"That's Dong Mao, a disciple of the Yellow Heavenly Sect!"

Liu Yuan stepped beside Lu Changsheng. "Dong Mao, is this about the Five Peaks Squad? Aren't you afraid of dragging your entire squad down with you?"

"Liu Yuan, you're mistaken," Dong Mao said coldly. "I'm not here because of the Five Peaks Squad. If Xu Haoran died, so be it. The Five Peaks Squad were weaker than you, so they deserved to die.

"I represent the Yellow Heavenly Squad, and your Heavenly Lin Squad has made its name by stepping over the corpses of my fellow disciples. You think I'll just let you pass now? Take another route, and I shall let this matter go."

So this isn't about revenge? Liu Yuan narrowed his eyes. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

It seemed that Dong Mao simply resented the Heavenly Lin Squad. As a disciple of the Yellow Heavenly Sect, he was mocked over the fates of his fellow disciples. Still, he was not foolish enough to engage in a fight to the death here. There was no reason for that. He would simply deny his enemies passage.

Liu Yuan was hesitant. "Lu Changsheng, maybe we can go another way..."

Indeed, they could opt to take another route, but doing so would make them look weak. This was a battlefield, and countless squads were competing for the Golden Fruits. Naturally, showing weakness here would only invite more trouble. Besides, if they conceded to Dong Mao here, wouldn't others try to block their way just the same?

Lu Changsheng said nothing to Liu Yuan. His gaze was fixed on Dong Mao, sharp as his saber.

"You have two choices. Either step aside or go join Xu Haoran."

As soon as he said that, an uproar erupted around them, and Dong Mao's expression darkened.

"What a fearsome guy! Lu Changsheng doesn't mess around. As expected of a rare true scion disciple."

"Is Dong Mao really trying to deny them passage? Haha, let's see if he's actually stronger than Xu Haroan."

"Dong Mao and Xu Haoran are about the same, if you ask me. If anything, Xu Haoran might've actually beaten him in a duel."

"What makes Dong Mao formidable is his squad. His comrades are stronger than Xu Haoran's were."

"Now let's see if Dong Mao yields. His squad might be powerful, and sure, he's a supreme Divine Fortification martial artist, but does he really think everyone has to give way to him? Does he not know who's standing in front of him?"

Quite a few people were openly mocking Dong Mao. His squad had never enjoyed a good reputation in the first layer of the Ancient Region. In truth, few supreme squads did. After all, competing for resources meant constant killing. How could anyone maintain a good name under such circumstances?

Dong Mao glared at Lu Changsheng, his face flushed. "You..."

He stood firmly in place.

"Fine. Then I'll send you to join Xu Haoran..."

The moment Lu Changsheng finished speaking, Dong Mao's eyes widened.

B-BOOOOM!

Dong Mao immediately activated his Domain and four layers of divine fortification.

"Atack!"

His squad moved at once, striking first to seize the advantage. All kinds of Domains manifested and almost instantly enveloped the Heavenly Lin Squad. At the same time, saber and sword lights poured down in waves.

It was clear Dong Mao's squad had been prepared for this scenario. Many martial artists watching from the side fell silent. Sure enough, his squad seemed remarkably strong. With their speed, coordination, and overwhelming joint attacks, any Divine Fortification martial artist would be in grave danger.

WOOSH!

But in the next instant, a vast starry sky unfolded, and all the other Domains collapsed one after another, as though crushed by an overwhelming force.

Shing!

While Dong Mao and the others were still stunned, Lu Changsheng had already drawn his saber. A crimson streak of light shot into the sky and cut straight toward Dong Mao.

"What the hell is that Domain! Stop!"

Fear surged in Dong Mao's heart as his attacks proved futile against Lu Changsheng's saber strike. He and his companions were completely vulnerable.

Squech!

Dong Mao's four layers of divine fortification only brought a seventy-times physical amplification—far inferior to Xu Haoran. Against Lu Changsheng's fearsome strike, carrying the force of one hundred thousand cauldrons, his defense was utterly insignificant.

Sure enough, the saber light fell down and cut through Dong Mao's four layers like butter, splitting him two down the middle.

Splurt!

Just like that, Dong Mao died without even managing to scream. His two halves now lay in a bloody mess, and the Golden Swamp was plunged into a deathly silence.

The sight was utterly shocking. Most martial artists from the five regions had never even seen Lu Changsheng before until now. Naturally, they had been unaware of his actual combat abilities—but now, they knew what he was capable of. He had slain Dong Mao with a single strike. The sheer ferocity of that blow left them stunned.

"Dong Mao's four layers of divine fortification were like paper! Just how powerful was that strike?"

"Lu Changsheng has four layers as well, but every single one is top-tier. Heavens... he's probably comprehended four Domains!"

"That strike definitely exceeded one hundred thousand cauldrons of strength. And on top of those four layers, he unleashed that cosmos-looking thing to crush everyone else's Domains in an instant. Just what kind of Domain is that?!"

"A Perfect Domain, no doubt about it! I've witnessed one from a Divine Treasury expert before. Feels exactly like that before materialization, and it can overwhelm any other Domain."

"That's just... horrifying. Neither Xu Haoran nor Dong Mao could do anything against that. One hundred thousand cauldrons of strength and a Perfect Domain? Come on, if you're not in the Divine Treasury Realm, what can you even do against that?"

People often said that witnessing something once was better than hearing about it a hundred times. Now, everyone in the Golden Swamp understood that clearly. No matter how wildly the rumors had spread, they had never fully believed that Lu Changsheng could kill Xu Haoran with a single strike. Everyone had their doubts before, but not anymore. Xu Haoran had to have died just like Dong Mao had died here.

"S-Spare us..."

Shing!

Dong Mao's companions were pale with terror, but Lu Changsheng was done listening to any of them. He swung his saber once more, and four streaks of light cut toward them, taking their heads.

Thud!

Blood sprayed from the necks of the four supreme Divine Fortification martial artists, their heads rolling away.

Lu Changsheng sheathed his saber. He looked completely calm, as though nothing had gone down just now.

Liu Yuan gave a bitter smile. "Another squad down... The Yellow Heavenly Sect will hate our guts."

He became certain of that the moment Lu Changsheng made his move. His opponents had never stood a chance. In any case, he had no regrets; the enemy squad had drawn their sabers first, thus eliminating any possibility of mercy. In such situations, leaving enemies alive only gave them the chance to try to take revenge in the future.

Lu Changsheng quietly waited for their companions to loot the enemy corpses. It only took them a few moments.

Liu Yuan nodded, then hesitantly turned to Lu Changsheng. "So... this position is already quite good."

Lu Changsheng shook his head. "Not good enough. We stick to the plan."

They were still roughly three li from the Golden Fruit Tree, and that was too far for Lu Changsheng.

"Wait... from the looks of it, Lu Changsheng is still moving forward?"

"To be honest, Dong Mao's position was already really good. If they keep going, the Heavenly Lin Squad must be aiming for a spot within one li."

"Is he really not content with Dong Mao's position? Huh, his ambition has no limits..."

The onlookers quickly grew restless. Just because Lu Changsheng disregarded this position did not mean others would. Now that Dong Mao was dead, his spot was up for grabs, and many would jump at once to claim it.

Regardless, Lu Changsheng was no longer concerned with that area.

"Let's go!"

He stepped forward and leapt toward the next position. Having witnessed Dong Mao's grim fate, none of the nearby squads dared to even entertain the thought of stopping him. As long as he was merely passing through, with no regard for them, they would just keep quiet.

It wasn't long before the Heavenly Lin Squad made it within one li away from the Golden Fruit Tree. From here, Lu Changsheng could already see the tree clearly, but he kept going, not slowing down one bit.

Don't tell me he's...

His aim quickly became clear: the renowned Lingshu Squad.