Lu Changsheng smiled and said.
Li Guang also smiled.
Indeed, given the relationship between Lu Changsheng and him.
To say that Lu Changsheng had the support of the Li family—who would doubt it?
The next day, Li Guang sent someone to deliver the information.
Lu Changsheng reviewed it carefully.
The data was incredibly detailed.
It covered some Spirit Stone Mines near Heavenly Saint City and the forces behind those mines.
Even the intricate and entangled relationships between these forces and others were meticulously documented.
Some of the information was so classified it could be deemed top secret.
Only a major power like the Li Commerce could possibly have access to such high-level intelligence, and now it was all handed over to Lu Changsheng without reservation.
Judging solely from this detailed dossier, the Li family was anything but ordinary.
As expected from the local overlords of Heavenly Saint City!
"Heavenly Saint City has eight top-tier forces in total."
"These eight forces are further divided into three Upper Forces and five Lower Forces. The difference lies in the fact that the three Upper Forces are currently backed by Martial Saints, while the five Lower Forces were established by Martial Saints in the past, and thus have a deep heritage."
"Although the five Lower Forces lack a Martial Saint now, each of them has a Martial Venerable overseeing their faction."
Lu Changsheng meticulously examined the information.
He noticed the detail that each of the five Lower Forces had a Martial Venerable in command.
Martial Venerable was not actually a realm but merely an honorary title.
Or rather, a title of combat prowess!
A Martial Venerable was also a Divine Power Martial Artist.
It referred to those who were invincible within the Divine Power Realm, crushing all opponents.
They were nearly unmatched.
One could go no further in the Divine Power Realm.
Those who achieved the title of Martial Venerable were almost undefeated in battle.
Whenever they made a move, victory was practically guaranteed.
This detail left Lu Changsheng somewhat puzzled.
Logically speaking, the number of Martial Venerables should be exceedingly rare.
Yet, why did each of the five Lower Forces have a Martial Venerable in charge?
"Martial Venerable... perhaps some of them are merely exaggerations."
Lu Changsheng’s gaze turned cold, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The title of Martial Venerable was just that—a title.
As a title, it had immense room for manipulation.
For instance, exaggeration.
Lu Changsheng, having risen step by step from a lowly martial artist to his current position, was well-acquainted with the martial arts clan’s penchant for boasting.
This one called themselves a Sword God, that one a Sword Saint.
This one was Blood Slaughter, that one Human Slaughter.
People constantly claimed titles like kings, patriarchs, sect founders, or ancestors.
But were their actual combat abilities as formidable as their titles suggested?
For example, even a butcher dared to call himself Zhen Guanxi—so why not others?
The so-called "Martial Venerables" were merely creations of the martial arts world, derived from a bit of manipulation and hype to attain such recognition.
With the heritage and influence of the five Lower Forces, it would be relatively easy for them to orchestrate such a thing.
As a result, even though the five Lower Forces lacked Martial Saints, they continuously produced Martial Venerables without interruption over the generations.
But true Martial Venerables weren’t so easily found.
"The five Lower Forces..."
Lu Changsheng re-examined the information.
Besides the so-called Martial Venerables, he also noticed that the five Lower Forces were intricately tied to the three Upper Forces.
Even the Li family itself, one of the three Upper Forces, maintained close ties with one or two of the Lower Forces.
This reflected exactly what Li Guang had mentioned—the web of relations was deeply entangled and highly complex.
"The Lower Forces should not be touched."
Lu Changsheng had already made up his mind.
The so-called Martial Venerables were of no concern to him.
He himself was a Martial Venerable, and he wielded the Infinite Divine Power—the mark of a true Martial Venerable!
How could the so-called "Martial Venerables" created through hype possibly compare to Lu Changsheng?
However, if the Lower Forces were also deeply connected to the Upper Forces, involving Martial Saints, he would naturally tread cautiously.
After all, his goal was to establish a Holy Land Heavenly Sect, providing martial artists from the Ancient Domain’s Heavenly Sect with a foothold in the Holy Land.
This meant he needed to ensure absolute stability!
Even when "seizing" Spirit Stone Mines to enrich the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, he would leave no open threads or hidden dangers.
The matter would have to be clean and decisive.
As such, none of the eight top-tier forces—neither Upper nor Lower—would be his targets.
Apart from the eight top-tier forces in Heavenly Saint City, the rest of the factions fell into secondary tiers.
There were numerous such factions.
However, only a few of them actually owned Spirit Stone Mines.
After all, those with significant Spirit Stone Mines were typically already divided among the eight top-tier forces.
How could there be any left for the others?
Yet, for various reasons, some secondary-tier forces did possess Spirit Stone Mines.
"These Spirit Stone Mines must be obtained!"
"Now, the question is: which faction shall be the target?"
Lu Changsheng was not about to show mercy.
"The Sanluo Chamber of Commerce? Hmm, its background is incredibly complex. It’s said to be connected to multiple forces beyond Heavenly Saint City. While it does possess a Spirit Stone Mine, taking it by force would likely bring countless troubles."
"I’m not afraid of trouble myself, but the Holy Land Heavenly Sect is different. Endless trouble would be a major detriment to its future."
"Myriad Sword Manor! Hmm, this is a Sword Dao clan that has produced many Sword Dao experts in the past. It controls a Spirit Stone Mine of decent quality."
"The Myriad Sword Manor’s background is strikingly simple, with no significant entanglements with other forces. Their possession of a decent-quality Spirit Stone Mine was purely achieved through strength."
"That’s because Myriad Sword Manor has a true Martial Venerable, the Sword Master Chen Peng!"
"Chen Peng is a top-tier Divine Power Realm martial artist who has mastered a Sword Dao Great Divine Power. Yes, a Sword Dao Great Divine Power! With its unrivaled sharp offensive capabilities, Chen Peng swept across the martial world for years without a single defeat, earning him the title of Sword Master!"
As Lu Changsheng analyzed the Myriad Sword Manor, his eyes lit up more and more.
"Sword Master Chen Peng..."
Lu Changsheng murmured softly.
A Sword Dao Great Divine Power, was it?
Sword Master Chen Peng had relied on his Sword Dao Great Divine Power to dominate his peers, achieve invincibility, and solidify his reputation as Sword Master!
He had even allowed the Myriad Sword Manor to claim a Spirit Stone Mine.
"Myriad Sword Manor, Chen Peng!"
A gleam of resolve flashed in Lu Changsheng’s eyes.
He had made his choice!
Lu Changsheng then approached Li Guang.
"Brother Li, I intend to challenge Myriad Sword Manor’s Sword Master Chen Peng."
"If Chen Peng loses, he must relinquish the Spirit Stone Mine under Myriad Sword Manor."
"If I lose... I will accept any consequence!"
Lu Changsheng said calmly.
Fighting for a mine could be done openly and legitimately.
After all, Lu Changsheng was no weakling.
He had the qualifications to issue the challenge.
Because he was a Martial Venerable!
With that identity alone, Lu Changsheng possessed the confidence!
A Martial Venerable challenging a Sword Master.
If Chen Peng lost, Myriad Sword Manor would only lose one Spirit Stone Mine at most.
The Manor would still remain the Myriad Sword Manor.
But if Chen Peng refused the challenge,
it would turn into a covert attack.
In such a scenario, there would be no choice but to eliminate them entirely, and Myriad Sword Manor would face the risk of annihilation! Googlᴇ search Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
"Brother Lu, do you really have to do this?"
"Though you’ve condensed the Infinite Divine Power, Sword Master Chen Peng has never known defeat in countless battles. His reputation as Sword Master was genuinely earned!"
Li Guang couldn’t help but voice a reminder.
"Brother Lu has thought it through. I must proceed!"
Lu Changsheng’s tone was resolute.
"Very well, then I will convey your intent to Myriad Sword Manor."
"A Martial Venerable issuing an open challenge—Chen Peng won’t refuse!"
Lu Changsheng nodded slightly. "Then I’ll leave it to Brother Li."
After all, with the Li family passing on the message to Myriad Sword Manor, it carried special weight.
Soon after, Lu Changsheng quietly awaited the response from Myriad Sword Manor.