Chapter 139: Full Power Unleashed! Fame Resounds Across the Four Quarters!

Just as the many Evil Cult martial artists prepared to retreat, an immensely powerful dark aura surged from the distant forest.

It tightened the hearts of all present, making some struggle to breathe.

Then,

A red figure shot out from the woods like lightning.

In a few flashes, she arrived near the City Gate.

Revealing a woman of exquisite beauty.

It was none other than Zhao Yuanjing, the Demon Witch.

"Is this the power of the Innate?"

The martial artists on the city wall stared at her with utter terror.

This aura made anyone feel no desire to resist.

Some weaker martial artists were forced to their knees by her pressure, their faces filled with dread.

"The Venerable Lord has arrived."

The many Evil Cult martial artists immediately halted their flight, their morale surging sharply, faces beaming with joy.

"Hah… the Venerable Lord's power has greatly increased—this city will surely fall."

A group of them began discussing on the open ground, all wearing confident expressions.

This Innate aura was no fake—it was at least a top-tier Strong Person who had achieved Flesh Body Breakthrough.

These County City people could never stand against it.

Lu Zhangsheng is doomed; letting the Government lose a genius is a Great Merit.

Wei Shaoxuan, Ye Yunze, and the others all moved toward Zhao Yuanjing, their panic gradually fading.

Qin Ruobing, Xiao Tianci, and the rest wore grim expressions.

"This woman hasn't truly broken through to Innate—she's only a Pseudo-Innate who achieved Flesh Body Breakthrough, but even so, she's terrifying."

Qin Ruobing's tone was extremely grave.

Her gaze toward Lu Zhangsheng carried a thread of concern.

She feared Lu Zhangsheng could not defeat this woman.

The gap between Tuotai Perfection and a Flesh Body Breakthrough Innate martial artist is vast; most cannot withstand it.

The martial artists on the city wall also looked at Lu Zhangsheng with deep worry.

Only Lu Daren can now step forward to face this Demon Witch—if he fails, the consequences are unimaginable.

Fang Qing and her brother, along with Yue Shulan and the others, wore expressions of deep anxiety.

This Demon Witch's aura was simply too shocking.

A single thread of Innate pressure filled the women with despair.

"Changsheng, don't overextend yourself."

Qin Ruobing spoke solemnly to Lu Zhangsheng.

Even if the city falls and hundreds of thousands are slaughtered, it cannot compare to the loss of a single genius martial artist.

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly, saying nothing in reply.

He held his weapon, silently watching Zhao Yuanjing ahead; a gentle breeze stirred his White Long Robe, and his entire body radiated a mountain-like, majestic aura.

"Boy, you truly have guts—not fleeing even when facing This Seat?"

Zhao Yuanjing flicked her hair, smiling seductively.

She felt a thread of admiration for this genius.

His rapid rise from a Commoner's body astonished her greatly.

After all, he was the only one who had repeatedly bested her.

Seeing Lu Zhangsheng ignore her, Zhao Yuanjing was not angry—she smiled again: "If you return the Golden Buddha to This Seat and join the Holy Gate, This Seat will forgive your past offenses and recommend you as Vice Cult Leader."

"Wouldn't it be better if we turned swords into jade?"

Lu Zhangsheng sneered: "What if This Seat refuses?"

The energy of the Demon Heart of Seduction had long since been fully absorbed—he could not return it.

Hearing this, Zhao Yuanjing's eyes turned icy, yet she forcibly suppressed her rage:

"If you return this object, This Seat could even share the Dual Cultivation Great Dao with you…"

As she spoke, she licked her lips, her waist swaying slightly, radiating overwhelming seduction.

To fully break through to Innate, she had gone all-in—this Demon Heart of Seduction was too vital to her.

Nearby martial artists, seeing this, swallowed hard, their eyes burning with desire as they stared at Zhao Yuanjing.

They longed to devour her alive.

Even Lu Zhangsheng's lower abdomen warmed slightly.

"This Demon Witch's Seduction Art has grown even more potent since her breakthrough."

He showed a trace of caution—Pseudo-Innate Strong Persons might not be so easy to defeat.

"Pah… damn Demon Witch."

Fang Qing and the other women silently cursed inside.

Some nearby men displayed vulgar physical reactions, making the women blush.

"That Demon Heart of Seduction has already been destroyed by This Seat—give up on that idea."

Lu Zhangsheng spoke casually, shattering her illusions outright.

"You seek death—This Seat swears I will grind your bones to dust and scatter your ashes."

Zhao Yuanjing's face turned utterly grim, her eyes exploding with murderous intent.

Seeing all hope vanish completely, she was driven mad.

Relying solely on her Martial Dao Will, it would take at least several years before she could attempt another breakthrough.

Her heart's venom had reached its peak.

With her own strength, this man must die today without doubt.

"Let's see how you escape! Kill!"

Zhao Yuanjing raised her weapon and charged straight at Lu Zhangsheng.

Blood Fiend Qi surged from her entire body, her aura terrifyingly immense.

"Angering the Venerable Lord, Lu Zhangsheng is doomed."

Many Heretic Cultivators looked at Lu Zhangsheng as if he were already dead.

Those on the city wall, sensing Zhao Yuanjing's attack, were filled with terror.

Of the many Martial Artists on the city wall, none could likely withstand this woman for even a few strikes.

Even in Qingning Prefecture, Pseudo-Innate strength qualifies as a Strong Person.

Qin Ruobing and the others grew increasingly tense, ready to flee the County City at any moment.

At that moment, Lu Zhangsheng moved.

His body shifted like thunderbolts racing.

"Slash."

Lu Zhangsheng, equally unwilling to yield, raised his blade and charged forward.

With his Step Technique activated, he flashed forward several times and arrived before the woman.

He raised his blade and slashed forward.

A blinding flash of cold light shimmered through the air, like a mountain descending from above, carrying overwhelming pressure.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

A deafening roar echoed; the ground's bricks cracked in waves, dust and smoke rolled everywhere.

A single clash.

Lu Zhangsheng stood firmly on the open ground, his Aura Shield erupting around him, firmly repelling all force.

Not even a ripple disturbed the pure white Aura Shield.

He calmly regarded Zhao Yuanjing, his expression as placid as water.

Zhao Yuanjing stood frozen in place, feeling the tidal force surging through her hands, her face filled with shock.

"This is impossible! Your body hasn't broken through—you're still at Tuotai Perfection!"

She found it hard to believe.

Her full-power strike had been blocked without a single scratch.

This sent a tidal wave crashing through her heart.

This boy is utterly unnatural—every time they clashed, his strength surged.

A chill rose from within her body.

If this continues, he will likely break into Innate Strength before long.

This she could never accept.

Outside the city, the group of Heretic Cultivators stared at Lu Zhangsheng in stunned silence.

"This… he blocked the Venerable Lord's fatal strike?"

The scene they expected never came; their eyes brimmed with disbelief.

"Good, very good."

The many Xuanjia Army soldiers on the city wall roared in jubilation, their morale surging instantly.

Who could have imagined Lu Zhangsheng would match this Demon Witch evenly, fully holding her back?

Even Qin Ruobing and the others wore expressions of joy.

Lu Zhangsheng's strength once again surprised Qin Ruobing.

This level of power already carried a trace of Innate Strength's aura.

Fang Qing and the other girls beside her blushed with excitement.

They no longer had to flee.

As the crowd's thoughts diverged, the two resumed battle.

"Die, for This Seat!"

Zhao Yuanjing roared.

Her demonic aura surged violently; blood-red patterns spread across her face, and a pure white fox tail emerged behind her.

Seeing she could not suppress Lu Zhangsheng, she activated her Demon Blood Essence within, going all out.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng did not yield; his entire body's Aura Shield erupted instantly.

"Sssss…"

Thick, immense Aura Shield enveloped his whole body, glowing with radiant light, astonishingly divine.

His entire form began to float; fallen leaves swirled around him. Then—

Lu Zhangsheng charged forward with his blade.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

They fought fiercely at the City Gate.

Violent explosions echoed to the heavens; the ground's bricks cracked in waves, dust and smoke rolled across the entire Battlefield.

The crowd around stared fixedly at the battlefield ahead.

Two figures—one white, one red—darted swiftly through the air, endless blade lights interweaving, their aura growing ever more terrifying.

Some low-rank Martial Artists, sensing this power, trembled with fear.

As time gradually passed.

The two continued their fierce battle.

Lu Zhangsheng, relying on his supreme protective Aura Shield, held his ground without yielding; his strikes grew increasingly violent, offering no evasion, demanding direct confrontation.

Zhao Yuanjing's expression grew ever more grim.

Even after unleashing her Demon Blood Essence, she could not harm Lu Zhangsheng in the slightest.

This sent a chill through her heart.

Only now did she have to admit: she could not kill Lu Zhangsheng.

His strength was no weaker than hers.

To match her, a Pseudo-Innate Strong Person, with only Tuotai Perfection cultivation—this was simply unbelievable.

Outside the city, the Heretic Cultivators' eyes shifted from initial confidence to utter terror, their earlier arrogance completely gone.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the battlefield ahead.

Many even realized clearly: they probably could not break through this city.

"Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!"

The Martial Artists on the city walls shouted in unison, their roar shaking the heavens.

This city had finally held.

Lu Zhangsheng stood like an imposing mountain, causing the Pseudo-Innate Strong Person to hesitate and retreat.

Everyone looked at Lu Zhangsheng with deep reverence.

"Boom… boom…"

At that moment, Zhao Yuanjing unleashed a full-power slash against Lu Zhangsheng's Aura Shield.

"Sssss…"

The Aura Shield shimmered with flowing light, utterly unmoved as a mountain, while simultaneously rebounding with force.

She used that recoil to leap sharply backward.

After several flashes, she vanished from the battlefield.

"Retreat!"

Seeing this, the Heretic Cultivators fled en masse, like a receding tide.

The entire battlefield erupted in clouds of dust.

Lu Zhangsheng silently watched Zhao Yuanjing's retreating figure, choosing not to pursue.

Their strengths were evenly matched; he could not yet kill a Flesh Body Transformation Strong Person.

At this moment, he felt immense relief—he had shattered her years-long scheme; otherwise, this woman would have truly broken through to Innate Strength.

Then he leapt upward, landing steadily on the city wall, and walked toward his small courtyard amid the respectful gazes of those around him.

"We respectfully see off Lord Lu."

The Martial Artists bowed their hands, watching silently as Lu Zhangsheng's back faded, their hearts stirred with emotion.

They all knew: from now on, Changping County would enter Lu Zhangsheng's era.

………………

In the following days.

News of Lu Zhangsheng instantly slaying a Tuotai Perfection cultivator and resisting the Heretic Demon Witch spread throughout Qingning Prefecture.

Countless Martial Artists were stunned, beginning heated discussions.

No one had expected that in this backwater corner of Changping County, a "Zhenyuan" had been raised—a genius-level talent rare even in the Prefecture City.

Those who had taken the Deputy Hall Master examination months ago were especially shaken.

The genius they had searched for days to find had been right here in Changping County.

This drew many Martial Artists rushing toward Changping County, eager to witness Lu Zhangsheng's glory.

Meanwhile.

The Black Mountain Bandits surrounding Changping County withdrew, hiding even deeper.

Under Lu Zhangsheng's guard, no one dared attack the city again.

The city's hundreds of thousands of residents wept with joy, spontaneously erecting Changsheng Memorial Tablets to worship him day and night.

Everything seemed to be slowly improving.

Five days later.

Night, moon bright, stars sparse.

Beneath Black Mountain, in a Dense Forest.

Lu Zhangsheng stood with hands behind his back, clad in white robes, strolling beneath the moonlight like a Saintly Mortal Exile descending to earth.

The clear moonlight filtered through the leaves, falling upon his shoulders, dappling the ground.

After spending several days at home, he prepared to begin clearing the forces around the County City.

The Black Mountain Bandits, this chronic ailment, must be eradicated.

Lu Zhangsheng leapt upward, racing toward the mountaintop like lightning.

"Who's there? Human or ghost?"

A mountain guard spotted the anomaly, face pale with fear.

Before he could react—

The cold gleam pierced through his neck in an instant.

A great spray of fresh blood gushed out, dyeing a large patch of the bluestone beneath his feet red.

"Enemy attack… mmgh…"

A low horn blast echoed across the entire Black Mountain, and a group of Bandits reacted swiftly, raising their weapons and charging at Lu Zhangsheng.

"Whoosh…"

Lu Zhangsheng raised his blade and cut through the crowd, each swing claiming several lives.

Crimson lotus blossoms bloomed beneath his feet.

He slaughtered his way forward, rushing swiftly toward the mountaintop.

【Killing Intent increasing…】

【Killing Intent increasing…】

……

As the souls claimed by his blade piled up, his Killing Intent was soaring at a tremendous pace.

Lu Zhangsheng was like a merciless Death God, wantonly reaping the lives ahead.

He felt no moral discomfort at all in exterminating this group of Bandits.

Before long, when Lu Zhangsheng reached the mountaintop, there were no living Bandits left ahead.

Fresh blood dyed the entire mountain path red.

【Killing Intent has risen to forty percent.】

A crisp notification chime rang through his mind.

Through his own wanton slaughter, his comprehension of Killing Intent grew ever clearer.

With this breakthrough in Martial Dao True Intent, his own strength rose another notch.

He planned to cultivate his Killing Intent to full mastery before breaking through to Innate.

When the time came, he would rely on Heavenly Resonance to transform his Martial Dao True Intent once more.

This was the path walked by every Top Heaven's Proud Son.

Regarding his own Martial Dao Cultivation, Lu Zhangsheng had always pursued the extreme, tolerating not the slightest misstep.

This too was the foundation that let him fight across ranks.

At that moment, from the Main Hall ahead, the two stronghold lords Su Qilong and the other walked out, faces full of terror.

"Lord Lu, spare our lives!"

The two dropped to their knees on the spot.

They had long since heard the commotion, yet not dared to engage Lu Zhangsheng in the slightest.

The battle at the County City a few days prior had utterly shattered the courage of the two.

"Whoosh…"

The only answer the two received was a flash of cold gleam.

Blade Light was seen but no blade; the flash of light sliced across both their necks in an instant.

As two heads rolled to the ground, a great spray of fresh blood gushed out.

The two men's eyes were still wide open, filled with utter disbelief.

In their hearts, two subordinates at Tuotai Perfection would have been better off alive than dead.

Lu Zhangsheng's expression remained as calm and flat as water throughout.

He had no need for two ticking time bombs at his side; killing them once and for all would also serve as Grain for his Killing Intent.

If these two had fought to the death, they could have held out for some time.

But sadly, the two had long since lost any will to fight.

This also gave Lu Zhangsheng a certain warning.

Even when a Martial Artist is pushed to the brink of despair, he must never forget the blade in his hand.

Next, Lu Zhangsheng searched through the mountain stronghold, stowed a large haul of gold and silver into his Panel Space, and headed down the mountain.

In the days that followed, Lu Zhangsheng struck repeatedly, sweeping away the demonic and bandit forces around the County City.

He slew a great number of Martial Artists, causing the Evil Cult forces around Changping County to tremble at his name.

For a time, Lu Zhangsheng's great name grew ever more renowned, shaking all of Qingning Prefecture.

The hundreds of thousands within Changping County felt as if the gloom above their heads had been lifted, the tense atmosphere swept clean away.

(End of chapter)