Chapter 124: Skill Transformation! Prelude to the Decisive Battle!

After years of bitter cultivation, Lu Zhangsheng finally reached the Tuotai Realm.

He was not far from the legendary Innate Martial Dao; it was said that for such martial artists, crossing rivers and cleaving mountains was merely a trivial matter.

He felt a sense of anticipation in his heart.

Based on his own speed of excavating spiritual objects, he would certainly be able to step into the Innate Realm in a few years.

By then, he would surely be able to leap out of the tiny corner that was Changping County and enter a much broader world.

The secrets of the human race's war in the previous dynasty, where these demons came from, the origin of the natural disasters... there were still too many secrets in this world waiting for him to uncover one by one.

Following this, Lu Zhangsheng continued to verify his strength after the breakthrough.

He clenched his fist tightly, and a feeling of immense power surged into his heart.

It was as if he could shatter the void with a single punch; it was extremely terrifying.

After this breakthrough, his strength had increased by more than several times.

With his current strength, he was capable of easily slaying some experts in the mid-stage of the Tuotai Realm.

Even against a late-stage Tuotai expert who had stimulated demon blood essence, he could hold his own.

If that demon witch Zhao Yuanjing still wanted to surround and kill him, it would be nearly impossible.

Subsequently, Lu Zhangsheng took out his long blade and slashed rapidly at his own body.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Violent sparks erupted on his body, emitting a harsh, shrill sound.

His physical body didn't even register a hint of pain; his defensive power had clearly increased by a large margin.

His entire body resembled a small golden statue, radiating a pale golden luster; it was extremely miraculous.

With this level of physical body, coupled with his Body Protection Mystic Gang Qi, he suspected that late-stage Tuotai martial artists could not harm him at all.

Finally, Lu Zhangsheng tested his Body Protection Gang Qi and blade techniques, among other skills, for a while.

After his realm breakthrough, the power of these skills had also surged by a large margin.

At this moment, his strength already stood at the pinnacle of the entire Changping County; he was no longer that character who could be killed at will.

The Tuotai Realm was considered an expert level even in Qingning Prefecture.

In the days that followed.

Lu Zhangsheng stayed at home, familiarizing himself with his post-breakthrough realm.

Every day, apart from practicing martial arts in the courtyard, he would go deep underground to mine.

The resources in his hands were growing steadily.

At this rate, even if he couldn't find any heavenly materials or earthly treasures, he would be able to upgrade all his skills in about half a year at most.

This day, around noon.

Lu Zhangsheng was sitting upright on a chair, holding a travelogue in his hand, reading with great interest.

"Tap, tap..."

From the bedroom in the back, a series of light footsteps approached.

He saw Fang Tao and his sister striding toward Lu Zhangsheng.

"Brother Changsheng, the heretic cult has been moving in large numbers these days; is a decisive battle about to begin?"

A hint of worry was revealed in Fang Tao's eyes.

A large number of martial artists in the city were discussing this matter, and he had also received quite a bit of such information.

Uncertain in his heart, he came directly to ask Lu Zhangsheng.

Given the other party's status, the news he had must be more reliable.

"You don't need to guess wildly; just stay hidden in the city."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly.

Given the current situation, a major decisive battle was highly likely to erupt.

Or perhaps Zhao Yuanjing had some other conspiracy.

Therefore, Lu Zhangsheng had no intention of going out to hunt those Protectors again during this period.

Time was precious; he planned to finish upgrading his skills quickly before considering anything else.

Outside the city.

A dark underground space.

Zhao Yuanjing sat upright on a high platform, her expression extremely cold.

A murderous aura permeated the entire hall, giving those below a feeling of difficulty in breathing.

"Has the Spirit Seed been fed to completion?"

She scanned the hall, her tone grim.

The many Protectors and Blood Exchange experts below all felt their bodies stiffen.

"All preparations have been completed; we can begin the final plan at any time."

At this moment, an old man with a pigeon-like face stepped out of the ranks, his tone eerie.

"Good, immediately summon all cult members and force the county government to come out of the city for a decisive battle."

Zhao Yuanjing slammed her right hand onto the wooden table, murderous intent erupting in her eyes.

"If they cower in the city, are we to forcibly attack the county city?"

A man in black asked.

"Fool, the county city is heavily guarded; we cannot break in just by ourselves."

"We only need to surround Fulong Town, the largest town outside the county city, and put on a show of attacking it; the other side will naturally send experts..."

"When the time comes, we will first slaughter Fulong Town, then sweep through all the small towns one by one. I don't believe they won't come out of the city for a decisive battle; otherwise, the county city will be nothing but an isolated city..."

Zhao Yuanjing's eyes burned with a scorching light.

"The Venerable Lord is wise."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

This strategy was an open conspiracy; the other side either chose to come out of the city for a decisive battle or sat and waited for all the small towns to be slaughtered.

"We will go and make arrangements immediately."

An old man in red spoke hurriedly, his face full of respect.

Subsequently, the many figures slowly retreated.

Soon, the main hall was empty.

Zhao Yuanjing stared quietly at the void in front of her, her expression somewhat dazed.

"My dear brother, it has been decades; I wonder if you still remember your little sister..."

"This time, no one can stop my footsteps; whoever blocks me dies!"

She muttered to herself, her grim words sounding like a demon from hell whispering.

Her face was covered in snow-white patterns, and a furry white long tail appeared at her waist, looking extremely bewitching.

A few days later.

A large number of heretic cult experts gathered toward Fulong Town, and an incomparably tense atmosphere instantly permeated the entire county city.

Many government martial artists speculated that the other side was truly going to begin a decisive battle this time.

In the county government office, inside a magnificent hall.

Five figures were sitting upright on chairs, their expressions extremely solemn.

These five were the three Deputy Hall Masters including Qin Ruobing, the Xuanjia Army Commander Wei Shaoxuan, and the County Magistrate.

These few were the most powerful people in the county city.

As for the person secretly protecting the County Magistrate, they did not appear.

"Magistrate Du, when shall we go out of the city to clear out that group of demons and heretics?"

Qin Ruobing spoke softly, light flickering in her eyes.

The situation was now clear; that group of heretic cultists was clearly prepared and wanted to engage them in a direct decisive battle.

Xiao Tianci and the others also turned their heads to look at Du Wentao, waiting for his final decision.

Among these people, the County Magistrate held the highest rank and power, and the Xuanjia Army was also under his command.

"Sigh... that group of demons and heretics is colluding with the Black Mountain Bandits; Black Mountain is easy to defend and hard to attack. If we go out of the city, the other side will certainly set the location of the decisive battle on Black Mountain."

"Let's wait another year or half a year; the batch of bed crossbows from the prefecture city will arrive soon."

Du Wentao sighed faintly.

"This time, let Commander Wei go to Fulong Town to stall for some time."

"Then let it be done this way; with Commander Wei taking action, stalling for two years will be no problem."

Qin Ruobing smiled faintly, making people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Xiao Tianci and the other person also nodded in agreement.

Clearly, they held Wei Shaoxuan's strength in high regard.

"Cough, cough..."

Wei Shaoxuan coughed a few times, and a trace of bright red seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Rest assured, with this official here, the other side cannot break Fulong Town."

He said with certainty.

His white armor made him look extremely scholarly, and paired with his resolute face, it made people feel even more favorable toward him.

Time passed slowly.

In a blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

The heretic cult and the government forces engaged in fierce fighting in Fulong Town.

Even Wei Shaoxuan had exchanged blows with that Venerable Lord several times, without a clear winner.

Both sides had dispatched quite a few Tuotai experts, fighting endlessly around Fulong Town.

Over the past half year, even some Blood Exchange martial artists had fallen, and the entire county city was plunged into a storm.

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense.

This day, around noon.

Lu Zhangsheng sat upright on a chair in the courtyard, drinking spirit wine and eating side dishes, looking leisurely and carefree.

【Source Energy Points plus 1.】

【Source Energy Points plus 1.】

The notification sounds continued to come from his mind incessantly. Over the past half year, he had been controlling his exotic beast to mine every day, and the resources in his hands had become abundant once again.

He had also received quite a bit of news regarding the battlefield outside the city.

However, he had pushed away all his own missions.

He had been waiting patiently at home for his resources to grow.

As for Yue Shulan and his other former teammates, they had gone to support Fulong Town several months ago.

He opened the panel.

A blue light screen appeared in the void.

Source Energy Points: 4800.

After half a year of mining, although they were all low-grade Origin Stones, he had gathered enough for his skills.

Seeing that several skills were all lit up.

Lu Zhangsheng did not hesitate and clicked repeatedly.

【Absolute Spirit Slash, Treading Snow Without a Trace, Body Protection Mystic Gang Qi have been cultivated to the Transcendent Realm; they cannot be improved further. Do you wish to proceed with the next step of derivation?】

A crisp notification sound rang out.

"Derive."

Lu Zhangsheng thought silently.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

A wave from the netherworld instantly descended into the depths of his mind, as if a supreme expert was practicing in his mind.

Powerful energy also erupted around his body, and even the withered leaves on the ground were blown into a spin.

【After your years of bitter cultivation, Absolute Spirit Slash, Treading Snow Without a Trace, and Body Protection Mystic Gang Qi have been cultivated to a brand-new realm. Do you wish to rename the new techniques?】

"Sky-Splitting Strike, Body Protection Mystic Gang Qi, Crossing the River on a Reed."

Lu Zhangsheng slowly spat out these words.

He directly set the names for the new techniques.

【Techniques are being recorded...】

Skills: 【Sky-Splitting Strike】 (Entry Level), 【Crossing the River on a Reed】 (Entry Level), 【Body Protection Mystic Gang Qi】 (Entry Level).

【These three martial arts are all Tuotai-level peerless skills; when cultivated to the peak, their power is unfathomable...】

Lu Zhangsheng looked at his Source Energy Points; 300 remained.

This upgrade had consumed a total of 4500 Source Energy Points.

Compared to the improvement of cultivation techniques, the consumption for skills was significantly smaller.

Following this, Lu Zhangsheng immediately began to verify them.

"Swish..."

With one slash of his long blade, the void was filled with sharp blade light, and infinite residual shadows shuttled through the courtyard, intertwining with the blade light to form a dense web.

A few breaths later.

Lu Zhangsheng stopped and stood steadily in the center of the courtyard.

"Hoo..."

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

After this skill breakthrough, his attack power and speed had increased by several more tenths.

Immediately after, he began to test his defensive technique.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

As the Qi and Blood within his body erupted, a pure white Gang Qi instantly covered his entire body, and even his feet slowly left the ground, his whole person floating, which was extremely miraculous.

Gradually, the Gang Qi became increasingly solid, and strands of golden light appeared on it.

He immediately drew his long blade and slashed at his own Body Protection Gang Qi.

Clang, clang, clang...

Violent collision sounds rang out in the courtyard, and the Body Protection Gang Qi remained without any ripples.

It radiated a sense of being as immovable as a mountain.

"Such strong defensive power."

Lu Zhangsheng's eyes were quite delighted.

Compared to when he was in the Blood Exchange Realm, his defensive power had increased by several times over.

Now, even if a group of late-stage Tuotai experts surrounded and attacked him, he would not fear them in the slightest.

Just by relying on this terrifying horizontal training technique, he could kill his way in and out seven times.

As long as his own Source Energy Points were not exhausted, he was capable of traversing the battlefield.

After years of cultivation, he had finally reached this level.

Subsequently, Lu Zhangsheng put away his long blade and walked toward the bedroom.

In the next few days.

Lu Zhangsheng had been at home familiarizing himself with his cultivation techniques and new skills, and his strength was still steadily improving.

Three days later.

A transfer order directly broke his tranquility.

【Fulong Town is in crisis; Lu Zhangsheng is ordered to lead a large group of Body Forging martial artists to provide support...】

Lu Zhangsheng sat upright on a chair, looking at the handwriting on the white paper in front of him, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The transfer order above was precisely from Qin Ruobing's hand.

Apart from her, no one else had the qualifications to issue orders to him.

"It seems the situation in Fulong Town has become quite severe."

Over the past half year, he had been paying attention to the battlefield between the two sides; he did not expect it to have developed to such a point.

Lu Zhangsheng had also rested for more than half a year; it was time to go out and walk around.

He had yet to settle the score for that time he was surrounded and killed.

"Lord Lu, this subordinate will take his leave first."

A middle-aged man in green looked at Lu Zhangsheng with full awe.

The man was precisely the person who delivered the letter this time.

Regarding Lu Zhangsheng, this rapidly rising Patrol Envoy, he did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent.

"Hmm."

Lu Zhangsheng nodded faintly.

Seeing the other party slowly leave, Lu Zhangsheng stood up and walked to the backyard, gave instructions to Fang Qing and her brother, and then, under their worried gazes, walked directly out of the courtyard.

Three days later.

Fulong Town.

As the largest town in the entire Changping County, it was quite prosperous, with a population comparable to the sum of several small towns.

Around noon.

In a magnificent restaurant.

Several figures were sitting upright on chairs, all surrounding a handsome man in white.

"Lord Lu, we have finally waited for your arrival."

The honest man Xiao Chao was full of joy.

Yue Shulan and Lu Xue were also full of delight.

The moment the three of them saw Lu Zhangsheng arrive in this town, it was as if they had found their backbone.

As former teammates, the few of them naturally knew Lu Zhangsheng's strength.

They even speculated that he was likely an expert even among the Blood Exchange Realm.

"How has the battle been over the past half year?"

Lu Zhangsheng picked up his wine cup and took a sip.

A warm current slowly rose from his abdomen, refreshing his spirit.

"With Commander Wei guarding, the other side hasn't been able to attack, but I always feel something is strange."

"The other side has been probing; for the past half year, they have only surrounded us without attacking, and have never launched a full-scale assault."

"That Venerable Lord in red has also exchanged blows with Commander Wei several times, without a clear winner."

A hint of worry appeared in Yue Shulan's eyes.

This scene was all too familiar.

Last time when the city was breached, it was this exact situation; it was exactly the same.

"Could it be that the heretic cult has hidden agents in the city? Or perhaps Tuotai experts?"

This speculation made Lu Xue extremely terrified.

"Alright, there is no need to discuss this matter too much, lest it cause panic."

Lu Zhangsheng's expression was as calm as water.

He knew that the other side had hidden agents.

However, he was somewhat suspicious that the other side chose to have their hidden agents erupt here.

Although this town was important, it was far less so than the county city; if it erupted in the county city, the destructive power would clearly be greater.

Of course, this situation could not be completely ruled out.

Just as Lu Zhangsheng and the others were gathering.

Outside the city, a dark underground space.

"Reporting to the Venerable Lord, do we still need to continue probing?"

A man in black knelt on one knee, full of awe.

"Contact the hidden agents in the city and prepare to act."

Zhao Yuanjing's tone was incomparably grim.

"This subordinate obeys."

The man stood up and walked slowly toward the outside of the hall.

Zhao Yuanjing looked at the void in front of her, her eyes eerie.

"Hehe... Qin Ruobing is investigating my hidden agents? Then I will let you see my methods..."

Although her core methods were far from the time to be used at this moment.

But having a little appetizer beforehand was also a good choice, and it could just happen to confuse those imperial court hounds.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 125 =====