Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques-Chapter 117.2: Stronger than His Rank! As Strong as a Thousand Cauldrons Stage Expert! (II)
"Look, Mr. Dao is here."
Just then, someone with sharp eyes spotted a familiar figure approaching the Martial Pavilion from afar.
"Hm?"
Lu Changsheng lifted his head and looked around. There were people everywhere, and all of them were looking at him with gazes burning with fervor. Something had to have happened!
"Mr. Dao! The news that you escaped the encirclement of four Thousand Cauldrons experts has already spread all over Beiling City. The northern barbarians are going crazy with fury! Hahaha, you've really made us proud!"
The cacophony of voices made Lu Changsheng understand the reason behind their clamor. However, he didn't wish to talk about it. After all, he had fled in haste. That much was undeniable.
In the eyes of the Da Yu Dynasty's martial artists, however, his actions had greatly humiliated the enemy, and he became a hero, boosting everyone's morale.
No matter how others saw it, Lu Changsheng himself did not think that he was a hero. If he truly deserved that title, he ought to have slain those four martial artists.
Lu Changsheng said nothing and walked into the Martial Pavilion. He wove through the crowd and walked straight toward the far end of the street.
After a while, he came to a halt before a courtyard.
Lu Changsheng knew the owner of the courtyard. It belonged to Lone Wanderer, You Shifei, ranked eighteenth on the Divine Strength Rankings.
In truth, many powerful martial artists had already formed squads. This included many among the top twenty. The top three stood aloof, devoid of squads, and no one could persuade them to make one.
From the fourth to the twentieth, most were northern barbarians. Only a small number belonged to the Da Yu Dynasty, and among those who had not yet formed squads, You Shifei was one of them. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
His title, "Lone Wanderer," spoke for itself. He never had a squad. Many powerful figures had tried asking him to be part of their squad, but he refused them every time.
However, Lu Changsheng intended to give it a shot. He knew that You Shifei had enmity with the northern barbarians, and it was a clan annihilation feud at that.
He felt like You Shifei wouldn't refuse his offer as long as he could kill more northern barbarians.
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and said, "Greetings, You Shifei, I'm Dao Shi'er."
Creak!
The door opened, and a martial artist in black robes appeared. He radiated an aura as cold as ice.
"Dao Shi'er?" You Shifei sized up Dao Shi'er from head to toe, and a hint of curiosity shimmered in his eyes.
Dao Shi'er's rank on the Divine Strength Rankings could not compare to his own, but in terms of influence and fame, Dao Shi'er did not lag behind him in the slightest. In fact, Dao Shi'er's influence was even greater than his.
"Are you going to make me speak outside?" Lu Changsheng asked.
You Shifei frowned slightly, but in the end, he stepped aside and said, "Please, come in."
Lu Changsheng entered the small courtyard. It was simple and unadorned, clearly occupied by only one person. The two sat down on meditation cushions.
Not wanting to beat around the bush, You Shifei asked, "What is it? You can say it now."
"I'm here to invite you to form a squad with me."
"A squad? Not interested," You Shifei said, rejecting it without even thinking about it. He was a lone wolf. Whenever he wanted to kill, he'd go to the Northern Region Battlefield by himself. He had no desire to be constrained by a squad.
Lu Changsheng had once thought the same way, but his mindset changed after being besieged by four martial artists.
"Great Hero You, if you team up with me, you'll be running into those northern barbarians nonstop once we step into the Northern Region Battlefield.
"The number of northern barbarians you'll end up killing will be several times more than what you've killed so far. You've been on the Northern Region Battlefield for so long, but have you killed more northern barbarians than me in just a month and a half?"
Lu Changsheng's words made You Shifei freeze. Everyone was aware of Dao Shi'er's feats. He would go to the Northern Region Battlefield every day to "harvest" those northern barbarians. Every day, he'd return with their heads.
Everyone had seen that for themselves. In stark contrast, whenever You Shifei wanted to find them, he had to rely on luck.
If he teamed up with Dao Shi'er, he would definitely be able to kill to his heart's content.
"Only the two of us?" You Shifei asked, feeling a bit tempted.
"Of course not. I intend to build a strong squad. One that is capable of handling most situations. I want a squad that can still retreat unscathed even if we encounter experts from the top ten, so just the two of us isn't enough.
"We have to find strong squadmates. Ideally, they all have to be within the top fifty."
Upon hearing that, You Shifei was moved. A powerful squad commanded by Dao Shi'er, and they were guaranteed to find northern barbarians under his command. If such a squad was strong enough, they could hunt down any squad and inflict great losses on the northern barbarians.
After a moment's thought, You Shifei nodded. "Count me in."
A faint smile appeared on Lu Changsheng's face. However, You Shifei was just the first of many. Lu Changsheng had planned for a squad of five people. Excluding himself, he still needed three more.
"Great Hero You, do you have any recommendations for the remaining spots?" Lu Changsheng asked.
You Shifei pondered for a moment before saying, "Since you said they have to be at least within the top fifty, they all have to be at the Thousand Cauldrons Stage and are capable of wielding Intent. There aren't many of those here. How about Yang Zhen, ranked thirty-third on the rankings?
"If you agree, I will personally invite him."
It seemed that You Shifei was Yang Zhen's acquaintance.
"That works. I'll leave Yang Zhen to you, then."
Lu Changsheng stood up to take his leave. He still needed two more people.
Oh, right, I know who to ask! A name surfaced in his mind. The martial arts fanatic, Tong Xuan. Tong Xuan was ranked forty-third. Unlike others, Tong Xuan had come to the Northern Region Battlefield solely to find opponents.
He hailed from a small city and, after becoming invincible there, he challenged his way up. In the end, he ended up having almost no challengers. When the Northern Region Battlefield became popular, Tong Xuan decided to come here.
After arriving in Beiling City, Tong Xuan did not go to the Northern Region Battlefield to fight the northern barbarians. Instead, he specifically sought out well-known experts to challenge.
Unfortunately for him, the first person he found was Song Wuqing. With a single saber strike, Song Wuqing almost killed him. Had Song Wuqing not held back, Tong Xuan would have died.
Despite being defeated by Song Wuqing, Tong Xuan did not become discouraged. Instead, he grew even more fanatical, challenging opponents one by one. In the end, he became a common sight on the Northern Region Battlefield. As long as he could fight constantly, he would join just about any squad.
With that in mind, Lu Changsheng arrived at Tong Xuan's courtyard. "Greetings, Tong Xuan. I'm Dao Shi'er!"
Creaak!
The door opened, and Tong Xuan appeared. He was close in age to Lu Changsheng, seemingly in his teens.
When Tong Xuan saw Dao Shi'er, his eyes lit up. "Dao Shi'er?"
