"What?! Challenging ng Fang?"
"How could anyone challenge ng 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 ng Fang?"
"Maybe he doesn't know who Senior Brother ng Fang is?"
For a mont, many outer sect disciples looked at Lu Changsheng with bewildered expressions. ng Fang was one of the Three Untouchables; challenging him was asking for humiliation.
"Are you sure you want to challenge ng Fang?"
The outer sect steward widened his eyes. He knew Lu Changsheng, but he knew ng Fang even better. He did not believe that Lu Changsheng had never heard of ng 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 ng Fang. Why? Is there a problem?" Lu Changsheng said evenly.
"Of course, there's no problem. ng 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 soone send the ssage to ng Fang.
ng 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 soone—ng 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 deanor. Now it was clear to everyone that Lu Changsheng was truly determined to challenge ng Fang.
For three entire years, none of the outer sect's Three Untouchables had been challenged. And now, soone was openly challenging ng Fang himself. Naturally, this was a montous affair.
"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 ng Fang? Has he lost his mind?"
"This is madness. Senior Brother ng Fang also entered through the Heavenly Stairway back then, but he lay low in the outer sect for years before growing in fa and strength. Only after that did he seize scion disciple status and beco one of the greatest, undefeated to this day. Lu Changsheng hasn't even been here that long and already wants to make a na for himself?"
"Senior Brother ng 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, so 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. So had even wondered whether his failure to return within three months ant he had been delayed by sothing serious. But deep down, they had always felt it was only a matter of ti 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 imdiately 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 ng Fang. If anything, they were more confident in Lu Changsheng himself. ng 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, soone from the steward's office arrived at Courtyard No. 8. In that courtyard, ng Fang was practicing a secret technique. He had only two years left before reaching the ten-year limit for outer sect disciples.
ng 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 mont 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.
ng 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 sa ti, he also dabbled in so 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 rely guaranteed success. In theory, even an Intent at one hundred percent progress could condense divine fortification, though the odds were extrely low. ng 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 extrely advantageous, as it ca 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 ti to exchange for three more Dao Comprehension Pills. By then, I can begin condensing divine fortification and advance to the inner sect.
ng 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. "ng Fang, the outer sect disciple Lu Changsheng has issued a challenge for you. Do you accept, or will you forfeit your position?"
"Soone has challenged... ?" ng 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 ?"
ng Fang frowned. A novice disciple dared to challenge him? He was sowhat vexed by this. His ti was ant to be spent comprehending Intents or Domains, or completing tasks to obtain double rewards. He did not want to waste his precious ti on pointless fights, but rules were rules.
ng 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 newcor seriously. In his eyes, this was sothing to be dealt with swiftly, in just a few minutes.
By the ti they returned to the outer sect steward's office, a crowd of disciples had already gathered. Wang Cheng was among them, with two won standing at his side. Both stared at Lu Changsheng as he sat cross-legged, their eyes filled with astonishnt.
"Wang Cheng, you really did luck out back then. Lu Changsheng must've been delayed by sothing. 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 ng Fang, he must have so confidence."
"To enter the sect through the Heavenly Stairway, it ans either his ntal strength is powerful and willpower is astonishing, or he's already evolved a Domain. Back then, everyone assud Lu Changsheng simply possessed an exceptionally resolute will and formidable ntal strength. But four months after entering the sect, he cos forward to challenge ng 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 ng Fang, then he's gravely mistaken. How could an ordinary, half-baked Domain compare to Senior Brother ng Fang's? No one knows how far Senior Brother ng Fang has already progressed in his Domain. The difference must be great..."
User Comments
0 comments from readers