Before long, Lu Changsheng was brought to a carriage. It was spacious and comfortable. The driver, a middle-aged man, was also a martial artist of the Divine Strength Realm.
"What is your na?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"In the Martial Pavilion, I have only an alias. For this mission, my alias is Coachman," the man replied respectfully.
Lu Changsheng nodded. He could tell that this man was likely a death-sworn retainer of the Martial Pavilion, possessing loyalty that could not be shaken.
"Very well, Coachman. Let us depart."
"Yes, Mr. Lu."
Coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage carrying Lu Changsheng slowly rolled out of Beiling City, traveling south.
The journey was long, and soon, nearly a full month passed on the road. They could have moved faster, but Lu Changsheng was in no hurry, so they did not travel day and night.
As they were constantly on the move, Lu Changsheng rarely cultivated, and when he did, he only cultivated the Sense Domain. He would use it occasionally to practice, but its progress rate had increased by a re five percent.
It seed it'd be a long and slow journey to get it to a hundred percent.
However, Domains were inherently difficult to cultivate anyway. If it hadn't been for Lu Changsheng's extraordinary Perception, it would have stagnated. For most people, once a Domain was ford, further progress was nearly impossible.
Late one day, the carriage slowed to a stop. Distant mountains had co into view, and their peaks rose layer upon layer into the clouds.
"We have arrived at the Celestial Foothills Mountain Range," Coachman said.
Lu Changsheng lifted the carriage curtain. "The Celestial Foothills Mountain Range..."
He stepped out of the carriage and looked up. Before him stood a towering peak of the Celestial Foothills Mountain. It was the main peak of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.
"How do I go up?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"The Heavenly Stairway. Climb it, and you'll enter the sect," Coachman replied.
"The Heavenly Stairway?"
Looking into the distance, Lu Changsheng saw a narrow line of stone steps winding upward. The staircase was barely wide enough for one person and rose steeply toward the summit. On either side lay a sheer abyss; one misstep would result in instant death.
"There seems to be another path beside it that also leads to the summit."
Using his Sense Domain, Lu Changsheng had already detected another mountain trail.
"That is true, but only those who enter through the Heavenly Stairway beco scion disciples," Coachman explained. "Scion disciples receive far better treatnt and start far ahead of ordinary disciples. The token given by the Martial Pavilion guarantees entry, but if you want the best treatnt the sect offers, you should climb the stairway.
"With Mr. Lu's strength and talent, there should be no problems."
Lu Changsheng nodded. The Heavenly Stairway was an examination, and those who entered the sect through it proved a certain level of talent.
Of course, he could still join the sect without it, but then he would have to compete from the bottom for cultivation resources. He'd probably have to wait a long ti before gaining access to top-tier Divine Fortification Realm martial arts.
Lu Changsheng stepped out of the carriage and walked toward the Heavenly Stairway. "Very well, let's go to the Heavenly Stairway."
If climbing the Heavenly Stairway would give him an early advantage in the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, then he would certainly climb it.
Many martial artists were gathered at the base of the Heavenly Stairway. Judging from their attire, they appeared to be part of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, and most of them were in the Divine Strength Realm.
When they saw Lu Changsheng and Coachman, their eyes lit up.
"Anyone climbing the Heavenly Stairway at this ti must be recomnded by one of the Northern Region's major factions," one said.
Another tried to extort Lu Changsheng, saying, "If you want to climb, you must pay first. Ten thousand taels per person. Fixed price."
Lu Changsheng frowned. "Ten thousand taels? What do you an?"
Why were they treating him like a fat sheep? Were these people truly disciples of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect?
"They are attendants of inner disciples," Coachman explained. "Every inner disciple keeps attendants."
"Attendants?" Lu Changsheng studied them for a mont, and then he calmly asked, "May I kill them?"
Coachman froze. After recalling Lu Changsheng's reputation on the Northern Region Battlefield, he nodded. "You may."
These n were only attendants, and their nas were not even recorded in the sect's register. Even if they died, it would cause nothing more than just a bit of displeasure from the inner disciples they served.
Lu Changsheng had slain even Tian Xin, so what harm could killing a few attendants bring?
Lu Changsheng moved toward the attendants, and they imdiately sensed trouble.
"W-what are you doing?" one asked.
"We're just attendants, but we serve the sect's inner disciples! If you offend us, your life after entering the sect will be filled with trouble..." another chid in.
Extorting newcors at the mountain's foot was routine for the attendants. Those who ca at this ti were recomnded by the imperial family or major factions and were generally wealthy. Ten thousand taels ant little to them, and most preferred to pay rather than invite trouble before entering the sect.
However, Lu Changsheng was not their typical victim.
Buzz!
Just then, the attendants felt their surroundings change.
The sky dimd, and stars glittered overhead. Within the dark skies, a three-thousand-chi waterfall descended from the heavens, creating a magnificent spectacle.
The attendants, however, did not admire it. Having spent years in the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, they imdiately recognized the sight, and their expressions changed. "This is bad... It's an Intent!"
Whoosh!
Lu Changsheng swung his saber. A crimson saber light tore through the air, split into five streaks, and struck the five attendants who had tried to extort him.
Splurt!
Their eyes widened, and their heads fell to the ground imdiately afterward. They hadn't reached the Hundred Cauldrons Stage, so they could not withstand a single strike.
The attendants were surely backed by inner disciples. This ant that before entering the sect, Lu Changsheng had already offended several Divine Fortification Realm cultivators, but he did not care.
The sll of blood quickly filled the air. Several attendants farther away dared not intervene, and their faces turned pale at the sight.
"Let's get out of here!"
They fled up the ordinary mountain path toward the summit. After witnessing Lu Changsheng's decisive attack, they knew they were facing a dangerous man. They were only attendants. Whatever master they served, survival ca first. After all, only the living had value.
Lu Changsheng paid them no further attention and walked to the Heavenly Stairway. He looked up at the towering peak, and without hesitation, he stepped onto it.
One step, two steps, and three steps. He advanced steadily. Aside from the biting wind and cold air, nothing felt unusual. However, it all changed when he reached halfway up the mountain and stepped onto the thirty-third step.
Whoosh!
A violent gale howled, and darkness closed in around him. Dense mist spread across the stairway, and he could no longer see the next step.
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