Chapter 144: Heavenly Pride is basically an invincible path!

Regarding Lu Zhangsheng's forceful clearance of the twelfth layer, it was like a hurricane, sweeping across the entire Qingning Prefecture.

In the hearts of countless martial artists, it stirred up a great commotion.

A large number of martial artists with no missions surged toward the square in front of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, endless, like a tide.

Even the Chief Hall Master Liang Jinghui and some innate-level foundations began to pay attention to this matter.

They all knew that the difficulty of clearing the thirteenth layer, this Heavenly Pride level, was not easy to break.

Some lower-ranked FuduDianZhu even felt quite tense.

Such strength already made them feel as if sitting on pins and needles, as if a great mountain pressed upon their heads, extremely uncomfortable.

A certain "Ye Wudi" had already left everyone breathless; now Lu Zhangsheng seemed to show a similar tendency.

Moreover, their growth paths were quite similar, both rising rapidly all the way.

"Hall Master Lu, is it possible to break through three levels in a row?"

"Hard to say; if one really breaks through again, that would be defying heaven."

"Not bad; this level isn't so easy to break, over the past few decades in Qingning Prefecture only that Lord Ye has managed it……"

The crowd began heated discussion on the square.

Qin Ruobing and several members of the Fang family siblings all showed excited faces.

They never expected Lu Zhangsheng to rise so quickly in the prefectural capital.

Having just steadied his footing, he could already launch another upward assault, practically making everyone feel as if they were dreaming.

Just as the outside world was stirring with wind and clouds.

Heaven-Reaching Tower, thirteenth layer.

Lu Zhangsheng only felt his vision blur.

The surroundings suddenly changed dramatically.

He saw himself on a vast, boundless sea, with towering waves and howling gales all around.

Dark clouds covered the sky above, as if thunderclouds were shifting, the atmosphere rather oppressive.

"Is this the thirteenth level?"

Lu Zhangsheng stood with his hands behind his back, calmly upon the waves, his expression placid as water.

The raging wind and waves lifted his white robe, his whole person exuding an immovable aura like a mountain.

At that moment, a message appeared in the void ahead.

Thirteenth layer.

Challenger: Lu Zhangsheng.

Talent: Heavenly Pride (quasi) Annotation: Within three hours, kill three projections; those who pass enter the next level……

……

Lu Zhangsheng quietly looked at the message ahead, feeling it was no different from the previous levels.

He didn't think too much of it, and waited in peace.

Shortly after.

"Hum……"

The void ahead lightly rippled, and three white figures instantly appeared on the sea opposite him.

The three stood side by side, their aura towering.

"This is……"

Seeing this, Lu Zhangsheng's pupils contracted.

These three people looked exactly like him, even their weapons indistinguishable.

There was simply no discernible difference.

"Could it be that each of these three is a perfect replica according to one's own strength?"

He felt extremely solemn in his heart.

The tower spirit could not produce a defective copy.

That is to say.

To become Heavenly Pride, one must, within a certain time, simultaneously defeat three "selves"; this difficulty is simply heaven-defying.

No wonder, over the past few decades, few have managed to clear it.

Aside from true monsters, even talents who enter merely seek abuse.

Lu Zhangsheng did not immediately act, but pondered carefully in his heart.

At that moment, a replica on the left actually spoke:

"Haha… Are you thinking of temporarily withdrawing, waiting for your strength to rise before challenging again? Then you could easily defeat us."

The other two also looked at Lu Zhangsheng with a half-smile.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhangsheng's expression froze.

The opponent's keen perception had completely guessed his thoughts.

Exactly, that was indeed his plan.

At this moment, fighting one against three is something an ordinary person could not accomplish.

The one on the left smiled faintly: "Over countless years, not only you have come to this level; most of them thought the same, yet all failed. Do you know why?"

The middle one also didn't hide anything, smiling as he interjected: "The moment you set foot here, the tower spirit automatically records; after more than a month, we will refresh."

"In other words, after a month, if your strength increases, we will increase as well……"

Lu Zhangsheng's heart tightened.

He just knew things weren't that simple.

Otherwise, over all these years, it wouldn't be just one person who could clear it.

He also doesn't know how that "Ye Wudi" managed it.

That person truly is a pervert to the extreme.

"Alas…"

The third clone let out a faint sigh.

"Heavenly Pride is the invincible path; without such spirit, how could one contend with those top‑rank Holy Sons and Divine Sons?"

"Breaking barriers, turning the impossible into possible—that is Heavenly Pride. Only those who, with a mortal body, can stand shoulder to shoulder with 'Divine Spirits' and possess limitless potential can be called Heavenly Pride."

Lu Zhangsheng's expression shifted slightly.

According to rumor, in some pocket worlds there exist naturally born beings called "Divine Spirits"; such creatures are born already in the precelestial realm, with extraordinary strength.

One can imagine how difficult it is to, with a mortal body, stand shoulder to shoulder with such beings.

Not to mention the few Holy Sons and Divine Bodies that have been passed down from ancient times.

This stage is also a necessary path for ordinary geniuses.

Only after passing it does one reach boundless horizons.

"Are you scared?"

The first clone gave a faint smile.

The three of them were not in a hurry to act; they simply watched Lu Zhangsheng quietly as a mountain‑like pressure descended upon him.

"Scared?"

Lu Zhangsheng smiled.

He has risen all the way, endured countless bloody and brutal battles, and has never been afraid.

The things that give him the greatest exhilaration in this life, besides drinking spiritual wine, are the fierce, unbridled battles.

He has reached this point solely thanks to his earth‑shaking, epoch‑defining talent, so how could he be scared? "Then let's fight."

He drew his long sword.

Since there's no way to avoid it, let's have a good, hearty fight.

Since his mortal body broke through to the precelestial stage, he has never felt where his own limits lie.

Seeing this, the three clones also immediately drew their long swords and stood silently on the sea surface.

The auras of both sides clashed in the void, stirring up layers upon layers of towering waves.

Whoosh…

The gale roared, and the sea waves surged skyward.

Endless seawater surged back toward the four, but each was shielded by their protective body aura.

The full‑scale battle between the two sides was about to erupt.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng pushed his blood energy to the limit, forming a massive furnace hovering above his head.

Then he slashed forward with a sudden, fierce strike.

Even the sea surface beneath his feet was cleaved several feet deep by that slash, terrifyingly so.

That slash was already his limit; the Heaven‑splitting Strike fully displayed its power.

Combined with his refined blood, secret technique amplification, and forty percent killing intent, the power of that slash was likely close to that of a true precelestial strongman.

The three clones, seeing this, showed no weakness and also slashed forward with a single strike.

Brilliant blade light flickered in the void, its aura terrifyingly extreme.

The posture and angle of the three's strikes were exactly the same as Lu Zhangsheng's.

All were Heaven‑splitting Strikes.

This sent a chill through Lu Zhangsheng's heart.

His guess was correct; these three's strength was almost identical to his own.

"Boom— Boom— Boom—…"

In an instant, the two sides collided violently, and a deafening boom rang through the heavens.

Countless bursts of force sprayed wildly, raising layer upon layer of towering waves.

With a single blow.

"Sizzle…"

Lu Zhangsheng abruptly retreated dozens of meters, his surrounding aura trembling violently and emitting a harsh, high‑pitched screech.

His complexion turned pale as he instantly activated his imperishable golden body, suppressing the surging blood energy within.

Facing three opponents alone, he could not avoid being at an absolute disadvantage.

At this moment, his wariness toward the mysterious first FuduDianZhu deepened.

Those who can clear this layer possess absolutely terrifying strength. "Kill."

The three did not pause, and again charged at Lu Zhangsheng to kill.

In an instant they arrived beside Lu Zhangsheng, encircling him.

Lu Zhangsheng also raised his sword and rushed forward.

"Boom— Boom— Boom—…"

Both sides launched an unprecedented blood battle on the sea surface.

Fierce blade light darted wildly through the void, like a massive net.

The four became streaks of afterimages, colliding fiercely on the sea surface.

Each strike is nearing the blow of an innate expert.

The aura is incredibly ferocious.

…

Outside, on the plaza.

The crowd on the field had already stirred up a huge commotion.

Countless people stared fixedly at the information in the void ahead, fearing to miss even a trace.

Even several deputy hall masters clenched their fists, eyes full of shock.

Time has already passed half an hour, yet the opponent still hasn't appeared.

Obviously, they are fiercely battling on the thirteenth level.

Just looking at the duration of the challenge, it has already surpassed that of the second deputy hall master, Wan Houyu.

This strength could almost sweep aside several of their deputy hall masters.

Of course, except for that person.

Wan Houyu's shock in his heart far surpassed that of everyone else.

Among those present, only he knows what the thirteenth level will face.

That is a barrier that only a truly peerless expert of the same rank can break; its difficulty has reached an extreme level of abnormality.

Thinking of Lu Zhangsheng battling it, with the fight lasting so long, sent chills through his heart.

"Can this person break through Heavenly Pride?"

"If he manages to break through three levels in a row, he'll be another Ye Wudi, and might even refresh the entire prefecture city's record…"

Nan Gonglei's eyes were full of apprehension.

At this moment, he felt a little afraid in his heart.

His own position may not be secure.

They fear another great mountain will appear above them.

"Impossible."

Wan Houyu gritted his teeth, firmly convinced.

Such difficulty is absolutely not something an ordinary person can break through.

The remaining deputy hall masters were also quite uneasy, even beginning to silently pray for the opponent's failure.

…

Inside the main hall of the Demon Subduing Office.

Liang Jinghui sat upright in his chair, silently gazing at the crystal ball ahead.

Inside was the figure of Lu Zhangsheng engaged in bloody combat.

Around him were several elders, their auras extremely ferocious.

Obviously, they are all innate experts.

They belong to the true foundation of the Demon Subduing Office's interior.

The ten deputy hall masters are equivalent to the sect's true disciples.

Their status is not inferior to that of some ordinary innate martial artists.

"Congratulations, Lord Liang; this child is extraordinary, possessing a hint of the ancient Heavenly Pride's aura."

"I think he has some hope of breaking through this level."

An elder stroked his beard, wearing a smile.

"It's hard to say; none of us here could break through this level when we underwent our transformation."

Liang Jinghui gave a faint smile.

A hundred years ago, he was merely a talent-level cultivator, relying on his unyielding perseverance to reach where he is today.

Many of those top talents have turned into dry bones.

As for Lu Zhangsheng, in his view, he still falls far short.

The remaining few also nodded slightly.

They also aren't very optimistic about Lu Zhangsheng passing directly.

This level is truly the line that separates talent from Heavenly Pride.

The difficulty naturally surpasses the heavens.

Only the aptitude to grow into a divine spirit's embryo can possibly break through; otherwise, it's just wishful thinking.

Lu Zhangsheng still doesn't know that his challenge has already triggered a magnitude-ten earthquake in Qingning Prefecture.

Regarding Qingning Prefecture possibly producing another Heavenly Pride, this could spread throughout Qingzhou, and even the Capital City has some rumors.

Thus, Lu Zhangsheng's name has officially begun to spread throughout the Great Zhou.

At this moment.

Inside the thirteenth level.

Lu Zhangsheng's face turned pale, his robes all over torn, and his body covered in scarlet marks.

One can imagine how brutal the battle was.

He still wields his long saber with vigor, like an invincible war god.

The three clones are also clad in tattered garments, yet their aura shows no diminution.

Their decisive battle has already lasted over an hour.

Lu Zhangsheng sees that the opponent's aura shows no decline, knowing that trying to outlast them is impossible.

Within this Tower to the Heavens, the opponent's qi and blood are likely endless.

He has only absolute strength to subdue the opponent; beyond that, there is no other choice.

Thinking that, he shouted straight into the void ahead, "Give up the challenge."

"Whoosh…"

As soon as the words fell, the three copies vanished instantly.

Lu Zhangsheng was also teleported to the bottom of the first level.

The information in the void above his head also changed.

Thirteenth level, challenge failed.

Lu Zhangsheng slowly exhaled a puff of foul Qi, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked toward the exit.

With his current strength, he still cannot slay the three perfect copies.

After abandoning the challenge this time, he must have his strength skyrocket within a month.

Otherwise all previous efforts will be wasted.

Within a month, break through to Heavenly Pride.

Lu Zhangsheng silently made up his mind.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

As the stone gate ahead rose gradually, Lu Zhangsheng lifted his foot and stepped out of the Heaven‑reaching Tower.

The people on the scene, seeing this, all stepped aside with reverent faces.

Shock lingered in their eyes for a long time.

No one expected Lu Zhangsheng to have fought a bloody battle inside for more than an hour.

This strength was already extremely close to the true Heavenly Pride.

"It's okay, it's okay…"

Wan Houyu and several FuduDianZhu relaxed their expressions, feeling rather relieved.

If the opponent had become Heavenly Pride directly, everyone would have to live forever in his shadow later.

Yet despite that, the few were still extremely wary.

This strength, apart from the second FuduDianZhu, they could hardly match.

Lu Zhangsheng, hands clasped behind his back, walked forward; the fierce killing aura around him had not fully dissipated, tightening the bodies of those nearby.

He gradually receded under the fearful gazes of the crowd.

……

The next day.

Early in the morning, Lu Zhangsheng left his own courtyard and headed toward the DemonSubduingOffice.

Having broken two levels yesterday, his salary also rose by twenty percent.

But that is insufficient to make his strength surge dramatically in a short time; it can only grow slowly.

Pangolin, mining in the Ten‑Thousand Mountains, also finds it hard to collect many Spiritual Creatures within a month.

To boost strength quickly, there is another path inside the DemonSubduingOffice.

That is to slay through the Trial Land.

It is said that many ZhenYaosi who have passed this place saw their strength skyrocket.

This is Lu Zhangsheng's only chance.

Lu Zhangsheng was rather curious about this wondrous place; as long as it could raise his killing intent by more than twenty percent, he was confident he could clear the thirteenth level.

He walked along the bustling street.

A breeze fluttered his white robe, making him look like a peerless young master stepping out of a painting.

Numerous silhouettes on both sides stepped aside, faces full of reverence.

Lu Zhangsheng's great name had already resonated throughout Qingning Residence.

Not long after, Lu Zhangsheng arrived before a magnificent hall.

(End of chapter)