Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques-Chapter 118.1: A Small Trial; Wiping Out a Northern Barbarian Squad in a Single Breath! (I)
Convincing Tong Xuan did not take much effort. The moment Dao Shi'er raised the matter, Tong Xuan agreed. Dao Shi'er's reputation was simply too great. His daily harvest of the northern barbarians was something everyone had witnessed with their own eyes.
Countless people secretly hoped to team up with him, only to be turned away time and again. Now that Dao Shi'er took the initiative to form a squad, Tong Xuan had no reason to refuse.
Since Tong Xuan had agreed, only one spot remained. The final spot demanded careful consideration. Lu Changsheng had briefly thought of Lu Jianming. If he approached him, Lu Jianming would certainly agree without hesitation.
Unfortunately, Lu Jianming's strength fell short. Forget the top fifty, as even entering the top seventy or sixty would be difficult for him. Lu Jianming's Sword Intent was not weak; in fact, it was strong. However, his cultivation was lacking.
He was only at the Hundred Cauldrons Stage and was still quite some time away from the Thousand Cauldrons Stage.
Under such circumstances, bringing Lu Jianming into the squad would be unfair to the others. The squad Lu Changsheng intended to build could compromise on many things, but not on offensive power.
At the very least, every member had to stand at the Thousand Cauldrons Stage. In truth, the ideal candidate was Song Wuqing who was ranked 3rd on the Divine Strength Rankings. Unfortunately, Song Wuqing always acted alone and had never joined any squad.
For the time being, Lu Changsheng found no suitable candidate. With no better option, he stayed put and waited.
Today, a cloaked figure dressed entirely in black appeared outside Lu Changsheng's residence.
"I heard you're recruiting squadmates. What do you think about me?"
Lu Changsheng did not recognize this man. "And you are..."
"I am Tie Yuan!"
"Great Spear Tie Yuan?"
Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened slightly, and a trace of curiosity showed as he sized up Tie Yuan. Rumor had it that Tie Yuan was a martial artist obsessed with the spear.
In the jianghu, spear wielders were rare. Tie Yuan, however, was different. He lived for the spear. When he struck with his great spear, it was like a dragon bursting forth, fearsome and unstoppable.
Lu Changsheng also noticed the folded spear that Tie Yuan carried. In battle, it would instantly transform into a sharp and imposing weapon.
More importantly, Tie Yuan was ranked forty-eighth in the rankings and had already reached the Thousand Cauldrons Stage. In every respect, he perfectly met Lu Changsheng's requirements.
"Welcome, Tie Yuan."
Tie Yuan smiled. Recently, word had spread throughout the city that Dao Shi'er was personally recruiting martial artists to form a powerful squad, but Dao Shi'er's standards were notoriously high. He wouldn't even consider those not ranked near the top of the Divine Strength Rankings.
Tie Yuan had come to try his luck. Although he was confident in his own strength, every person Dao Shi'er had recruited was no weaker than him. He had not expected to succeed.
"Alright, looks like we've got everyone. Let's get the others."
Lu Changsheng went to gather the others and brought them to his small courtyard. Before long, You Shifei, Yang Zhen, and Tong Xuan all arrived. When they saw Tie Yuan, each of them nodded in acknowledgment.
Lu Changsheng also introduced everyone in turn.
"If no one has any objections, then our squad is officially formed."
"Wait," Tong Xuan suddenly said. He stared at Lu Changsheng and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Dao, there are rumors outside that you're as strong as a Thousand Cauldrons Stage expert and have even escaped unscathed from the encirclement of four Thousand Cauldrons martial artists.
"I'd like to see it for myself. It'll also help the rest of us get a better sense of each other. After all, you're the core of this squad. If we don't have a clear understanding of your true strength, none of us will feel completely at ease."
The other three all grew thoughtful at his words. In truth, they were also very curious. As the core of the squad, they wanted to know exactly how strong Dao Shi'er truly was.
Tong Xuan's decision to step forward was the best choice. After all, Tong Xuan was known as a martial fanatic, and for him to challenge Dao Shi'er was entirely in character.
Lu Changsheng understood this well. If he did not reveal his strength, unspoken doubts would linger, and the squad would never truly come together.
"Alright. Let's settle it with a single move," replied Lu Changsheng. There was no need for extra moves. At the Thousand Cauldrons Stage, battles often devolved into drawn-out attrition.
However, this was merely a spar, so a single decisive strike would suffice.
Neither of them used any weapons, as they decided to fight barehanded instead. To Lu Changsheng, whether he wielded a weapon or not made little difference.
"Just one punch!" Lu Changsheng exclaimed, and his aura surged violently. At the same time, the surroundings seemed to transform, and everyone felt as though they were standing before a dark and boundless starry sky. A three-thousand-chi waterfall pierced the stars and crashed down.
BOOM!
Lu Changsheng sent his fist forward, and the three-thousand-chi waterfall rushed forward as well. In addition to the terrifying power of the waterfall from the starry sky, they saw a towering tidal wave from afar.
The massive tidal wave filled their vision. It was Wave Intent, Starry Sky Waterfall Intent, and Divine Dragon Transformation all at once. Apart from the Nine Character Mantra, Lu Changsheng had used almost every method at his disposal.
This single punch exceeded three thousand cauldrons' worth of strength.
"Roaaar!" Tong Xuan sensed the danger and roared in response. Behind him, a terrifying, ferocious tiger faintly manifested, and its colossal form filled both heaven and the earth.
The tiger roared as Tong Xuan threw his punch. This strike was delivered without reservation. Tong Xuan activated his secret techniques to the fullest, and with his cultivation as the foundation, the power behind the punch was truly fearsome.
BOOM!
The two forces collided violently, and a terrifying shockwave burst outward, sweeping across the surroundings. If there were ordinary martial artists here, even one at the Hundred Cauldrons Stage, they would be sent flying by the aftershocks.
However, the three observers were all Thousand Cauldrons martial artists. They remained standing where they were, allowing the shockwaves to wash over them without moving an inch. Even so, they could not help but feel shaken.
They were aware of Tong Xuan's strength, but Dao Shi'er's strength far exceeded their expectations. As the dust settled, Lu Changsheng and Tong Xuan withdrew at the same time. Tong Xuan's gaze was filled with disbelief and uncertainty.
"Mr. Dao, you're actually so formidable? Based on raw power alone, that attack of yours is on the same level as those in the top fifty," Tong Xuan said with absolute certainty. The two of them had just exchanged a head-on clash, yet he had failed to gain even the slightest advantage.
It was simply unbelievable. After all, Tong Xuan was a genuine Thousand Cauldrons martial artist, while Dao Shi'er was still at the Hundred Cauldrons Stage. This could only mean one thing—Dao Shi'er's comprehension of secret techniques and Intents far surpassed Tong Xuan's.
"Alright. Let us treat this bout as a draw," You Shifei said calmly. "Mr. Dao, we now have a clear understanding of your strength. From this point on, we will entrust the squad to you. Why not give it a name?"
"A name... let's call it the Barbarian Slaying Squad," Lu Changsheng said calmly. In the first place, the squad was made because Lu Changsheng wanted to kill northern barbarians. Hence, the name was apropos.
"The Barbarian Slaying Squad... the northern barbarians will probably see us as a thorn in their eyes and a splinter in their flesh. But no matter what name we choose, that's bound to happen, anyway. Barbarian Slaying Squad it is, then."
The others nodded in agreement.
"The gains will be divided evenly, and merit will not be ranked by size. But as the commander, I will not fight alongside you against the northern barbarians. And when we act, you must follow my orders without exception."
Lu Changsheng stated the points one by one. Of course, he had already mentioned it to them before.
"No problem. I'm already itching to fight. Brother Dao, when do we act?"
The four of them all looked at Lu Changsheng.
"If no one has any objections, then let us kill some as a celebration for the formation of our squad." A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Changsheng's mouth. "Let's go!"
Thus, the squad set off at once. The five departed from Beiling City at great speed and soon arrived at the Northern Region Battlefield. As usual, the grasslands stretched endlessly in all directions.
