Chapter 129.2: Replacing Tian Xin as Number One on the Divine Strength Rankings! (II)

Lu Changsheng recalled what he had learned about the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. He had practiced martial arts for only a short time and had not roamed the jianghu for long, so he knew little about the top forces.

After obtaining the Northern Region Heavenly Sect token from Tian Xin, however, he carefully inquired about it. It was the most supreme sect in the entire Northern Region, and for countless martial artists, it was practically the holy land.

The Northern Region Heavenly Sect recruited disciples once every ten years. The last recruitment was three years ago. Tian Xin had to have been accepted as a disciple back then.

But for some reason, he never entered the sect and instead came to the Northern Region Battlefield. Through his inquiries, Lu Changsheng had discovered that both Song Wuqing and Sheng Yuanyi had also taken the Northern Region Heavenly Sect's examination.

Neither had passed for precisely two reasons. First of all, they were a bit too old. Secondly and lastly, they were not outstanding enough. Only the very top geniuses had any hope of entering the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

"Deputy Chief Xiao, as far as I know, the Northern Region Heavenly Sect only recruits disciples once every ten years. Only three years have passed since the last recruitment. That's a far cry from ten years. Does the Martial Pavilion intend for me to wait another seven years?"

Waiting that long was out of the question. Lu Changsheng would rather exhaust every method to obtain a Divine Fortification Realm martial art. However, if he made a breakthrough into the Divine Fortification Realm, he would lose the chance to enter the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

After all, the sect only recruited those below the Divine Fortification Realm.

Xiao Tianhuan revealed a mysterious smile. "That is why our Martial Pavilion intends to grant Mr. Lu a huge opportunity. Behind the Martial Pavilion stands the imperial family of the Da Yu Dynasty.

"Under the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, the imperial families of several dynasties possess quotas that allow direct entry into the sect without examination.

"The Da Yu Dynasty's imperial family is willing to give this quota to Mr. Lu. Aside from the one hundred thousand minor merits, we would require only a single promise from you."

Lu Changsheng asked, "And what promise would that be?"

"In the future, if Mr. Lu becomes a true inheritor disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, you must serve as a retainer of the Da Yu Dynasty's imperial family."

"A retainer?"

"Yes. Imperial retainers are extremely honorable. Under normal circumstances, they will not be troubled with ordinary matters. Only when the dynasty faces a threat of destruction and the imperial family stands on the brink of calamity will the retainers be asked to take action."

Lu Changsheng figured that the Da Yu Dynasty had to have taken a liking to his potential. On top of that, he was a beggar by birth with no ties to any faction. Giving away a quota was costly, but with Lu Changsheng's talent, he stood a chance of becoming a powerful disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

As a disciple, Lu Changsheng would become an imperial retainer of the Da Yu Dynasty. It was a status enough to guarantee the imperial family's security; he realized that this was essentially an investment in their eyes.

Moreover, the imperial family's sincerity was clear. Even the condition demanded of him would only need to be fulfilled after Lu Changsheng had achieved success in cultivation. With terms like these, what reason would he have to refuse?

"I accept. If I become a true disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, I will serve as an imperial retainer of the Da Yu Dynasty."

Seeing him agree, Xiao Tianhuan relaxed, and he let out a lighthearted chuckle as he said, "Mr. Lu, you have made the correct choice. The Northern Region Heavenly Sect is a holy land that countless martial artists dream of going to.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"However, I'm afraid that you will need to remain in Beiling City for a while longer, effectively guarding the Northern Region Battlefield. At most, it will take two or three months more for the northern barbarians to withdraw. By then, the Martial Pavilion will send someone to escort you to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

"In the meantime, you must not attempt to break through to the Divine Fortification Realm. This concerns your future martial path, so you must be extremely cautious.

"Go to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect first to determine your Martial Dao before making a breakthrough," Xiao Tianhuan reminded him.

"The Martial Dao..." Lu Changsheng nodded. "What about Intent?"

"Intent can still be comprehended. In fact, if your comprehension of an Intent reaches Perfection and it evolves into an Intent Domain while you've yet to reach the Divine Fortification Realm, that'll be even better."

Lu Changsheng thought of Tian Xin. Had Tian Xin not evolved the Slaughter Domain? He even suspected that Tian Xin had been staying on the Northern Region Battlefield precisely to form that Slaughter Domain.

Tian Xin had indeed succeeded. Unfortunately, he encountered Lu Changsheng and was still slain, which meant his efforts ultimately ended in failure.

After reaching an agreement with Xiao Tianhuan, Lu Changsheng left the Martial Pavilion.

He still had to remain in Beiling City for another two or three months. During this period of time, there would no longer be northern barbarians on the Northern Region Battlefield.

However, the place remained conducive to contemplating his Intent, especially the Heaven and Earth Wind Intent and the Wind Sense Intent.

In the following months, I must reach Perfection, or at least, close to perfection in my Heaven and Earth Wind Intent. Otherwise, if I encounter another martial artist like Tian Xin, who has achieved Perfection in his Intent, my three Intents will be useless.

Lu Changsheng planned his cultivation. Since he couldn't make a breakthrough into the Divine Fortification Realm, he could only focus on comprehending Intent.

Intent had indeed been his weaker aspect, and now, he finally had the time to improve it properly. Hence, every day, Lu Changsheng would go to the Northern Region Battlefield to comprehend his Heaven and Earth Wind Intent.

Even though he did not enter a state of sudden epiphany, Lu Changsheng tapped into his exceptional Perception to learn from nature day after day. He personally experienced the wind across the vast grasslands, allowing both his Heaven and Earth Wind Intent and Wind Sense Intent to advance rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. It had also been about a month since the last update of the Divine Strength Rankings.

Today was the day the rankings would be updated again. Countless martial artists flocked to the Martial Pavilion. They were all waiting for this historic moment.

"Tian Xin is dead. First place on the Divine Strength Rankings will definitely go to Mr. Dao."

"Yes. The northern barbarians haven't been entering the Northern Region Battlefield. Only scattered skirmishes remain. They are probably all afraid of Mr. Dao."

"Mr. Dao taking first place on the Divine Strength Rankings is fully deserved!"

Many people spoke with absolute certainty, convinced that Dao Shi'er would be number one. However, they all remained uneasy until the rankings were updated.

In the hearts of the martial artists of Beiling City, it was as if Dao Shi'er alone had crushed the northern barbarians across the entire Northern Region Battlefield.

How shocking was that? Song Wuqing could not do it. The tens of thousands of martial artists in Beiling City could not do it. Yet Dao Shi'er had done it. Now, which northern barbarian still dared to go there to die?

As long as Dao Shi'er remained on the Northern Region Battlefield, the northern barbarians would never dare enter it. He had become a form of deterrence, just like when Tian Xin dominated the first place on the Divine Strength Rankings.

Whoosh!

With a rustle, the Divine Strength Rankings were finally unveiled. The moment the cloth was lifted, everyone immediately looked at the highest name. Sure enough, they saw "Dao Shi'er."

At once, the Martial Pavilion erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

"Congratulations to Mr. Dao for ascending to the top of the Divine Strength Rankings!"

The voices roared outward and spread across all of Beiling City.

From this day on, Dao Shi'er officially stood at the peak of the Divine Strength Rankings, dominating countless Divine Strength Realm martial artists.

The martial artists of the Da Yu Dynasty cheered loudly, except for the northern barbarian spies, whose faces were ashen with despair.

"It's over..."

"Perhaps the battle of the Northern Region will soon end."

"We lost... We never expected to lose to a Divine Strength Realm martial artist like Dao Shi'er..."

"By his own strength, he has made countless warriors of the Northern Barbarian Kingdom afraid to step onto the Northern Region Battlefield. Even Tian Xin couldn't do that. This is true domination."

The northern barbarian spies looked utterly despondent. Today belonged only to Dao Shi'er. Among the countless martial artists who had visited the Northern Region Battlefield over the past two years, only a single name dominated—Dao Shi'er!