Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 182.2: Battle Atop Goose Mountain! A Strike from Lu Changsheng! (II)

The Flying Goose Tower was a rather unique force. Its business extended throughout the entire Ancient Region, yet it had never involved itself in conflicts between other powers. Not to mention, its intelligence network was extensive and far-reaching, allowing it to compile and maintain all kinds of rankings. Among them, the Dao Foundation Candidate List and the Foundation Establishment Candidate List held tremendous influence in both Martial Dao and Immortal Dao.

It just so happened that the Mission Hall housed the Flying Goose Tower’s Dao Foundation Candidate List. Unlike an ordinary board, it was actually a wondrous treasure, where as long as someone paid a certain price, words could be inscribed on it. Because of this, whenever the Flying Goose Tower had important news to announce, it would simply have it appear on the list or on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List alongside it.

"Oh, is the Flying Goose Tower about to announce something big? I wonder what it is..."

"You still haven't heard? It's probably about the two ranking systems being merged."

"The two lists? I've heard some rumors, but no one seems to know what's actually going on."

"Exactly. The news has been all over the place. No one knows how they're going to merge them."

"Oh, also, I've heard that Senior Brother Lu might fight Yu Feixiao."

"Yu Feixiao? The one ranked first on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List?"

"Yeah, him. They say the fight will decide who's truly number one on both rankings."

"Are you sure? Is it confirmed?"

"No, not yet. Still just a rumor."

Many disciples of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect had already heard bits and pieces of the news, but there were simply too many rumors going around. During this period, all sorts of information had been spreading across the Ancient Region, making it difficult to tell what was true and what was false. However, the Flying Goose Tower was about to deliver its announcement and finally confirm what was to come.

When Lu Changsheng stepped into the Mission Hall, he was met with a sea of disciples, all standing before the Dao Foundation Candidate List with their eyes fixed on it.

"Look! Isn't that Senior Brother Lu?"

"He came too? Then something big must really be happening."

"Today's announcement must be related to him, right?"

"Yeah. Otherwise, why would Senior Brother Lu suddenly show up at the Mission Hall?"

Many other disciples noticed Lu Changsheng and started whispering among themselves. At this point, there were probably very few people in the Mission Hall who had actually come to accept missions. Almost everyone was here because of the announcement.

As he moved forward, the crowd naturally parted to make way for him. He gave all of them a slight nod in acknowledgment, then walked straight to the foot of the Dao Foundation Candidate List.

He raised his head and looked up at it, waiting in silence along with everyone else. Even he did not know exactly what exactly the Flying Goose Tower was going to announce. At most, he could only make a few guesses.

Everyone was buzzing with anticipation, and eventually, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.

Buzz.

The Dao Foundation Candidate List suddenly began to tremble, a dazzling white light spilling from its surface. The glow lingered for a time before slowly fading, and when it did, every name on the list had disappeared, leaving behind only a few large words.

The instant those words appeared, the entire hall erupted into an uproar.

First on the Dao Foundation Candidate List: Lu Changsheng.

First on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List: Yu Feixiao.

Divine Treasury versus Immortal Master. Martial Dao versus Immortal Dao. Who will stand above the Ancient Region, seize first place across both rankings and dominate an entire generation?

On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the battle will be held atop Goose Mountain!

The words displayed on the Dao Foundation Candidate List made every disciple's heart surge with excitement.

"Is it true? Lu Changsheng and Yu Feixiao are really going to fight to decide who's first on both rankings?"

"The sixth day of the sixth month, atop Goose Mountain... The Flying Goose Tower is really going all out this time. Even though I know they're deliberately building up the hype, I still have to go. I want to see this battle with my own eyes."

"This might be the kind of battle that only takes place once in a thousand years. After all, aside from someone like Senior Brother Lu, what other Divine Treasury martial artist could challenge an Immortal Master?"

"Oh man, I can't wait for this! The Flying Goose Tower did well this time. I imagine they had to dig deep into their pockets to make this happen, but it's definitely worth it. I mean, a battle like this might be even more exciting than a fight between Dao Foundation experts."

"I'm not missing this for anything in the world!"

Countless disciples found themselves looking ahead to the sixth day of the sixth month.

On one side was Lu Changsheng, whose name was now resounding throughout the Ancient Region. On the other was a top Immortal Master who had held his place above the Immortal Dao for ten long years. More importantly, the two of them represented Martial Dao and Immortal Dao respectively, which guaranteed that all eyes would be on this fight.

Like everyone else, Lu Changsheng stood before the list and read the announcement. He looked at the names displayed on it, then at the heated reactions of the disciples around him, and immediately understood.

The Flying Goose Tower had already achieved its goal. No matter who won or lost, they were the true winners of this event.

Ten days left, huh?

Having learned the date of the big fight, Lu Changsheng turned to leave, but just then, a voice reached his ear.

"Lu Changsheng!"

He paused and turned back. Hall Master Zhong Yu had arrived at the Mission Hall and was now looking at him with a faint smile.

"Oh. Greetings, Hall Master."

"Lu Changsheng, come with me to the Enforcement Hall."

He hurried after Zhong Yu, and once they reached the inner hall, they sat down on the floor, cross-legged.

"Lu Changsheng, it seems you've seen the Flying Goose Tower's announcement for yourself. In ten days, you and Yu Feixiao will fight atop Goose Mountain. This battle will draw the eyes of the entire Ancient Region. The Martial Dao, Immortal Dao, Divine Treasury, Dao Foundation, Immortal Masters, Dao Lords... everyone will be watching," Zhong Yu said slowly.

"To the Flying Goose Tower, it doesn't really matter who emerges victorious. But to our sect, and even to the Martial Dao of the entire Ancient Region, this battle matters a great deal. Lu Changsheng, tell me honestly. How confident are you in defeating Yu Feixiao?"

Zhong Yu's words perhaps did not represent him alone but the will of the entire upper echelon of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. This battle had drawn close attention not only from the sect, but from the whole of Martial Dao as well.

"How confident am I?" Lu Changsheng began in an even tone. "I don't really know what kind of enchanted treasures Yu Feixiao might have up his sleeve, so I can't say for sure yet. But if he's still at the same level as before, then I'm certain I can win!"

"So confident?" Zhong Yu's eyes lit up.

Indeed, Lu Changsheng was confident—very confident. He was not arrogant in the slightest; rather, he truly believed in his strength and in his ability to use it to achieve victory. After all, Ling Miao herself had claimed that he could dominate this entire generation in both the Martial and Immortal Daos, and praise coming from an Immortal Master had to mean something.

Zhong Yu saw things just as clearly. As the master of the Enforcement Hall of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect and a peak Dao Foundation expert, he understood how vast the differences between Immortal Masters could be. Under the Immortal Dao, strength often hinged on external means.

Just as Lu Changsheng had pointed out, enchanted treasures were the most obvious example. A powerful one could amplify an Immortal Master’s strength several times over or sometimes even dozens of times. This was not an exaggeration but a simple truth. The only real constraint was mana. Without sufficient mana, the Immortal Master might not even be able to wield such a treasure at all.

And the more powerful the treasure, the greater the burden it placed on its user. Because of this, even those who possessed powerful treasures rarely sustained their use. More often than not, they would be brought out only for a brief moment—one decisive strike to determine the outcome of a battle.

For this battle against Lu Changsheng, there was a real chance that Yu Feixiao might obtain a powerful enchanted treasure. Even if he did not possess one himself, his sect might temporarily bestow one upon him for this upcoming fight.