Chapter 139.1: Lu Changsheng Breaks His Silence with a Stunning Revelation! (I)

"What?! Challenging Meng Fang?"

"How could anyone challenge Meng Fang?"

"He... He's Lu Changsheng, right? He entered the sect through the Heavenly Stairway over four months ago, and then he hid from challenges and consequently lost his position. And now he wants to challenge Senior Brother Meng Fang?"

"Maybe he doesn't know who Senior Brother Meng Fang is?"

For a moment, many outer sect disciples looked at Lu Changsheng with bewildered expressions. Meng Fang was one of the Three Untouchables; challenging him was asking for humiliation.

"Are you sure you want to challenge Meng Fang?"

The outer sect steward widened his eyes. He knew Lu Changsheng, but he knew Meng Fang even better. He did not believe that Lu Changsheng had never heard of Meng Fang. After all, anyone who had spent more than a few months in the outer sect knew about those three individuals, yet Lu Changsheng was deliberately challenging one of them.

"Yes, I want to challenge Meng Fang. Why? Is there a problem?" Lu Changsheng said evenly.

"Of course, there's no problem. Meng Fang hasn't been challenged this month yet, so you're eligible. Since you insist, I'll register it. If nothing unexpected happens, he should accept the challenge today."

The steward proceeded to register Lu Changsheng's challenge, then waved his hand and had someone send the message to Meng Fang.

Meng Fang lived in Courtyard No. 8, which was actually not far from Lu Changsheng's. Even so, they had never actually crossed paths.

Once, when Lu Changsheng first deployed his Sense Domain, he vaguely felt that someone—Meng Fang—sensed what he was doing. After that, he deliberately avoided probing that area again. In many places of the outer sect, there were people who could detect his Sense Domain. If found out, Lu Changsheng would simply deactivate it. He tried to steer clear of such people, as probing with his Sense Domain was essentially a form of provocation.

"If he responds today," Lu Changsheng said evenly, "then I'll wait here for a bit."

Lu Changsheng remained in the steward's office, sitting down cross-legged and waiting quietly. Many outer sect disciples in the office were astonished by his demeanor. Now it was clear to everyone that Lu Changsheng was truly determined to challenge Meng Fang.

For three entire years, none of the outer sect's Three Untouchables had been challenged. And now, someone was openly challenging Meng Fang himself. Naturally, this was a momentous affair.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"What is Lu Changsheng thinking? He's been in the sect barely four months, couldn't even hold onto scion disciple status, and now he wants to challenge Senior Brother Meng Fang? Has he lost his mind?"

"This is madness. Senior Brother Meng Fang also entered through the Heavenly Stairway back then, but he lay low in the outer sect for years before growing in fame and strength. Only after that did he seize scion disciple status and become one of the greatest, undefeated to this day. Lu Changsheng hasn't even been here that long and already wants to make a name for himself?"

"Senior Brother Meng Fang has even beaten inner sect disciples before. What does Lu Changsheng have to rely on?"

Many outer sect disciples sneered at Lu Changsheng's challenge. Most of them believed he was overestimating himself. However, some people were more reserved in their predictions.

"Who knows... Maybe a miracle will happen."

They exchanged knowing glances. There was no surprise in their eyes, only calm, as though it was only natural. In reality, these people were the ones who had personally witnessed Lu Changsheng defeat three inner sect seniors with a single slash back in the Heavenly Abyss Gorge.

Since returning to the outer sect, Lu Changsheng had kept an unusually low profile, and these disciples had not dared to spread word of what they had witnessed. Some had even wondered whether his failure to return within three months meant he had been delayed by something serious. But deep down, they had always felt it was only a matter of time before Lu Changsheng made a move.

And sure enough, now he was finally making his move.

"A miracle? Yeah, right!"

"

Huh

? If you're so confident, why don't we make a bet?"

"Sure, let's bet."

The few disciples who did not ridicule Lu Changsheng's challenge immediately smiled. They had never expected that keeping quiet about Lu Changsheng's deeds would prove so beneficial. Now, they had practically put their entire fortunes on the line to bet. They were about to make a huge profit!

These disciples rejected the idea that Lu Changsheng was no match for Meng Fang. If anything, they were more confident in Lu Changsheng himself. Meng Fang had indeed defeated inner sect seniors before, but not without considerable effort. In comparison, Lu Changsheng had defeated three inner sect seniors with one strike. To them, it was crystal clear which combatant was stronger.

Soon, someone from the steward's office arrived at Courtyard No. 8. In that courtyard, Meng Fang was practicing a secret technique. He had only two years left before reaching the ten-year limit for outer sect disciples.

Meng Fang's ambition was great. Like the other two, he could have condensed divine fortification long ago and advanced to the inner sect. However, he desired more than just entry—he wanted to secure scion disciple status the moment he stepped into the inner sect. That was the reason he had chosen to remain in the outer sect for longer, steadily accumulating strength. In terms of secret techniques and martial techniques, he had already pushed himself almost to the limit. What remained was the Domain.

Meng Fang's Domain was utterly formidable. He had never thought about comprehending two Domains, since that was simply unrealistic. Instead, he focused on refining a single Domain as deeply as possible, thinking that was the key to truly growing stronger. At the same time, he also dabbled in some Intents. As long as he did not push those Intents to the point of evolving into Domains, there would be no major issues. Perhaps he could then try to use those Intents to condense a second divine fortification.

After all, evolving a Domain was not the only way to condense divine fortification. A Domain merely guaranteed success. In theory, even an Intent at one hundred percent progress could condense divine fortification, though the odds were extremely low. Meng Fang was fairly talented, and given that he had evolved a Domain, comprehending a second Intent to fifty or sixty percent should not be a problem.

At that point, he could also try to condense two divine fortifications. If that succeeded, two layers of divine fortification combined with a deeply refined Domain would be more than enough for him to hold onto the scion disciple status. That position was extremely advantageous, as it came with double the rewards and double the resources. Upon entering the inner sect, overall resources would indeed increase, but compared to a scion disciple, what did that really amount to?

If I complete a few more tasks, I can scrape together ten thousand contribution points. Then I can exchange them for a Dao Comprehension Pill. That alone might push my Domain another step forward. There are still two years left, enough time to exchange for three more Dao Comprehension Pills. By then, I can begin condensing divine fortification and advance to the inner sect.

Meng Fang already had his plan: three more Dao Comprehension Pills on top of the one he was about to obtain. With four pills in total, whether he devoted himself to refining his Domain to an entirely new height or turned to cultivating a second Intent, the gains would be enormous.

Of course, getting

that

many Dao Comprehension Pills was easier said than done. Without scion disciple status, it would be impossible for him to gain enough contribution points to exchange for so many pills.

Just then, a voice rang out from beyond Courtyard No. 8. "Meng Fang, the outer sect disciple Lu Changsheng has issued a challenge for you. Do you accept, or will you forfeit your position?"

"Someone has challenged... me?" Meng Fang was taken aback for a second. As one of the Three Untouchables of the outer sect, he had not been challenged by a single outer disciple in years. Just who would dare face him?

"Lu Changsheng? The one who entered through the Heavenly Stairway and lost his scion disciple status by not answering a challenge?

That

guy wants to go against me?"

Meng Fang frowned. A novice disciple dared to challenge him? He was somewhat vexed by this. His time was meant to be spent comprehending Intents or Domains, or completing tasks to obtain double rewards. He did not want to waste his precious time on pointless fights, but rules were rules.

Meng Fang stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

"I accept Lu Changsheng's challenge," he said coldly to the steward. "Let's get this over with. I've got things to do."

Naturally, he did not take the newcomer seriously. In his eyes, this was something to be dealt with swiftly, in just a few minutes.

By the time they returned to the outer sect steward's office, a crowd of disciples had already gathered. Wang Cheng was among them, with two women standing at his side. Both stared at Lu Changsheng as he sat cross-legged, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"Wang Cheng, you really did luck out back then. Lu Changsheng must've been delayed by something. Otherwise, he wouldn't have missed returning to the sect, and you wouldn't have gotten a taste of being a scion disciple."

"Exactly. He's been in the outer sect for several months already. There's no way he doesn't know about the Three Untouchables. Now that he dares challenge Senior Brother Meng Fang, he must have some confidence."

"To enter the sect through the Heavenly Stairway, it means either his mental strength is powerful and willpower is astonishing,

or

he's already evolved a Domain. Back then, everyone assumed Lu Changsheng simply possessed an exceptionally resolute will and formidable mental strength. But four months after entering the sect, he comes forward to challenge Meng Fang... Chances are, he's already evolved a Domain."

"Evolving a Domain... How many outer sect disciples have wasted years without being able to do it? Even among inner sect seniors, many still haven't evolved a Domain... But if Lu Changsheng thinks that simply evolving a Domain is enough to defeat Senior Brother Meng Fang, then he's gravely mistaken. How could an ordinary, half-baked Domain compare to Senior Brother Meng Fang's? No one knows how far Senior Brother Meng Fang has already progressed in his Domain. The difference must be great..."