Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 129 - 109: Innate Realm

"Wait—Has he really broken into the Innate Realm?"

Xu Zhuqing stared at Lu Chang’sheng, who walked the battlefield as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, mowing down foes wherever he passed. For a moment, she couldn’t believe her own eyes.

There was none of that terrifying aura coming off him. He seemed like an ordinary person waving a spear, but no matter what stood in his way, he’d pierce through it with ease.

Even Luo Yi wasn’t spared. Lu Chang’sheng’s spear shot straight through his body, without the slightest difficulty.

It was so easy, it was hard to believe she was witnessing a fight against a True Qi Realm opponent.

Before long, some Longyang Prefecture soldiers noticed that, somehow, fewer and fewer enemies were left encircling them—until only a blood-streaked figure remained.

Lu Chang’sheng had, single-handedly, forced the enemy from the central ranks to retreat!

"So this is the Innate Realm. The True Qi circulates naturally, and stamina seems bottomless. Even on a battlefield like this, I could fight for seven days and nights without worrying about running out of strength!"

Lu Chang’sheng carefully attuned himself to the changes within his body.

The time it took to break into the Innate Realm was shorter than he’d imagined.

······

"Lu Chang’sheng, you really broke into the Innate Realm?"

As soon as the battle ended, Xu Zhuqing rushed over, unable to contain her excitement.

Seeing the anxious look on her face, Lu Chang’sheng nodded.

Xu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, then said, "Could I trouble you for a moment?"

Lu Chang’sheng paused and, seeing the spear in her hand, instantly understood.

"Of course!"

"Please!"

The two immediately began to spar.

Spear against spear.

Moments later, Xu Zhuqing lowered her weapon, looking utterly defeated. She had to admit: the gap between her and Lu Chang’sheng was now insurmountably vast.

Since they parted ways at Great King Mountain last time, her strength had hardly changed.

It wasn’t that she lacked talent, but that daily troubles had held her back, and even after consuming the Vermilion Fruit, it takes time to fully absorb its effects.

But Lu Chang’sheng was different.

His current talent had reached an absolute pinnacle.

The Innate Realm was no longer a challenge for him.

Of course, there was no need to explain all this to Xu Zhuqing. He retracted his spear, smiling, "Let’s head into Black Mountain Prefecture tomorrow morning, shall we?"

"Well—it’s up to you." Xu Zhuqing recovered from her shock, her gaze complicated as she looked at Lu Chang’sheng.

Back then, she’d thought Lu Chang’sheng’s Root Bone was worthless and he’d never make it in the Martial Dao. Who would’ve thought—the man she once looked down on had become the trailblazer ahead of everyone.

The Innate Realm!

······

Early next morning, Xu Zhuqing reorganized the broken army. She barely gathered over two thousand troops. She knew if she spent more effort collecting scattered soldiers, she could possibly double that, but when she learned Lu Chang’sheng had reached the Innate Realm, she stopped caring much about the Longyang Prefecture soldiers.

If not for Lu Chang’sheng insisting, she would have charged Black Mountain Prefecture with him, just the two of them, side by side.

The Innate Realm—one person can rival ten thousand!

It wasn’t just empty boasting.

Sure enough, when their group approached Black Mountain Prefecture and encountered a group of rebels, Lu Chang’sheng’s display showed them what a true one-vs-many fight looked like.

One man, one spear, charged straight into the throngs of enemies. Not even crossbow arrows could stop him.

Dozens of ballistae unleashed volleys, but none could even scratch his clothes. He was a streak of red, slashing into enemy ranks and unleashing a massacre.

One day later, the group fought their way into the outer city of Black Mountain Prefecture.

People in the inner city could hear the battle growing nearer. At last, unable to bear the pressure, they poured out to meet the rebels in final combat.

Lu Chang’sheng rampaged through the enemy ranks—no one could stand against him.

He was like a tiger crashing down the mountain.

The rebels inside Black Mountain Prefecture were even fiercer than before. They’d rolled out hundreds of ballistae for the next round, and this time, even Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t dodge them all.

There were just too many—not even he’d avoid every volley!

This is the terror of the battlefield: when your enemy no longer cares about casualties and launches indiscriminate attacks, it’s nearly impossible to dodge a massed barrage of crossbow arrows.

But Lu Chang’sheng only took a deep breath—and for the first time, strange phenomena of True Qi surged around him.

Then, those thunderous crossbow bolts seemed to be seized by invisible hands. As soon as they neared within a meter of Lu Chang’sheng, they’d lose all force and thud harmlessly to the ground.

"What!"

Among the rebels, some high-level officers gaped, crying out in shock as they saw it unfold.

An attack they’d expected to work had been so effortlessly neutralized.

Who could believe it?

"Innate! Only the Innate Realm has such powers!"

One rebel officer exclaimed.

"Shut up!" Another roared, smacking him across the mouth.

He wanted to cover up the outburst.

But it was too late.

The phrase "Innate Martial Artist" swept out across the ranks like a tidal wave.

The rank-and-file soldiers might not understand, but any Martial Artist with a little experience knew what that meant. In an instant, their will to fight dried up; only a few rebel leaders could still force their men forward.

Seeing this, the rebel officers realized the tide was turning. With no desire to fight on, they slipped away with their closest followers under cover of the ensuing chaos.

Just then, Lu Chang’sheng noticed a group of Lotus Monks heading southwest, led by a monk with kindly features—but the baleful aura clinging to him betrayed his cruel nature. Lu Chang’sheng dashed in pursuit.

They spotted him too. A team of Monk Soldiers broke off, intending to cover the retreat.

But in front of Lu Chang’sheng, they never slowed him for an instant. The crimson figure shot past, landing right before the monks.

The spear tip flicked up—lunging for their leader.

The monk hadn’t expected to be targeted even after all his caution. In panic, he raised the Demon-Subduing Pestle to block.

BANG!

In the next instant, his face changed dramatically as he was sent hurtling backwards, crushing dozens of Lotus Monks behind him.

He couldn’t even take one blow from Lu Chang’sheng.

"Innate—so fearsome!"

Hei Wutian, cheeks streaming with blood, stared at Lu Chang’sheng with a mix of shock and madness.

Then, flinging aside the Demon-Subduing Pestle, he managed a weak laugh: "Sir, you truly are a genius unmatched beneath the heavens. Even I, Hei Wutian, must bow my head. But—if you fail to seek immortality, what then?"

"I’ve obtained the complete Seeking Immortality Technique. Spare me—we can walk this path together! Eternal life, the Grand Dao awaits!"

"No need. I’ll seek immortality on my own!"

As soon as he finished, the spear tip ran through Hei Wutian’s body.

······

Several hours later, dawn broke across the sky.

On the battlefield, Black Mountain Army and Longyang Prefecture soldiers cleaned up. Unlike half a day ago, now a post-battle serenity hung on every face.

Gazing at a nearby courtyard, they wore expressions of utmost respect.

Last night, Lu Chang’sheng unleashed divine might, leaving a deep impression on every soul on the battlefield.

Especially the scene where hundreds of ballistae targeted him—it was like witnessing a miracle, something to revere for a lifetime.

And surviving all this meant their futures suddenly looked bright.

A natural awe for Lu Chang’sheng bloomed in their hearts.

Right now, in the courtyard, Lu Chang’sheng finally met his teacher Hong Yuan. At his side stood Guan Hongxiu and Daoist Ruyi, among others.

"Teacher!"

Hong Yuan looked frail, but seeing Lu Chang’sheng, his joy was profound.

"You’ve reached the Innate Realm?"

"I have!"

"Phew—"

Even though he’d been expecting this, hearing it confirmed straight from the source still made him gasp.

Daoist Ruyi looked at Xu Zhuqing, then over to Lu Chang’sheng, her heart swirling with emotion.

But it wasn’t just her who’d been left behind. Guan Hongxiu and Kong Yuzhen were in the same boat, weren’t they?

With that thought, her heart felt much lighter.

Lu Chang’sheng greeted everyone one by one, then personally examined Hong Yuan’s illness.

It wasn’t particularly severe—so long as he refrained from fighting and took a good period of rest, he would recover. Lu Chang’sheng was relieved.

This trip—was truly a success.

"Scholar Lu!"

Just as Lu Chang’sheng was about to leave the courtyard, Xu Yuan called after him.

"Lord Xu, what do you need?"

Now that he’d achieved the Innate Realm, he needn’t cater to any prefect’s whims. Lu Chang’sheng’s tone was indifferent—neither warm nor cold.

Xu Yuan’s brow twitched ever so slightly, a hint of helplessness in his heart.

Still, with heavy losses among Black Mountain Prefecture troops, if he could secure Lu Chang’sheng’s help, it would mean everything.

So he bowed his head: "I’d like to ask Scholar Lu for your aid. What sort of compensation do you require?"