Lu Changsheng looked around the Battle Hall.
On the hall's wall, a faint beam of light was visible.
Within that light was the number "100."
It likely represented the one hundred disciples in the Battle Hall.
"One quarter of an hour to eliminate eighty people. If fewer than eighty have been eliminated when time runs out, everyone in this contest will be disqualified!"
A voice resonated throughout the Battle Hall.
"Contest rules!"
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
He understood the intent behind this rule in an instant.
It was designed to make the disciples slaughter each other.
No one could think of playing it safe.
If everyone chose self-preservation, they would all be eliminated together.
Furthermore, it would drive the strong to take action even more aggressively.
"Kill!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Changsheng made his move.
*Hum.*
The surrounding sky seemed to darken.
A pitch-black starry sky faintly came into view.
Starry Sky Domain!
Lu Changsheng deployed his Starry Sky Domain across a very limited area.
He deliberately controlled the range of his domain, doing his best not to disturb True Disciple Xiao Jian.
He wanted to avoid provoking an attack from Xiao Jian.
Xiao Jian, for his part, seemed quite "sensible."
He simply sat cross-legged on the floor without making a move.
Yet no one dared approach him.
Lu Changsheng knew that when a true disciple like Xiao Jian entered the contest, it was practically a free pass to coast through.
As for how far Xiao Jian could coast, Lu Changsheng had no idea.
After all, this was his first time participating in the contest.
Lu Changsheng instantly stacked four layers of Divine Gang.
In a free-for-all melee, anything could happen—safety came first.
*Clang.*
Lu Changsheng drew his saber.
Arcs of blood-red saber light danced across the air.
Wherever they descended, someone's Divine Gang inevitably shattered, or their limbs were severed.
Every strike of blood-red saber light accompanied another martial artist's elimination.
Some had even condensed three layers of Divine Gang, yet it availed them nothing; they could not withstand a single blade from Lu Changsheng.
"Terrifying! Is this Lu Changsheng's true strength? With four layers of Divine Gang stacked, he reportedly unleashes a hundred thousand tripods of force. What Divine Gang Realm martial artist could possibly block that?"
"Stay away from Xiao Jian, and stay away from Lu Changsheng! Neither of those two can be provoked!"
"Is this the power of an inner sect seed disciple?"
In an instant, many people proactively steered clear of Lu Changsheng.
The number on the wall also shifted rapidly.
From 100, it plunged to 80, 70, 60, 50...
Once the tally fell to 50, the rate of decline slowed considerably.
After half the contenders were gone, nearly all the weaker fighters had been weeded out.
Those who remained were powerful individuals with actual tricks up their sleeves.
Still, some possessed remarkable luck or a knack for staying hidden.
For instance, Lu Changsheng noticed an outer sect disciple who was merely a Divine Strength Realm martial artist yet had remained unscathed all this time.
However, thirty more people still needed to be eliminated. No matter how well one hid, escaping elimination was practically impossible.
Sure enough, once the headcount dropped to thirty, that Divine Strength Realm disciple was eliminated.
From beginning to end, Xiao Jian never lifted a finger.
It was as if he were simply watching a show.
Yet no one envied his ability to coast through the first round.
It was better that Xiao Jian stayed out of it.
Had Xiao Jian acted, none of them would have been safe.
The number steadily dwindled.
Lu Changsheng also cut down two tough opponents.
Both had actually manifested domains.
Of course, even manifesting a domain and condensing two or three layers of Divine Gang could not stop Lu Changsheng's hundred thousand tripods of force.
Soon, only twenty people remained.
The first round of eliminations had ended.
"The first round of eliminations is complete. Commencing the second round."
*Hum.*
Beams of light cascaded down, enveloping each person.
"There are numbers in the light."
"Those with matching numbers will duel. The victor advances to the next round."
Lu Changsheng was inwardly startled.
The second round was critical.
Eliminating one's opponent meant securing a spot in the top ten.
That guaranteed at least five thousand contribution points, which made it well worth the effort.
Lu Changsheng glanced at his number: "8."
He lifted his head and scanned the room.
He quickly spotted his opponent.
It was a Divine Gang Realm martial artist.
However, what everyone cared about most was who had drawn Xiao Jian.
Before long, everyone's eyes landed on a martial artist whose face had turned utterly pale.
His number matched Xiao Jian's.
He was paired against Xiao Jian.
"I concede."
Lacking even the courage to fight, the disciple conceded on the spot.
Lu Changsheng's opponent did not look pleased either.
Recognizing Lu Changsheng, he took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Senior Brother Lu is indeed powerful, but I would still like to test myself against you."
"As you wish."
Lu Changsheng wasted no words and slashed out with his saber.
*Clang.*
A hundred thousand tripods of force instantly slammed into the opponent's two layers of Divine Gang.
*Crack.*
The Divine Gang shattered.
Lu Changsheng's blade severed the man's arm in a single stroke.
"I yield..."
The disciple's expression was grim.
He was an inner sect disciple and even a standout among his peers.
Yet he was not a seed disciple.
Now he saw that the gap between himself and a seed disciple was simply vast.
Soon, only ten people remained in the Battle Hall.
"The second round of eliminations is complete. Rules for the third round:"
"Xiao Jian alone will face the other nine."
"The nine will not be distinguished by role; rankings will be determined by performance during the battle."
"The last one standing will take first place!"
Seeing the third round's rules, Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed sharply.
This was a direct showdown against Xiao Jian.
Moreover, it pit nine Divine Gang Realm martial artists together against a single true disciple.
Among the nine, Lu Changsheng was not the only inner sect seed disciple.
There were three in total!
Including Lu Changsheng, three of them were seed disciples of the inner sect.
Such a lineup was exceptionally impressive.
Yet no one dared underestimate Xiao Jian.
In fact, all nine were on high alert, as if facing a mortal enemy.
"Let the third round of eliminations begin!"
As the announcement fell, Xiao Jian did not attack immediately.
Instead, he spoke in a measured tone. "What I manifested is the Sword Domain."
"Once I truly act, you will experience the agony of ten thousand blades piercing your flesh."
"Those who cannot endure it had best surrender early."
Xiao Jian was thoroughly arrogant.
Still, he truly did not believe anyone present posed the slightest threat to him.
"Strike!"
Lu Changsheng made his move.
He refused to let Xiao Jian deploy his Sword Domain unhindered.
Lu Changsheng unleashed the Mind Sword.
Silent and traceless, it struck into Xiao Jian's spirit in an instant.
"Hm?"
"A spiritual secret method?"
Xiao Jian's expression shifted slightly.
Yet that was all.
Lu Changsheng's Mind Sword was extraordinarily potent, and having integrated the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method, it had proven virtually invincible.
Yet this was the first time Lu Changsheng's Mind Sword had failed.
No, it was not that it failed, but rather that it was ineffective.
When Lu Changsheng's Mind Sword struck Xiao Jian's spirit, it felt as though it had slashed against an impossibly solid slab of iron.
It could not shake Xiao Jian's spirit in the slightest.
*His spirit has condensed into an iron plate?*
Lu Changsheng was shaken.
Whether in the Divine Strength Realm or the Divine Gang Realm, no matter how powerful someone's spiritual will might be, their spirit could never become like an iron plate.
Yet Lu Changsheng's Mind Sword had landed as if striking solid metal.
Seeing the Mind Sword prove futile, Lu Changsheng immediately unleashed his domains.
*Boom.*
Four layers of domains stacked together.
Furthermore, the domains began fusing rapidly.
The Starry Sky Domain and Waterfall Domain merged into the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain.
The Ocean Wave Domain and Tempest Domain merged into the Waterspout Domain.
As both fused domains descended, they enveloped Xiao Jian at once.
Lu Changsheng was not the only one who attacked; the other eight moved simultaneously.
They knew full well that the final rankings depended on performance.
If they remained idle, their ultimate ranking would be dismal.
Countless martial conceptions and domains descended upon Xiao Jian.
Any other martial artist would have been pinned down, unable to move.
Yet Xiao Jian seemed entirely unaffected.
His gaze looked straight through the layered domains, coming to rest upon Lu Changsheng.
"Four domains, and even fused domains... Impressive indeed. With such comprehension, you have a promising shot at becoming a true disciple in the future..."
Xiao Jian spoke in an appreciative tone.
Yet it was merely a passing remark.
He paid no heed to the joint assault of these martial artists.
"I know what you are all anticipating."
"Watch closely. Once the brain domain is opened, what kind of mighty power does one wield?"
"Sword Domain!"
The next instant, a layer of domain power abruptly manifested around Xiao Jian.
Yet this domain power was not illusory; it was as tangible as reality itself.
Everyone could clearly see this domain.
The moment the Sword Domain appeared, Lu Changsheng's two fused domains shattered instantly.
The domains and martial conceptions of the other eight collapsed and dispersed as well.
In this moment, only a single domain remained: the Sword Domain!
They felt as though they had been thrust into a world of swords,
personally experiencing the sharp edges of countless blades.
Above their heads, sharp swords materialized abruptly,
dense and packed like raindrops.
Lu Changsheng was shaken to the core.
"Fall."
The sharp swords descended in an instant.
In a flash, Lu Changsheng's arm was severed by a blade.
His four layers of Divine Gang and hundred tripods of force were shredded as easily as paper.
Yet Lu Changsheng did not seem to care that he had been eliminated.
Nor did he care about the sheer power of Xiao Jian's sword strike.
His eyes widened, fixed upon an unbelievable sight.
"These swords... are real..."
Lu Changsheng's gaze was filled with shock.
Real!
They were all real!
The Sword Domain was real, and the swords were real.
"Materialization... This is turning the illusory into reality. How is that possible?"
Lu Changsheng even forgot the pain, utterly astounded.
"Oh?"
"Your comprehension is indeed exceptional to grasp the essence of the Sword Domain so quickly."
"However, I can only tell you that it is both real and unreal. As for the specifics, once you open your brain domain and advance to the Divine Treasury, you will understand."
"This is a method of the Divine Treasury Realm!"
Xiao Jian withdrew his domain.
The outcome held no suspense.
All nine, including Lu Changsheng, were wiped out!
"The contest has concluded. Xiao Jian takes first place, Lu Changsheng second, and Wu Yuanji third."
*Rumble.*
The gates of the Battle Hall swung open.
Everyone walked outside.
Lu Changsheng picked up his severed arm from the ground and reattached it.
This was no difficult feat even for someone in the Divine Strength Realm, let alone the Divine Gang Realm.
Finishing second in this contest earned Lu Changsheng twenty thousand contribution points—a tremendous harvest.
Yet Lu Changsheng felt that his greatest gain was witnessing True Disciple Xiao Jian in action with his own eyes
and experiencing firsthand the methods of a Divine Treasury Realm expert.
In particular, the Sword Domain manifesting reality from illusion had left an indelible shock on Lu Changsheng.
*Both real and unreal...*
*Truly, without entering the Divine Treasury, all is in vain.*
*Beneath the Divine Treasury, all are mere ants!*
The shock in Lu Changsheng's heart still had not subsided.
He had always held a quiet pride.
Though free of arrogance, he possessed an unyielding backbone.
Four layers of high-grade Divine Gang, four domains,
even fused domains,
coupled with a hundred thousand tripods of force.
What terrifying might was that?
Lu Changsheng had possessed the confidence to sweep through the entire inner sect.
Yet facing the wonders of a Divine Treasury Realm martial artist, Lu Changsheng realized how insignificant he was.
Never mind four layers of Divine Gang;
what if he condensed eight or ten layers?
Before a Sword Domain that turned illusion into reality—before those endless, densely packed blades—what difference would even a hundred layers of Divine Gang make?
In the end, death was inevitable!
Without entering the Divine Treasury, all was in vain.
Only now did Lu Changsheng truly appreciate that mind power was the key!
To reach the Divine Treasury, one had to attain a mind index of 100,
rather than striving to condense eight or ten layers of Divine Gang.
That was utterly meaningless.
Lu Changsheng's current strength might not make him completely invincible among Divine Gang Realm martial artists,
but he was undoubtedly among the very top.
It was more than enough.
What he needed most was to elevate his mind power, unlock his brain domain, and advance to the Divine Treasury Realm!
*I currently have 27,000 contribution points.*
*I am still short by 3,000 to exchange for three Dao Comprehension Pills.*
Lu Changsheng was in no hurry to exchange for the pills.
Two Dao Comprehension Pills would not be enough to bring his Starry Sky Domain to perfection anyway.
*Right, I can go to Heavenly Abyss Gorge to catch earth grubs.*
*And while I'm there, I can use the fierce winds of Heavenly Abyss Gorge to comprehend the Tempest Domain.*
Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up.
Back then, he had caught ten earth grubs, each worth one hundred contribution points, totaling one thousand points.
Moreover, as a seed disciple, his mission rewards were doubled.
After resting for a while, Lu Changsheng headed to Heavenly Abyss Gorge that afternoon.
Soon, he arrived at Heavenly Abyss Gorge.
There were very few people in the gorge, mostly outer sect disciples.
Lu Changsheng sat atop a small hillock.
Closing his eyes, he unleashed his Perception Domain.
Using the Perception Domain, he sought insight into the Tempest Domain.
Although comprehending a domain this way yielded slow progress,
many small gains would eventually add up, steadily advancing his domain.
After all, Lu Changsheng could not eat Dao Comprehension Pills like regular meals.
This time, Lu Changsheng truly settled his mind.
Every day, he visited Heavenly Abyss Gorge to comprehend the Tempest Domain and catch earth grubs.
When night fell, he could even spend the hours comprehending the Starry Sky Domain.
It was three birds with one stone.
In the blink of an eye, over a month passed.
By catching earth grubs, Lu Changsheng finally accumulated four thousand contribution points.
"Time to exchange for three Dao Comprehension Pills."
Lu Changsheng's contribution points now totaled 31,000.
Although he had exceeded thirty thousand earlier, he wanted to keep some points in reserve.
That was why he had spent a few extra days catching several more earth grubs.
Soon, Lu Changsheng smoothly exchanged his points for three Dao Comprehension Pills.
When night arrived, Lu Changsheng looked up at the starry sky.
"Let us begin."
Lu Changsheng swallowed a Dao Comprehension Pill and began comprehending the Starry Sky Domain.
The pill's effects remained as potent as ever.
Lu Changsheng could distinctly feel his Starry Sky Domain advancing at rapid speed.
The first day, the second day, the third day...
All the way to the third day,
which was when Lu Changsheng took the third Dao Comprehension Pill.
In truth, before taking the third pill, Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain had already reached 99% progress.
However, upon reaching 99%, progress seemed to grind to a halt.
This final step was exceedingly difficult.
Lu Changsheng had also learned about the inner sect's circumstances.
In the inner sect, there was not a single person who had brought a domain to perfection.
Not one.
Word had it that domains could only reach perfection after one became a true disciple.
Yet that did not mean a Divine Gang Realm cultivator could not achieve perfection.
On the contrary, a Divine Gang Realm martial artist was capable of perfecting a domain.
It was just that the difficulty was immense.
Moreover, many martial artists deemed it inefficient and not worth the cost.
Some refused to believe it and consumed several Dao Comprehension Pills in an attempt to reach perfection,
only to find themselves stuck at the bottleneck, completely helpless.
The bottleneck those martial artists encountered was likely that 99% threshold.
Lu Changsheng had previously believed that with his comprehension, bottlenecks did not exist for him.
He had not expected to face one now.
However, rumors held that perfecting a domain granted an immense boost to the mind.
Lu Changsheng wanted to give it a try.
With his current comprehension exceeding four thousand,
and with the aid of a Dao Comprehension Pill,
perfecting the domain should not be impossible.
In the end, Lu Changsheng swallowed the third Dao Comprehension Pill.
He cleared his mind of all distractions.
He held only a single thought: to bring the Starry Sky Domain to perfection.
Gradually, Lu Changsheng sank into a state of sudden enlightenment.
He gazed up at the starry sky overhead.
Then, instinctively, he released his Starry Sky Domain.
This layer of Starry Sky Domain was clearly illusory at a glance.
Though it appeared identical to the starry sky above, there was an essential difference.
One was real; the other was an illusion.
A world of difference!
Lu Changsheng quietly immersed himself in his sudden enlightenment.
He seemed to grasp something, yet it felt just out of reach.
Two hours, four hours, six hours...
The effects of the Dao Comprehension Pill could last roughly ten hours.
Yet after six hours, Lu Changsheng appeared to have gained nothing.
Ever since Lu Changsheng began taking Dao Comprehension Pills, he had never experienced several hours of sudden enlightenment without any gain.
Yet Lu Changsheng knew full well
that he had not truly gained nothing.
It seemed as though his domain had not transformed, as if he were merely staring at the starry sky above.
Yet Lu Changsheng had seized upon a crucial key:
the difference between his Starry Sky Domain and the true starry sky.
Reality!
The true starry sky was real, whereas his domain was illusory.
What was the ultimate purpose of a domain?
Lu Changsheng thought of Xiao Jian's Sword Domain.
Materialization!
Turning the illusory into reality!
That was the ultimate form of a domain!
*Hum.*
Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain began to vibrate violently,
as though on the verge of transformation.
Yet turning illusion into reality seemed like pure myth.
How could mere imagination manifest physical reality out of nothing?
It was fundamentally impossible!
To turn illusion into reality, something was still missing.
*As vast as the mind, so vast is the world.*
*The mind can encompass all things.*
*Even the boundless scale of the universe is nothing more than an imperceptible thought within the mind.*
*To turn illusion into reality, one must rely on the mind!*
In an instant, inspiration struck, and Lu Changsheng reached complete enlightenment.
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
The Starry Sky Domain before him seemed unchanged,
yet it was entirely different.
A mysterious power had quietly woven itself into the Starry Sky Domain,
giving it a fundamental distinction from other domains.
Reality!
Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain appeared somewhat real.
*Boom!*
At last, Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain seemed to suddenly come to life.
It lasted for only a single instant,
perhaps not even a full second.
Yet Lu Changsheng felt it.
His Starry Sky Domain was real, yet also not real.
Because this was the starry sky of his imagination.
In the true starry sky, those stars were actually colossal celestial bodies.
The starry sky he manifested was vast and boundless, seemingly filled with countless stars.
Yet could those stars truly be hundreds of millions of actual planets?
Impossible!
That was utterly impossible!
The starry sky before him was merely the Starry Sky Domain Lu Changsheng had manifested.
Seemingly real, it remained an illusion in essence.
In this moment, Lu Changsheng understood completely.
Mind power!
The step following domain perfection was, in truth, mind power.
Infusing mind power into a domain could make it real.
However, Lu Changsheng's mind power was not sufficient to sustain the domain's transformation from illusion into reality.
Even a mind index of one hundred could not support turning a domain into physical reality.
Perhaps this was why the next step after the Divine Gang Realm was opening the brain domain.
The secret of turning a domain from illusion to reality lay within the brain domain!
Lu Changsheng summoned his attribute panel
to check his status:
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 4,230 (Praised in All Directions)
Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: 12 years of sword casting.
Mind Sword Mantra Formula: Progress 39% (Mind Sword)
Ocean Wave Domain: Progress 1%
Tempest Domain: Progress 12%
Perception Domain: Progress 42%
Starry Sky Domain: Perfection (Untransformed)
Waterfall Domain: Progress 5%
His Starry Sky Domain had indeed reached perfection.
However, the word "Untransformed" followed it.
That likely referred to the transformation from illusion into reality.
Certain conditions were evidently still missing.
Relying solely on mind power to fully support a domain's transformation seemed far too difficult.
"Time to see what my mind index has reached now..."
Lu Changsheng was eager to know his current mind index.
Perfecting the Starry Sky Domain had shown Lu Changsheng the path forward
and allowed him to directly "sense" mind power.
Though mind power was ethereal and intangible, he could now perceive it.
The moment his Starry Sky Domain achieved perfection, Lu Changsheng's mind power had surged abruptly.
It had certainly experienced a massive leap.
Yet precisely how many points it had risen could only be confirmed by testing at the Mind Stele.
Soon, Lu Changsheng arrived before the Mind Stele.
After waiting for a short while, his turn came.
Because Lu Changsheng could already sense his mind power,
he did not need to place his hand upon the Mind Stele.
With a mere thought,
his ethereal, formless mind power swiftly enveloped the Mind Stele.
*Boom.*
This time, the Mind Stele actually trembled faintly.
Moreover, unlike the faint white glow from before, the Mind Stele unleashed a dazzling brilliance.
The stele's light was blinding,
instantly flooding the entire hall of the Technique Transmission Hall.
Almost everyone was drawn by the radiance.
"What is happening?"
"Why is the Mind Stele giving off such blinding light? It's even vibrating faintly!"
"It seems Inner Sect Seed Disciple Lu Changsheng is testing his mind index."
"Just how high is Lu Changsheng's mind index to cause such a drastic reaction from the Mind Stele?"
Not only were the disciples astonished, but even the elders of the Technique Transmission Hall turned their gazes toward the Mind Stele.
"The Mind Stele is vibrating... Could this be..."
Several elders in the Technique Transmission Hall seemed to recognize what was happening.
Their eyes went wide, expressions of sheer disbelief spreading across their faces.
Chapter 150