Martial Conception Consummation! Wind of Perception Evolves into a Domain!

In the blink of an eye, more than two months slipped by. Across the Northern Region Battlefield, upon the vast, boundless grasslands, not a single martial artist could be seen anymore. Neither the northern barbarians nor the martial artists of the Great Fish Dynasty came out onto the grasslands now. "Woo..." The blare of an army horn sounded in the distance. The northern barbarians, who had kept an army of hundreds of thousands massed on the border, had now slowly begun their retreat. For two whole years, the northern barbarians had fought savagely against the Great Fish Dynasty on the Northern Region Battlefield. Today, they were finally withdrawing their forces, thoroughly abandoning any ambition to march south. Lu Changsheng's consciousness merged into the wind. He could clearly see the barbarian army of hundreds of thousands retreating in orderly columns, churning up rolling clouds of dust that blotted out the sky and sun. Following the currents of the wind, Lu Changsheng even extended his consciousness directly into the ranks of the barbarian army. He could perceive everything with crystalline clarity. "Thirty li!" "That is roughly my limit." "If I want the Wind of Perception to expand beyond a hundred li, I will likely need the Wind of Perception Conception to reach full consummation and evolve into a domain." Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath. Evolving a domain! This was a realm one could only attain after a martial conception reached consummation. Currently, among all of Lu Changsheng's martial conceptions, only the Wind of Perception Conception was qualified to evolve into a domain. Its progress had already reached ninety-nine percent. It had reached ninety-nine percent several days ago. Yet going from ninety-nine to one hundred percent—to true consummation—still seemed to lack something. Lu Changsheng had a rough idea of what it was: it lacked an opportune catalyst. For any martial conception to reach consummation, a catalyst was required. Even Tianxin back then had been trapped at ninety-nine percent progress in his Slaughter Conception for a very long time. It was only when Lu Changsheng challenged Tianxin to a duel, and Lu Changsheng used the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method combined with the Mind Sword to shake Tianxin's spirit during that climactic clash, that Tianxin finally found the catalyst to bring his Slaughter Conception to consummation. Only then did Tianxin's Slaughter Conception achieve perfection, evolving into the Slaughter Domain. No one could predict when a catalyst would arrive. Perhaps catching sight of a particular thing would grant that sudden spark, or perhaps decades would pass like a single day without ever finding one. "A catalyst..." Lu Changsheng smiled faintly. When one's comprehension was high enough, what need was there to wait for an opportune catalyst? Catalysts were everywhere! Every moment offered an opportunity! Over the past two to three months, besides comprehending martial conceptions, he had hardly been idle. He had almost emptied out the martial arts stored within the Martial Demonstration Tower. As a result, Lu Changsheng's comprehension had now soared past three thousand points—equivalent to thirty times that of an ordinary person! This was a terrifyingly extreme figure. With over thirty times comprehension, consummating a martial conception was difficult, but it was nowhere near impossible for him. Lu Changsheng closed his eyes, once again merging his consciousness into the wind. The reach of his perception expanded swiftly. Ten li, twenty li, thirty li! A radius of thirty li was roughly the limit of his Wind of Perception Conception at present. "A domain is simply transforming a conception into a domain. Once the Wind of Perception Conception becomes a domain, it will thoroughly merge into the wind." "Wherever there is wind, there will be my perception." "After all my contemplation over these past days, I have a fair idea of how to evolve it..." Lu Changsheng's peerless comprehension was no mere ornament. In the next instant, Lu Changsheng shifted his thoughts. Boom! The Wind of Perception Conception collapsed completely. Yes, it disintegrated entirely. Yet the scattered conception drifted with the breeze, blending seamlessly into the wind. However, the dispersed conception could not remain merged for long. Even so, Lu Changsheng tried again and again. At first, it lasted only a few seconds. Then the duration gradually lengthened. Ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, three minutes, five minutes, ten minutes... Lu Changsheng lost count of how many times the Wind of Perception Conception had collapsed. Suddenly, his spirit jolted throughout his entire body. In the very next moment, it was as if he had become the wind itself, rapidly sweeping outward. Thirty li, fifty li, eighty li, one hundred li... In the end, an expanse exceeding a hundred li fell distinctly within Lu Changsheng's awareness. Within this hundred-li radius, even a single ant or a single grain of sand was felt with utter clarity. "A domain! This is the Perception Domain evolved from the Wind of Perception Conception." "A hundred-li radius has completely become my Perception Domain. Even an Immortal Master's divine sense is probably no more than this, right?" Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, a glint of sharp brilliance flashing across them. Immortal Masters possessed divine sense. With a single sweep of divine sense, nothing could escape their notice. In comparison, martial artists fell far short. Yet Lu Changsheng had forged an entirely new path, comprehending the Wind of Perception Conception, bringing it to consummation, and evolving it into the Perception Domain. Sensing an area of a hundred li in a single breath was a feat fully rivaling an Immortal Master's divine sense. Lu Changsheng immediately called up the attribute panel to inspect his status. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 3,125 (Praised in All Directions) Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: Cast sword for 4 years and 1 month. Mind Sword Formula: Progress 15% (Mind Sword) Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception: Progress 81% Perception Domain: Progress 1% Starry Sky Waterfall Conception: Progress 38% Ocean Wave Conception: Progress 31% Sure enough, the Wind of Perception Conception had disappeared, replaced by the Perception Domain. Previously, the Wind of Perception Conception required noticeable wind to function. The Perception Domain, however, did not need obvious wind; as long as air currents flowed, the Perception Domain remained completely unaffected. Aside from the Perception Domain, Lu Changsheng's other martial conceptions had also seen some improvement. The greatest increase was in the Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception, though it was still some distance away from consummation. The slowest to advance was the Mind Sword Formula. By all rights, the beginning should have been the period of explosive growth for the Mind Sword Formula, yet its progress had hardly risen. This involved the spirit. The Mind Sword was inextricably linked to the spirit. For the Mind Sword Formula to advance more quickly, Lu Changsheng's spirit would have to undergo a massive surge. Even so, Lu Changsheng now finally possessed a martial conception domain of his own. In terms of realm, he was not the slightest bit inferior to Tianxin back then. The only difference was that the Perception Domain was an auxiliary domain and could not directly enhance his combat strength. Still, it did not matter. The Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception had already reached eighty-one percent. Having gained the experience of evolving a martial conception domain, Lu Changsheng believed it would not be long before the Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception evolved into a domain as well. "The northern barbarians have withdrawn their army. Remaining in Beiling City serves no purpose anymore." "Time to depart..." Lu Changsheng rose and returned to Beiling City. He headed straight for the Martial Demonstration Tower. Inside, Xiao Tianhuan seemed to have long anticipated his arrival, having waited in the room for a considerable time. "Mister Lu, according to our agreement, you may now head to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. This is the medallion from our Great Fish Dynasty's imperial family. With this in hand, you may directly enter the Northern Region Heavenly Sect without undergoing any assessment." Xiao Tianhuan presented Lu Changsheng with a medallion that was neither metal nor jade. It differed greatly from the medallion found on Tianxin. Tianxin's had been a disciple medallion, rendered useless the moment Tianxin died. This medallion, however, was a token coveted by countless people, granting direct entry into the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. Lu Changsheng put it away carefully. "Where is the Northern Region Heavenly Sect located?" Lu Changsheng asked. "The Northern Region Heavenly Sect is in the Tianlu Mountain Range. We will send someone to escort you there." "When do you plan to set off?" Xiao Tianhuan inquired. "There is nothing in Beiling City keeping me here," "I will leave right now," Lu Changsheng replied calmly. Although he had gained immensely on the Northern Region Battlefield, vaulting to the top of the Divine Strength Ranking and spreading his fame across the world, he held not the slightest affection for Beiling City. From beginning to end, this place was steeped only in strife and slaughter. "Very well, I will make the arrangements at once. Please wait a moment, Mister Lu." Xiao Tianhuan promptly left to see to the matter. Soon, the Martial Demonstration Tower prepared a carriage. The carriage was comfortable. The driver was a middle-aged man, who was also a martial artist of the Divine Strength Realm. "What is your name?" Lu Changsheng asked. "In the Martial Demonstration Tower, I have only a code name. For this mission, my code name is Coachman," the driver replied respectfully. Lu Changsheng understood. This Divine Strength Realm martial artist was likely a death-sworn operative trained by the Martial Demonstration Tower, fiercely loyal to them. "Good. Coachman, let us be on our way." "Understood, Mister Lu." The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage bore Lu Changsheng slowly out of Beiling City. Leaving Beiling City behind, Lu Changsheng traveled all the way south. It was a long journey. Nearly a month was spent on the road. Of course, Lu Changsheng was in no hurry, so they did not travel day and night without rest. Because of the continuous traveling throughout that month, he did not practice his martial arts much. Only the Perception Domain, which Lu Changsheng deployed from time to time along the way, managed to improve slightly. Even so, the progress was exceptionally slow. In an entire month, it had increased by only five percent, currently hovering around six percent. Reaching one hundred percent was still a long road ahead. However, cultivating a domain was inherently arduous. It was only because Lu Changsheng's comprehension was so astonishingly high that it advanced at all; otherwise, once a domain was evolved, further improvement would normally grind to a halt. That it could still progress proved that his comprehension was indeed terrifying enough to sustain the growth of the Perception Domain. "We have arrived at the Tianlu Mountain Range," the coachman spoke up. He was a man of few words, rarely speaking unless Lu Changsheng asked a question. "The Tianlu Mountain Range..." Lu Changsheng lifted the carriage curtain. Now that they had reached the Tianlu Mountain Range, the coachman's task was complete. Lu Changsheng stepped down from the carriage. He raised his head to see a towering peak piercing into the clouds. That was Mount Tianlu. The main peak of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect! They were currently at the foot of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect's mountain. "How does one ascend the mountain?" Lu Changsheng asked. The coachman answered, "Climb the Heavenly Stairway, enter the Heavenly Sect!" "The Heavenly Stairway?" Lu Changsheng gazed into the distance. He saw flights of stone steps. The stairway was exceptionally narrow, wide enough for only one person at a time, and rose steeply toward the mountain summit. To either side of the stone steps lay bottomless chasms, looking perilous in the extreme. A single misstep would send a climber plummeting to be shattered to pieces, beyond anyone's power to save. This was the Heavenly Stairway! "Beside the Heavenly Stairway, there seems to be an ordinary mountain trail that also leads to the summit." Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain was no trivial matter; he instantly detected the other path. The coachman was slightly surprised, but explained nonetheless, "Those who enter the Heavenly Sect via the Heavenly Stairway may become seed disciples!" "In the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, one must compete! Becoming a seed disciple grants all manner of privileges, offering a starting point far higher than that of ordinary disciples." "The medallion provided by the Martial Demonstration Tower only guarantees Mister Lu's entry into the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. If you wish to receive the best treatment the sect can offer, it is best to climb the Heavenly Stairway." "With Mister Lu's strength and talent, ascending the Heavenly Stairway to enter the sect should pose no problem." Lu Changsheng understood. The Heavenly Stairway was actually a form of assessment. Climbing it to enter the sect proved exceptional talent, allowing one to stand out from the crowd of disciples right from the start. Naturally, if Lu Changsheng insisted on not climbing the Heavenly Stairway, he could still enter the sect. In that case, however, he would have to compete for resources alongside ordinary disciples from day one. He might even have to spend a very long time just to obtain a superior Divine Gang Realm martial art. Lu Changsheng knew very well that early starter rewards were often the most practical. Climbing the Heavenly Stairway was likely the easiest benefit to seize upon entering the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. "Let us go to the Heavenly Stairway, then." Lu Changsheng walked directly toward the Heavenly Stairway. When he arrived at the base of the stairway, he discovered numerous martial artists gathered outside it. Judging from the clothing they wore, they appeared to belong to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. Most of them were also Divine Strength Realm martial artists. Upon spotting Lu Changsheng and the coachman, their eyes lit up. "To climb the Heavenly Stairway at this time of year, he must be someone recommended by one of the major powers in the Northern Region." "If you want to climb the Heavenly Stairway, you must pay silver. Ten thousand taels of silver per person, non-negotiable." Lu Changsheng frowned. "What is the meaning of this? Ten thousand taels of silver?" Did they take him for a fat sheep to fleece? Were these people truly disciples of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect? "They are servants of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect's inner disciples," "Every inner disciple has servants attending them," the coachman suddenly remarked. "Servants?" Lu Changsheng mused over the word. He looked up at these servants and suddenly asked, "Can they be killed?" The coachman froze slightly. Recalling Lu Changsheng's fearsome reputation on the Northern Region Battlefield, he then nodded. "Yes!" They were mere servants. They were not registered on the official roster of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect; killing them carried no weight. The only potential trouble was the inner disciples backing them. Yet their luck was terrible today. Lu Changsheng had slain even Tianxin; what were a few servants to him? "What do you think you're doing?" "We may be servants, but behind us are inner disciples! Offend us, and your path in the sect will be fraught with peril..." These servants sensed the danger as well. They had long understood the lay of the land before running their extortion scheme at the base of the mountain. Anyone entering the sect during this period was bound to be a candidate recommended by influential factions—either the imperial family or top-tier powers. Every single one of them was a wealthy sheep with deep pockets. What was a mere ten thousand taels of silver to them? Most martial artists preferred not to invite trouble before even joining the sect, and would obediently hand over the silver. Yet occasionally, they would run into a tough nut to crack. Evidently, the two before them were precisely that sort. Hum. Suddenly, the servants felt the surroundings shift abruptly. The sky darkened. Brilliant stars dotted the heavens. Yet within that vast, open starry sky, a three-thousand-foot waterfall plunged downward, cascading across the firmament in a magnificent spectacle. None of the servants were in any mood to admire such a majestic sight, however. Having spent time around the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, they were naturally knowledgeable. They recognized it at once. "Not good, this is a martial conception..." The servants' faces drained of color. Clang! Lu Changsheng paid them no heed at all. Drawing his blade directly from its sheath, a flash of blood-red saber light cut through the air. Furthermore, the crimson blade light split into five. Five distinct arcs of blade light descended upon five of the servants. Slash! The servants' eyes went wide. In the next instant, their heads dropped to the ground. These servants had not even reached the Hundred Tripods Realm. How could they possibly withstand a single strike from Lu Changsheng? Dead! All five servants were dead. Perhaps behind them stood several inner disciples. Before even entering the Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng had already offended multiple inner disciples. And inner disciples were all in the Divine Gang Realm! A pungent metallic stench of blood permeated the air. Several other servants stood farther away. Because they had not blocked Lu Changsheng earlier, Lu Changsheng naturally did not bother killing them. "Run, hurry!" Those servants immediately fled toward the summit via the ordinary mountain path. Having witnessed Lu Changsheng's ruthless decisiveness in decapitating five servants in a single breath, how could they not realize that this was a truly merciless figure? If they lingered any longer and happened to displease him, he might cut them down as well. They were merely servants. No matter who backed them, they had to stay alive. Only the living had value! Lu Changsheng arrived at the foot of the Heavenly Stairway, lifted his head toward the cloud-piercing peak, and stepped onto it without the slightest hesitation. One step, two steps, three steps... Lu Changsheng walked steadily. Aside from a bit of chill and stronger gusts of wind, he felt nothing unusual. That was until he reached halfway up the mountain and set foot onto the thirty-third step. Whoosh... Instantly, howling gale winds burst forth. The surroundings seemed to plunge into darkness in an instant. A thick layer of mist faintly enveloped the Heavenly Stairway. At this moment, even Lu Changsheng could not make out where the next step lay.