Chapter 76.1: Unleashing The Second Wave; Zhuang Shisan’s Fame Rises (I)

“Zhuang Shisan of Nanyang?”

A ripple of confusion passed through the crowd.

There were many people of the jianghu present, including a few respected experts. They kept a close watch on the affairs of the martial world, yet very few among them had ever heard the name Zhuang Shisan.

Then again, it was hardly surprising, as Zhuang Shisan had only risen to fame very recently. His attack on the Blood Fiend Sect and the killing of Yan Jiansheng of the Divine Realm had happened only a few days earlier. News in the jianghu traveled quickly, but not quickly enough for everyone to know his name just yet.

The martial artists fell into eager chatter at once, each of them whispering what they knew or imagined about Zhuang Shisan.

“Wait, I think I’ve heard that name before. Something about how he defeated the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert.”

“Oh, yeah. There was something about the White Demons too. If I recall correctly, this Zhuang Shisan was considered unbeatable among Organ Refinement martial artists.”

“Heh, that means nothing. Li Huan and Zhao Yuanba were both said to be unbeatable Organ Refinement martial artists too, and look how they ended up.”

“Besides, Zhang Tianwu is already a Divine Strength martial artist, and no one in the Organ Refinement Stage could possibly defeat him, no matter how strong they may be.”

“Exactly. No matter how strong an Organ Refinement martial artist becomes, they are still only in the Body Tempering Realm. They cannot compare with someone in the Divine Strength Realm.”

As the crowd buzzed with speculation, Zhang Tianwu mulled quietly over Zhuang Shisan’s identity, his brow furrowing slightly as he searched his memory.

Nanyang’s Zhuang Shisan. The most powerful Organ Refinement martial artist who had single-handedly wiped out the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert…

As he turned to Lu Changsheng, his lips curled into a faint smile. “What, you want the Four-Eyed Toad too?”

“That’s right, Chief Zhang. You still have one left, and I’ll be taking it,” Lu Changsheng replied firmly, ignoring the murmurs about Zhuang Shisan, as though none of it concerned him in the slightest.

Truth be told, Zhuang Shisan’s growing reputation came with its certain advantages. Lu Changsheng was happy with people talking about Zhuang Shisan’s achievements, as that would keep them away from the idea that Lu Changsheng and Zhuang Shisan might be the same person.

If he had appeared as a nameless figure, people would certainly have investigated the mysterious stranger and might even have uncovered traces that pointed back to Lu Changsheng. However, having emerged here as Zhuang Shisan, no one would have any reason to probe any deeper. Even if someone searched the entire Nanyang Prefecture for Zhuang Shisan, they would never trace him back to Lu Changsheng, who was known just as a skilled, quiet physician.

Of course, maintaining two identities felt quite bothersome at times, but that day, the advantages clearly outweighed any inconvenience. At this moment, as Lu Changsheng prepared to take the Four-Eyed Toad, the identity and reputation of the formidable martial artist Zhuang Shisan proved especially useful.

“You think you can? You’re just a nobody!” Zhang Tianwu’s eyes narrowed with scrutiny. He had no intention of wasting another breath on talking to this man. Since he had been forced to reveal his real power, he would no longer hold back. He would kill these martial artists of the jianghu first, then deal with the other forces in Yan City.

Zhang Tianwu’s blood qi erupted with a thunderous boom, crimson light washing across the entire hall like a tide of blood. The pressure that followed was monstrous and crushing, as if Mount Tai had dropped above everyone. Several martial artists staggered under the weight, choking for breath.

As the Divine Strength Realm expert unleashed his full might, all the martial artists fell into despair. Under such crushing force, they could barely move, let alone escape.

Lu Changsheng, however, was not affected. He stood quietly in place, showing no reaction to Zhang Tianwu’s overwhelming aura.

One step. Two steps. Three steps. Zhang Tianwu advanced steadily toward him, but Lu Changsheng held his ground, not budging an inch.

Zhang Tianwu could sense something was off. He was nearly face to face with Zhuang Shisan, but the man’s expression had not shifted in the slightest—no fear, no tension, not even a flicker of concern. Zhuang Shisan stared at him with utmost composure.

Zhang Tianwu pushed the unease aside. After all, he was a Divine Strength martial artist. Whatever ace Zhuang Shisan might have up his sleeve, he was confident he could break through it with ease.

“Don’t get cocky!” Zhang Tianwu snarled as he threw a fist. A violent surge of force burst out, rippling through the hall as it hurtled toward Lu Changsheng.

That was when Lu Changsheng finally made a move; he stepped forward and stomped his left foot into the ground with earth-shattering force.

Boom!

The ground caved, collapsing into a deep pit as cracks shot out in every direction like a cobweb. With this single stomp, his entire body erupted with strength.

Threefold Waves: First Wave!

Lu Changsheng thrust his fist forward, and the force surged toward Zhang Tianwu like a crashing tide.

Zhang Tianwu’s expression shifted as the truth hit him like cold water: his opponent was a Divine Strength martial artist too.

Impossible…

Zhang Tianwu’s heart lurched, panic flickering in his eyes. He had only just broken through to the Divine Strength Realm, and had never tested himself against another martial artist of the same level.

Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, had already gained that experience when he fought and killed Yan Jiansheng. To him, this was merely a perfect opportunity to test out Threefold Waves.

Boom!

The fists of the two Divine Strength martial artists collided.

Zhang Tianwu felt the force of thirty cauldrons tear through his arm, but Lu Changsheng, thirty cauldrons was nothing. He had not even activated the Divine Dragon Transformation; this was simply his normal physical strength.

“Aarghhh!” Zhang Tianwu screamed as he stumbled backward, his arm bending at a sickening angle. But before he could do anything else, Lu Changsheng was already preparing his next move.

The Threefold Waves was a Divine Strength Realm martial technique with three forms, each stronger than the last. Once the first form was unleashed, the second and third ones would follow in quick succession, leaving the opponent no room to retreat.

I’ve gained the advantage with the First Wave, now I need to press on with the attack.

Lu Changsheng dashed forward again as he unleashed the Second Wave.

Boom!

The punch landed with a deafening roar, echoing like waves smashing against sharp cliffs. In Zhang Tianwu’s eyes, the strike rose before him like a towering tide, surging down to swallow him whole.

“Noooo!” Zhang Tianwu’s desperate cry tore through the hall as Lu Changsheng’s fist slammed into his chest. The Second Wave had fifty percent greater strength than the First, sending forty-five cauldrons of sheer force through his body.

Splurt!

Lu Changsheng’s fist tore through Zhang Tianwu’s heart and burst out through his back. Not even someone several realms higher would survive that.

“N-No… I’ve finally reached the Divine Strength Realm… I… I won’t…” Zhang Tianwu muttered faintly.

The life force of a Divine Strength martial artist was incredibly tenacious. Even with his heart destroyed, Zhang Tianwu managed to force out a few final words, but the moment Lu Changsheng withdrew his arm, collapsed onto the ground, twitching violently. And after a few shallow breaths, he went limp.

“Zhang Tianwu… is dead?”

Seeing a dignified Divine Strength martial artist fall to two simple moves, the entire hall froze in stunned silence. Every onlooker was shaken to the core, barely able to accept what they had just witnessed.

Lu Changsheng’s hands were still dripping with fresh blood. He looked at Zhang Tianwu’s corpse on the ground and frowned. “Was that really all you had to show?”

Lu Changsheng was genuinely surprised. In his battle with Yan Jiansheng, the two of them traded blows in a brutal, back-and-forth duel. Zhang Tianwu, on the other hand, had fallen without putting much of a fight. Lu Changsheng hadn’t even resorted to the Divine Dragon Transformation. The Second Wave of the Threefold Waves had been more than enough to bring the man down.

Perhaps the Threefold Waves is stronger than I had imagined. Its Second Wave contained forty-five cauldrons of strength, and most Divine Strength martial artists cannot withstand that. If Organ Refinement martial artists varied wildly in strength, I suppose the same could be said for Divine Strength martial artists.

He glanced at the corpse again, crouched down, and began his well-practiced search.

“Hm? Where’s the Four-Eyed Toad?” Lu Changsheng stood back up, his gaze sweeping across the hall. “Zhang Tianwu claimed there were a pair of Four-Eyed Toads. Even if he used one, there should be another. Where is it?”

No one dared to answer. Lu Changsheng’s tone hadn’t been harsh, but the image of him killing Zhang Tianwu with such effortless brutality had plagued their minds with fear.

At last, Yan Sanniang spoke up in a trembling voice. “Gr-Great Hero Zhuang, the Blackwater Gang should know where Zhang Tianwu kept his belongings.”

The seductive mistress of poisons had shed every trace of her usual charm, afraid that even a flutter of her eyelashes might offend Zhuang Shisan and cost her life. After witnessing that kind of savagery, no one doubted that Zhuang Shisan could slaughter them all without blinking.

Lu Changsheng turned his attention toward the hall masters of the Blackwater Gang.

“G-Great Hero Zhuang,” someone else stammered, “there’s a hidden compartment behind the chief’s chair… The Four-Eyed Toad might be inside.”

“A hidden compartment?” Lu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though warning him to choose his words carefully. For a hall master to know of such a secret so readily could easily mean a trap.

Lu Changsheng crossed the hall and found the secret compartment behind the chair. Reaching inside, he pulled out a wooden box punctured with a scatter of small holes. Peeking through the holes, he could just make out the shape of a toad. He then lifted the lid, and sure enough, a toad was curled up inside. It was an ordinary-sized toad, the only thing making it unusual being the four eyes.

“Finally, the Four-Eyed Toad.”

Lu Changsheng considered searching for more valuables, as he was certain the Blackwater Gang had much more to offer, but with so many people present and the reinforcements that were audibly on the way, he decided against lingering.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep