progress had already reached fifteen percent, a truly rapid growth. After all, he had been using the Wind Sense Intent almost every day.

Naturally, the large amount of merit Lu Changsheng had accumulated also allowed him to exchange for martial arts, accelerating the growth of his Perception. Even so, the next qualitative transformation still seemed to be quite some time away.

Just then, You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, and Tie Yuan arrived.

"Brother Dao, when are we setting out?"

Although Dao Shi'er's rankings had fallen, the members of the Barbarian Slaying Squad knew very well just how astonishing his growth had been over this past month. When it came to actual combat strength, Dao Shi'er was likely not inferior to Tong Xuan or Tie Yuan. As for who was stronger between him and Yang Zhen, it would only be known after a real fight.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

At that, Lu Changsheng raised his head and looked at You Shifei and the others. "Have you heard any news recently?"

"News? Actually, yes. The northern barbarians are furious with our squad and are even willing to pay any price to eliminate us. There are even rumors that they've sent Tian Xin after us," said Tie Yuan. His reply came quickly, as he was well informed.

"Tian Xin?"

Everyone's expressions darkened. If Sheng Yuanyi were to act, they would not be

this

pressured, but Tian Xin was different. He was undefeated to this day and could suppress Sheng Yuanyi and Song Wuqing. He stood firmly at the highest rank.

He was also acknowledged as the best expert among Divine Strength Realm experts. Once he made a move, facing him head-on meant being in great peril.

"This is only a rumor. Besides, even if Tian Xin decides to make a move against us, how will he know where we are?"

"Exactly. Tian Xin's presence is far too unique. Brother Dao will certainly notice him. We can simply avoid him before we encounter him."

"I am afraid it won't be that easy. If the northern barbarians are determined to make Tian Xin take action against us, then they definitely have confidence when it comes to finding us."

For a moment, differing views emerged within the squad. The atmosphere grew tense.

"There is no need to argue," Lu Changsheng spoke. He glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "In truth, even if Tian Xin doesn't make a move against us, others will eventually set their sights on us.

"Is Sheng Yuanyi weak? Within the Northern Barbarian Kingdom, are Tian Xin and Sheng Yuanyi truly the

only

top Divine Strength martial artists?

"Given our squad's current record, being targeted is only a matter of time. If we wish to remain undefeated, we must continue strengthening ourselves.

"However, our ways must change. We cannot go to the battlefield every day. We must become unpredictable. As for when we'll act, even I cannot be certain. When I feel the timing is right, I will call you four, and we will move then."

Lu Changsheng's words completely settled the dispute among the four. Upon careful thought, it was indeed the safest approach. With no pattern to follow, it would be difficult for anyone to scheme against them.

After all, even they themselves could not predict when they would act again.

"All right, then we will wait for you to call."

Thus, the four of them left Lu Changsheng's courtyard and returned to wait quietly. At this point, none of them really cared much about merit anymore. Lu Changsheng also understood that they could no longer act as frequently as before.

In the future, they could probably only make a few moves each month.

"Tian Xin," Lu Changsheng murmured. In truth, it wasn't that he lacked a way to deal with him. Tian Xin was just very powerful.

Still, Lu Changsheng had his own ways, and the Blood Qi Sword Crafting Secret Technique was one of them. At present, he had already reached six hundred sixty cauldrons of strength.

Back when he was accumulating blood qi, he had a mere sixty cauldrons of strength. Right now, his blood qi was already ten times stronger. By this logic, the accumulation efficiency of blood qi had increased proportionally.

A month of sword crafting was now equivalent to ten months of crafting. The sword crafting had been going on for a full two years now, and the condensed strength had already exceeded two thousand cauldrons. If it continued for ten more years, it would surpass ten thousand cauldrons.

By then, even Tian Xin would probably not be able to withstand it.

After all, there was a saying among martial artists, "Ten thousand cauldrons can break fortifications!"

In other words, those with ten thousand cauldrons' worth of strength could shatter the fortifications of Divine Fortification Realm experts. Even merely breaking those fortifications was already terrifying. Moreover, Tian Xin was not a Divine Fortification martial artist; he was still at the Divine Strength Realm.

"Wait..." Lu Changsheng closed his eyes. He had resolved that he needed to be even more cautious during this period of time.

Meanwhile, Immortal Master Spirit Insight swept the grasslands again and again with his divine consciousness, but he found nothing. Moreover, the news coming from the battlefield contained no reports of the Barbarian Slaying Squad's activity, but ten days had already passed, and there was still no news of the squad.

Could it be that the Barbarian Slaying Squad had stopped going out?

"The Barbarian Slaying Squad is truly cunning. They used to appear on the Northern Region Battlefield every day, but now, they've vanished without a trace. Immortal Master Spirit Insight, I must trouble you to keep a close eye on the battlefield," the black-clad martial artist said with deep respect.

Immortal Master Spirit Insight frowned. The higher-ups had sought him out and had promised him enormous rewards. Only then had he reluctantly agreed to lend his strength, but ten full days had already passed without any movement from the Barbarian Slaying Squad.

They had been forcing him to monitor the battlefield day after day, and it was truly troublesome.

"

Hmph

. At most one month. If they still do nothing after a month, I will forgo whatever rewards you promised," he said coldly. He was very dissatisfied, as he had no intention of being shackled to the battlefield indefinitely.

"Fine, a month will do. I'm sure they will act in between," the black-clad martial artist replied.

Then, he took his leave, but his expression remained dark. Tian Xin could afford to wait, but Immortal Master Spirit Insight was different.

I need to find a way to get them to move. Even if it's just once, that'll be enough. I only have one month...

The black-clad martial artist thought for a moment and concluded that provocation was necessary. He had to make the Da Yu Dynasty side take the initiative and force the Barbarian Slaying Squad to act.

"Send word at once. Spread rumors across the Northern Region Battlefield that the Barbarian Slaying Squad fears retaliation from our northern barbarian martial artists and no longer dares to go out. At the same time, deploy more people and slaughter more of their martial artists," he ordered, arranging things one by one.

He refused to believe the Barbarian Slaying Squad could remain in hiding.

With those arrangements set in motion, the battlefield changed. The Northern Barbarian Kingdom's forces became more ferocious than ever as they advanced relentlessly across the battlefield, killing many martial artists of the Da Yu Dynasty, even though the Barbarian Slaying Squad had pushed them quite far back before.

The Da Yu Dynasty suffered a crushing defeat. Every day, their martial artists were slain by the northern barbarians, and rumors began to spread like wildfire.

"Why has the Barbarian Slaying Squad not taken action for so long? The northern barbarians have become rampant."

"When will the Barbarian Slaying Squad finally make a move?"

"Where did Dao Shi'er go?"