Beiling City, martial arts practice building.
When Lu Changsheng arrived at the martial arts practice building, crowds of people eagerly flanked him on all sides.
"Congratulations to Mr. Dao for slaying Heavenly Heart, seizing the first rank on the Shen Power ranking, and dominating the northern battlefield!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out amidst the crowd.
Soon after, martial artists seemed to come to their senses, and they all shouted in unison.
Slaying Heavenly Heart, seizing the first rank on the Shen Power ranking!
What an incomparable honor!
Although the Shen Power ranking hasn’t been updated yet, the next update will undoubtedly see Sword12 atop the rankings!
The martial artists in Beiling City were thrilled beyond measure.
Some were even flushed with excitement.
Who would have thought that one day, the martial artists of the Great Fish Dynasty could slay Heavenly Heart and claim the top spot on the Shen Power ranking?
They never dared to even dream of it.
Yet now, it has become reality.
Lu Changsheng stepped into the martial arts practice building.
"I don’t have Heavenly Heart’s head, so do I count as having slain Heavenly Heart?"
Lu Changsheng asked slowly.
"Mr. Dao, you slew Heavenly Heart before countless witnesses, of course it counts."
"Slaying Heavenly Heart has earned you fifty thousand small merits!"
Fifty thousand small merits, combined with the thirty thousand from previously slaying Saint Origin One, totals eighty thousand small merits.
He still needs twenty thousand small merits to exchange for even the lowest tier Divine Astral Realm martial arts.
Of course, to Lu Changsheng, twenty thousand merits are hardly a significant obstacle.
At most, he just needs to hunt a few more times in the northern battlefield.
"By the way, do you recognize this medallion?"
He took out a medallion obtained from Heavenly Heart’s belongings.
"Northern Domain Heavenly Sect?"
The martial artists in the practice building immediately froze with a sharp gleam in their eyes.
"This is the medallion of a disciple from the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect. If it came from Heavenly Heart, it means he had already been admitted as a disciple of the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect."
The martial artist in the practice building said respectfully.
"A disciple of the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect?"
Lu Changsheng glanced at the martial artist in the practice building.
The other seemed rather nervous when talking about the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect.
"Heavenly Heart is dead; will the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect intervene in the northern battlefield?"
"No, that’s unlikely."
"The Northern Domain Heavenly Sect remains detached and above external affairs; they’ve never interfered in disputes between dynasties and nations."
"However, becoming a disciple of the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect is extremely difficult. There were rumors in the past speculating that Heavenly Heart might have become one of their disciples, but they were merely guesses."
"Now that we’ve found this medallion, it turns out those speculations were true—Heavenly Heart really joined the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect. Had he survived, a terrifying powerhouse would undoubtedly rise within the Northern Barbarians."
Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded lightly.
Indeed, even without joining the Northern Domain Heavenly Sect, Heavenly Heart’s innate talent and intelligence would have made him a frightening force to reckon with in the future.
The Divine Astral Realm was certainly not the pinnacle of Heavenly Heart’s potential.
Unfortunately, no matter how brilliant he was, he ultimately perished.
Lu Changsheng returned to his courtyard.
He still needed twenty thousand small merits to reach the total of one hundred thousand and exchange for Divine Astral Realm martial arts.
Thus, the next day, Lu Changsheng ventured once more into the northern battlefield.
But his harvests were scarce.
The Northern Barbarians seemed to have significantly decreased in number.
It was as though they no longer dared to enter the northern battlefield.
This continued for several days.
Gradually, as time passed, the presence of Northern Barbarians on the northern battlefield diminished further.
Lu Changsheng spent over ten days before finally amassing the additional twenty thousand small merits.
"What’s going on? Are the Northern Barbarians planning to abandon the northern battlefield?"
Lu Changsheng faintly speculated.
Heavenly Heart’s death meant that the Northern Barbarians could no longer find anyone capable of contending with Sword12.
And with Lu Changsheng’s mastery of the Wind Perception Concept, he could dominate the northern battlefield effortlessly.
For the Northern Barbarians, entering the battlefield now would be tantamount to suicide.
Who would willingly face death?
Most likely, the Northern Barbarians were conceding defeat.
Admitting defeat on the northern battlefield would also mean they’d cease their attempts to invade southward.
Victory in the northern battlefield would mark an overall triumph for the Great Fish Dynasty!
Of course, this was only Lu Changsheng’s conjecture.
As long as the Northern Barbarians hadn’t formally withdrawn, it was too soon to claim victory.
"With one hundred thousand small merits, I can now exchange for Divine Astral Realm martial arts at the martial arts practice building."
Lu Changsheng had finally accumulated one hundred thousand small merits.
He then set off toward the martial arts practice building.
"Greetings, Mr. Dao."
Along the way, many proactively greeted Lu Changsheng.
From their gazes, Lu Changsheng could sense their sincere respect for him.
The first-ranked on the Shen Power ranking!
Currently, nearly everyone believed this.
Only the Shen Power ranking update remained.
In half a month, the Shen Power ranking would be updated.
By then, Lu Changsheng would officially be recognized as the first-ranked on the Shen Power ranking, reigning supreme over the northern battlefield!
The name of Sword12 would spread endlessly in all directions.
Lu Changsheng arrived at the martial arts practice building.
"I have one hundred thousand small merits. Can I exchange them for Divine Astral Realm martial arts now?"
The martial artist at the practice building responded respectfully, "Of course, you may exchange them for Divine Astral Realm martial arts."
"However, as the first martial artist in the practice building to reach one hundred thousand small merits, our Vice Tower Master wishes to meet with you."
"Once you’ve met the Vice Tower Master, if you still wish to exchange the merits, we’ll naturally accommodate your request."
Lu Changsheng frowned slightly.
He knew that the martial arts practice building in Beiling City was essentially overseen by the Vice Tower Master.
Stories say the Vice Tower Master is a mighty Divine Astral Realm presence.
"Very well, take me to meet your Vice Tower Master."
Lu Changsheng nodded and followed the martial artist to the second floor of the practice building. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet
The second floor was much quieter.
It was occupied primarily by staff of the practice building.