Chapter 843: Chapter 567: First on the Heavenly Person List
Heavenly Yuan Acupoint, solidification.
acupoints, Perfection.
Acupoints resonate, as if 720 springs burst open simultaneously, endless energy surging forth without ceasing, flooding every cell, every piece of flesh and blood.
Body, bones, True Gang, further strengthened.
Qi-Blood surged like a flood after a summer downpour, visibly soaring, jumping up in increments from over four hundred thousand.
Soon, it reached five hundred thousand.
This is the Sixth Realm Qi-Blood Limit.
Strictly speaking, for Martial Artists at the Sixth Realm, while fighters, who emphasize body refinement, reach six hundred thousand.
Suddenly, Lu Chenzhou opened his eyes.
"Indeed, my Qi-Blood continues to rise."
The acupoints around his body kept generating energy, his body greedily absorbing it like a sponge, refusing to stop.
"A Martial Artist’s Sixth Realm physique is weaker than that of a fighter, so they usually only absorb up to five hundred thousand before saturation. But after enduring the Ancient Road’s ninety thousand times gravity, my body can no longer be measured by Da Xia standards."
He fully activated the Lu Wu Demon Cleansing Scripture, channeling his Qi-Blood throughout his limbs and bones. His muscles trembled, skin bulging, bones roaring like dragons, his body inflated by Qi-Blood, swelling like a flesh-and-blood balloon.
His body enlarged fiercely.
From one meter ninety, to three meters, ten meters, thirty meters, a hundred meters, ultimately transforming into a towering giant.
Blood vessels beneath his skin surged like rivers; the soaring Qi-Blood churned through Zone Six’s world, forming dragon-scale shaped stratified clouds.
Zone Six, eighty thousand times gravity zone.
Star Hammer King and Thunder King were adapting to the gravity.
Suddenly, their eyes hardened.
"What’s happening deeper inside?"
"Could it be that Alcohol King is cultivating?"
"Alcohol King already reached Zone Seven."
"Then it’s Lu Chenzhou. Did he break through?"
"Impossible. He hasn’t even crossed his tribulation—the Tribulation must be crossed in the Great Wilderness or one of the Three Thousand Worlds; in any Grotto Heaven or Secret Realm, artificial worlds, it can’t happen."
"He hasn’t even broken through, but has such momentum?"
"Monster. No wonder he’s so confident, daring to use his own Tribulation Crossing as bait to lure the Red Lotus Demon Venerable."
...
Golden star.
Alcohol King’s expression shifted too.
"Such a formidable presence—is Chenzhou going to break through already? No preparation, no accumulation?"
Normally, after reaching the peak, a Heavenly King needs at least ten years to accumulate, sometimes a hundred, striving to perfect their power before Tribulation.
But Lu Chenzhou, apparently, wasn’t planning to wait any longer.
"If he succeeds, he’ll break the Dragon King’s record of breaking through at a hundred, and shorten it by thirty years in one go."
Alcohol King’s heart quaked.
Even the blond youth’s eyes turned serious.
"A seventy-year-old Heavenly Realm?"
In the Great Wilderness, such a thing would draw laughter. Qi Refiners only dare to dream of Seventh Realm in three to five hundred years.
To Qi Refiners—
Three hundred years at Heavenly Realm, definitely a Great Power in the making.
Five hundred years at Heavenly Realm, hope for true Great Power certification.
Eight hundred years, a chance at the Eight Realms.
Over a thousand is just ordinary Heavenly Realm; if you can reach Late Stage Seventh Realm before death, you’re lucky.
Seventh Realm lifespan: three thousand years.
After reaching the Heavenly Realm, cultivation is extremely tough; the path from Seventh to Eight Realms is longer than the first seven realms combined.
As for three hundred years to reach Heavenly Realm?
Impossible in Great Wilderness.
Not even the Four Emperors—they are Dao Pioneers, each step is a struggle, not the fastest route.
The Four Emperors have gone the farthest.
"Ordinary Martial Artists in the Seventh Realm live about seven hundred years; if you compare this kid to Great Wilderness standards, he’s reached Seventh Realm within three hundred years."
The blond youth pondered deeply.
What a sight to behold.
...
Elder Council.
Chen Beiming was roused by Alcohol King.
"Old Chen, looks like Lu Chenzhou is about to breakthrough."
"Hmm? So soon?"
Chen Beiming was shocked and suspicious.
He’d only just asked Lu Chenzhou if he was certain to reach Breakthrough Seven in five years, and the kid said, not sure.
Too modest.
Suddenly—
Chen Beiming’s gaze froze.
In his mind, the Heavenly Person List Supreme Treasure buzzed and shook, a name radiating with dazzling light, as if wanting to ascend to the heavens.
[No. 1 on the Heavenly Person List: Lu Chenzhou]
"First? Without even needing to challenge me, the Heavenly Person List has recognized him as number one. This means Lu Chenzhou’s strength already exceeds my own... And he hasn’t even crossed his Tribulation, not truly entered the Seventh Realm yet."
In that moment, old Chen had mixed feelings.
This is just unreasonable.
...
The top of the Heavenly Person List has changed hands.
Human World’s Great Grandmasters, Heavenly Kings shaken.
"Lu Heavenly King broke through to Seventh?"
"Lu Heavenly King defeated Prince Northern Guardian."
"Another Cangtian Dragon King is born."
"Myriad Phenomena Daoist School!"
News spread like a storm: the Four Great Cities, the Holy Lands, Lu Chenzhou’s sect, and his enemies—all knew.
...
Outer seas of the Human World.
A figure in crimson robes strode across the waves.
Suddenly, he paused.
"He’s become number one on the Heavenly Person List?"
Red Lotus hurriedly contacted the Ghost Empress.
"Lu Chenzhou broke through to Seven?"
Ghost Empress shook her head.
"No, absolutely impossible! If he broke through to Seven, he’d have to cross his Tribulation. At most, he’s just at the Qi-Blood Limit now."
"But he’s number one on the Heavenly Person List. Doesn’t that mean he’s stronger than Chen Beiming? My father always said, Chen Beiming’s talent could rival the Eight-Pattern Demon Clan. How can a human not yet at the Seventh Realm defeat Chen Beiming?"
The Red Lotus Demon Venerable only felt absurdity.
It defied reason.
If it was true, then once Lu Chenzhou crossed into the Seventh, even with all his might, he wouldn’t be a match for Lu.
Ghost Empress was stunned as well.
"Perhaps we should call off the operation."
Red Lotus Demon Venerable hesitated.
Cancelling would mean he was afraid.
In his heart, he acknowledged he wasn’t Lu Chenzhou’s adversary.
His pride and dignity would crumble completely.
If one day he became a Demigod, if he crossed the Divine Tribulation, recalling today, perhaps regret would linger.
Retreat today, and he survives.
But there’s no hope for Demigod ascension.
Let alone becoming a God?
If he fought on, he might fall into a human ambush, and should Lu Chenzhou cross into Seven, he risked dying on Xia Star.
After an internal struggle among the Heavenly Persons—
Red Lotus suddenly smiled.
"You and Shadow Stream needn’t take part if you don’t wish; I must go. I am prepared to face death."
Ghost Empress whispered, "I’m not going. I still have the Ghost Mother’s mission in the Human World to complete... "
The Shadow Stream Dominator’s projection appeared.
"I just remembered as well, I have things to do..."
Red Lotus waved them off.
"Go hide, you two. Ghost Empress, as soon as Lu Chenzhou begins his Tribulation, tell me his location at once. I’ll head straight from the earth core to the surface and trigger this world’s Earth Fire.
Tell my father that if I die, after victory in the coming war, don’t waste Divine Power resurrecting me."
...
Three days later.
Dragon Transformation Ancient Road.
A thousand-meter giant stood between heaven and earth, breath swallowing sun, moon, stars. Threads of starlight draped down.
The giant opened his eyes, his body rapidly shrinking.
At last, he returned to one meter ninety, dense muscles like black holes, distorting the nearby light.
"Eighty hundred thousand Qi-Blood."
The flesh is the vessel, Qi-Blood the water.
The stronger the vessel, the higher the upper limit.
The Great Xia Martial Artist’s Seventh Realm Qi-Blood starts at a million; before Tribulation and breakthrough, he’s only twenty thousand short.
Once he Breaks Through Seven, unimaginable.
After body checks, Lu Chenzhou gazed ahead.
"If I keep evolving my body, with another year or two I might enter Zone Seven with a Sixth Realm body, breaking through the constraint of a hundred thousand times gravity—but there’s no need."
Acupoint hurdle passed, that’s enough.
Breaking through Seven is the true path. For his first Innate Divine Ability to use in Breaking Through Seven, he’s already chosen: Martial God Spear. As for further research on Four Symbols Fist and other supreme Cultivation Techniques, that can wait until after, time is short.
He had a premonition.
Red Lotus Demon Venerable would definitely come.
To complete so-called "battle of destiny."
Though Red Lotus is of the Demon Race, he is also a "martial fanatic."
...
In a flash,
Another three months.
Lu Chenzhou’s spiritual power, through his Spiritual Embodiment’s tempering, naturally reached six hundred thousand Prajna.
This was his spiritual power limit.
Again, surpassing the average of five hundred thousand.
He guessed this was because the Immaculate State of Mind had increased his spirit’s endurance, for the same reason as the flesh.
...
Year 2275, August 1st.
Elder Council.
"Chenzhou, are you ready? You don’t need to rush just to face Red Lotus Demon Venerable; breaking through to Seven isn’t a small matter, think it over again."
Chen Beiming looked worried.
This was too hurried.
Just at the Qi-Blood limit, already thinking to Break Through Seven.
He’d barely had time to gestate his Divine Power Seed.
All must be done during the Tribulation.
Lu Chenzhou solemnly replied:
"President, I have a strong sense that my time to break through Seven is now—no need to wait."
"Then go break through!"
Aishwarya admired Lu Chenzhou’s resolve all the more.
Old Ghost of the Yellow River laughed heartily.
"Congratulations in advance, young friend Lu."
Li Xiuying asked, "Forgive me for asking, Chenzhou, how confident are you of success now?"
Lu Chenzhou thought for a moment, then smiled confidently.
"One hundred percent."
Everyone was completely at ease.
Lu Chenzhou departed.
Alcohol King looked puzzled.
"Can anyone really be sure of breaking through to Seven?"
Chen Beiming sighed:
"He just wants us not to worry about his chances; we need only focus on fighting Red Lotus."
Everyone’s expressions were complex.
Chen Beiming said:
"Let’s begin. Nine Netherworld, Alcohol, Hanu, Heart Dream: you four take your true bodies to guard Yun Meng, Beidi, South Sea, Shushan, send projections to Yun Meng Lake; I, Xiuying, Star Hammer, and Thunder will leave projections to guard the four cities, while our true bodies head to Yun Meng Lake to protect Chenzhou!
Activate all four Daoist Soldiers to guard the four cities, in case the enemy attacks while we battle Red Lotus. Once Lu Chenzhou Breaks Through Seven, evil spirits and Wangliang will be nothing to fear!"
...
Lu Chenzhou didn’t tell his relatives and friends about his imminent Tribulation; they didn’t know how strong he was now, would just worry about the dangerous trial; he’d inform them after success.
The entire plan to lure Red Lotus—
Only he and the Seventh Realm powerhouses knew.
This was a dangerous gambit.
He believed in himself, and in Tianxia.
...
Three days later.
Lu Chenzhou descended upon Yun Meng Lake.
He chose a small island in the lake, eight Seventh Realm experts standing around him, the great array covering thousands of kilometers all around.
To ensnare Red Lotus, the council used sixteen High Grade Primordial Stones for the array, sparing no effort.
Lu Chenzhou sat cross-legged on the ground.
In the Inner Scenery Land, the world changed dramatically; invisible forces shattered the Three Mountains and Five Mountains, the Five Lakes and Four Seas, the seven hundred and twenty acupoints under the rule of the Heavenly Yuan Acupoint collapsed together, annihilating into countless stellar dust, floating within the primal chaos of his inner heaven and earth.
Lu Chenzhou’s consciousness plunged into darkness.