Chapter 134.1: Dao Shi'er's Return to Zhanhai City After Two Years! (I)

The Celestial Foothills Mountain Range had no sea, and there was none anywhere nearby. If Lu Changsheng wanted to learn from nature and improve his Wave Intent, he would likely have to return to Zhanhai City.

Disciples of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect were free to leave the sect at any time. However, the status of a scion disciple came with special rules. Scion disciples were required to accept challenges every month. If someone issued a challenge during that time and the scion disciple was not present, the absence would be treated as a forfeit. Then the scion disciple would automatically lose the title, and the challenger would be declared the winner by default.

Lu Changsheng still had two months left in his newcomer protection period as a scion disciple. Once that protection ended, he was certain someone would issue a challenge. Hence, he had to return to the sect within two months, or he would lose his title.

Truth be told, losing the title would not be a major problem. Lu Changsheng could simply challenge another scion disciple and take the title back. As long as he was strong enough, there was no need to worry about losing the title permanently.

After careful consideration, Lu Changsheng made his decision. He would return to Zhanhai City to strengthen the Wave Intent.

He packed up some of his belongings and headed to the Mission Hall to check his contribution points.

He had exactly one thousand contribution points, which came from the five Earth Worms he had captured in the Heavenly Abyss Gorge over the past month. Each Earth Worm was worth one hundred contribution points. However, he was a scion disciple, so his rewards from sect missions were doubled. As a result, the five Earth Worms earned him a total of one thousand contribution points.

In the Mission Hall, Lu Changsheng searched for tasks related to Zhanhai City. If there happened to be one, he could take it along the way and earn some extra contribution points when he returned.

After browsing for a while, he actually found a suitable mission.

His eyes lit up.

Turn in Abyss Mystic Iron ore from the deep sea. One jin gives one hundred contribution points.

The reward was very generous. Abyss Mystic Iron usually appeared in clusters of dozens or even hundreds of jin. If someone managed to find a deposit, it could easily be worth thousands or even tens of thousands of contribution points.

However, the words "deep sea" alone were enough to deter most people.

The pressure in the deep sea was terrifying. A Divine Strength martial artist would not survive those depths at all, and even a Divine Fortification martial artist would likely be crushed into paste. On top of that, the ocean was vast, and searching for Abyss Mystic Iron within it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Thanks to its difficulty and complexity, the mission remained open indefinitely and did not require disciples to formally accept it beforehand, so Lu Changsheng simply memorized the details of the task. Once he reached Zhanhai City, he could ask around and see if there were any leads.

With that settled, Lu Changsheng headed straight down the mountain on foot. He chose not to ride a horse this time. As a Divine Strength martial artist, his stamina was practically inexhaustible. Furthermore, with the Storm Domain enhancing his body, his movement technique allowed him to run faster than on horseback.

Lu Changsheng left the mountain quietly without informing anyone. Traveling at full speed, he arrived in Zhanhai City in only about ten days. It had been roughly two years since he first departed from Zhanhai City to head for the Northern Region Battlefield.

Zhanhai City... I'm back.

Lu Changsheng strolled through the streets. The city had barely changed. It was just as lively as before.

Before long, Lu Changsheng arrived at the harbor and looked out at the vast stretch of sea. If he wanted to contemplate Wave Intent, he needed to learn from the waves. That meant venturing out onto the open water rather than merely watching from the shore.

To do that, he would need to board a large ship, and among the available options, the vessels of the Far Ocean Merchant Association were the most suitable. After all, he had a bit of history with them.

After glancing down at his current attire, Lu Changsheng hesitated. In Zhanhai City, the name "Lu Changsheng" did not carry much weight. The name Dao Shi'er, on the other hand, was very famous.

After giving it some thought, Lu Changsheng found an inn and altered his appearance, disguising himself as Dao Shi'er. Then he headed straight for the Heavenly Maiden Sect.

If he wanted to locate Abyss Mystic Iron, he could not rely on his own efforts alone. The only realistic option was to have the Heavenly Maiden Sect mobilize their people to search the sea.

With their help, he could obtain some useful leads, at the very least.

Lu Changsheng walked toward the base of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. Step by step, he approached the entrance.

The guards of the Heavenly Maiden Sect immediately grew alert when they saw him. "Who goes there?"

Lu Changsheng walked forward without stopping. "You don't recognize me?"

The guards looked at him more carefully. A moment later, their eyes lit up, and excitement appeared on their faces.

"It's Mr. Dao! Mr. Dao has returned!"

"Hurry, inform the Heavenly Maiden at once. Mr. Dao has returned!"

Several guards rushed forward to greet Lu Changsheng with obvious enthusiasm, and the commotion quickly drew attention from nearby disciples. Some of the younger female disciples exchanged puzzled glances.

One of them lowered her voice and asked, "Who is Mr. Dao?"

She had recently joined the sect and had never heard the name before. No men were allowed in the Heavenly Maiden Sect, yet this man had just walked straight through the gate, and the guards were treating him with great respect. Naturally, the new disciples found the situation confusing.

A senior disciple beside her chuckled softly. "It's normal if you don't know him. Mr. Dao is the Heavenly Maiden's Dao Guardian."

"But that's not all," another senior disciple added. "Two years ago, he went to the Northern Region Battlefield and almost single-handedly forced the Northern Barbarian Kingdom to retreat. He even killed Tian Xin, the strongest Divine Strength martial artist of the Northern Barbarian Kingdom."

"Yes, that's right!" a third disciple chimed in. "When that news reached the sect a few months ago, none of us could believe it at first."

The disciples of the Heavenly Maiden Sect clearly admired Dao Shi'er. For many of them, that admiration had already become something close to reverence.

To Lu Changsheng, the Divine Strength Rankings were nothing more than a ranking. What he did not realize was how much weight the rankings carried.

Although it was technically tied to the Northern Region Battlefield, that battlefield was so brutal and so important that most Divine Strength martial artists from both the Da Yu Dynasty and the Northern Barbarian Kingdom eventually gathered there. As a result, many people came to regard the rankings as representing the strongest Divine Strength martial artists of both nations.

Hence, ranking first on the Divine Strength Rankings was something extraordinary. It meant being acknowledged as the strongest Divine Strength martial artist across the two countries.

This title carried immense prestige, and when the news finally reached Zhanhai City, it caused a sensation throughout the entire city.

With Lu Changsheng's arrival, the Heavenly Maiden Sect quickly stirred with activity. Aside from the Supreme Elder, who was in secluded cultivation and was the sect's only Divine Fortification expert, nearly all of the sect's senior figures came to receive him.

Even Yun Haitang, the Heavenly Maiden herself, personally came forward.

"Mr. Dao, you've finally returned," Yun Haitang said with a warm smile.

Two full years had passed since Dao Shi'er left. During that time, Yun Haitang had faced considerable pressure as Heavenly Maiden without her Dao Guardian at her side.

Even so, she had endured it all and gradually consolidated her authority. By now, she had firmly established her position within the sect without the need to rely on anyone.

"Miss Yun, I am still your Dao Guardian," Lu Changsheng said, reaffirming his support.

The position of Dao Guardian in the Heavenly Maiden Sect was special. The Dao Guardian was not technically a member of the sect, yet remained closely tied to the Heavenly Maiden herself.

With Dao Shi'er's current reputation and status, the fact that he still stood as Yun Haitang's Dao Guardian meant that not only the Heavenly Maiden Sect but every major force in Zhanhai City would also have to reconsider how they treated her.

The senior members of the Heavenly Maiden Sect understood the implication as well. After exchanging a few respectful greetings with Dao Shi'er, they quietly withdrew, leaving only Yun Haitang and Dao Shi'er behind.

"Mr. Dao..." Yun Haitang hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I've heard rumors that you went to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. Is that true?"

"Yes," Lu Changsheng replied calmly. "I am now a disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. I returned to Zhanhai City this time mainly to cultivate the Martial Dao and to complete a few sect missions along the way."

Yun Haitang's eyes widened.

The Northern Region Heavenly Sect was a sacred land that countless martial artists of the Northern Region could only dream of entering. Any disciple who descended from that sect would immediately become a figure of immense influence.

Throughout the entire history of Zhanhai City, no one had ever managed to enter the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. But Dao Shi'er had done it. He stood in front of her now as a disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

For a moment, Yun Haitang felt slightly dazed. The scene reminded her of several years ago, when she had first met Dao Shi'er. He was already powerful back then, but she had never imagined that one day he would become the number one martial artist in the Divine Strength Realm, much less a disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

"Right, Mr. Dao," Yun Haitang said, regaining her composure. "You mentioned a sect mission. What kind of mission is it? Is there anything the Heavenly Maiden Sect can help you with?"

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She knew that this was a chance to further strengthen her relationship with Dao Shi'er. Given their connection, even if he never returned again, the mere fact that he was now a disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect would be enough to further solidify her position as Heavenly Maiden.

His name alone would make it difficult for anyone within the sect to challenge her authority. Beyond that, Yun Haitang's influence throughout Zhanhai City would grow considerably.

Lu Changsheng saw through Yun Haitang's thoughts at a glance, but he did not mind. He was indeed her Dao Guardian, and it was a good thing that his influence could help her strengthen her position. Besides, there were matters he would feel far more comfortable entrusting to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. The sect's mission was one example.

"I need Abyss Mystic Iron," Lu Changsheng said. "If the Heavenly Maiden Sect can use its connections to find some clues to its location, that would help me a great deal."

"Abyss Mystic Iron?" Yun Haitang nodded. "I've heard of it. It's a rare material used to forge divine weapons. I'll have the Heavenly Maiden Sect mobilize our network immediately and gather information for you, Mr. Dao."

She then summoned a disciple and gave a few quick instructions, arranging for the search to begin at once.

"That's actually all I needed to discuss," Lu Changsheng added. "I returned to Zhanhai City mainly to cultivate my Martial Dao. To do that, I need to head out to sea.

"I'll be boarding one of the Far Ocean Merchant Association's ships. If you discover any clues about Abyss Mystic Iron, you can send word through the Far Ocean Merchant Association."

Yun Haitang nodded.

Lu Changsheng rose to leave. Just as he was about to step out, he suddenly paused.

"At the Divine Strength Realm, strengthening the physique is important," he said. "But if you want to break through to the Divine Fortification Realm, you must comprehend an Intent. Let me show you."

Buzz!

Lu Changsheng's Storm Domain descended and enveloped Yun Haitang. Instantly, she felt as though she had been cast straight into the center of a raging storm. Furious winds roared around her, tearing through the air with overwhelming force, as if they would rip her apart at any moment.

However, Yun Haitang possessed considerable perception and realized what was happening. Dao Shi'er was not attacking her. He was actually helping her.

Within a Domain, the efficiency of comprehending an Intent increased dramatically. However, this method also had its drawbacks. When someone immersed themselves in another person's Domain, their understanding of the Intent could easily be influenced by its owner.

If that happened, making their own Intent reach Perfection would become far more difficult.

Yun Haitang, however, did not care about such distant possibilities. To her, comprehending an Intent would already be an extraordinary stroke of fortune. As for making that Intent reach Perfection, she had never even dared to consider it.

After all, throughout the entire history of the Heavenly Maiden Sect, none of the elders who had reached the Divine Fortification Realm had ever done that.

Within Lu Changsheng's Domain, Yun Haitang sank into a mysterious state of comprehension.

Time passed quickly, but she lost all sense of it. When she finally opened her eyes, Dao Shi'er was no longer around.

"Mr. Dao... thank you," Yun Haitang murmured softly.

She had yet to comprehend an Intent, but with Dao Shi'er's guidance, she had at least found a direction. One day, she believed that she would finally comprehend a Storm Intent.