Two Perfected Domains! Mind Power Surges, and the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain Becomes Real!

Lu Changsheng swallowed a Dao Comprehension Pill and began comprehending the Waterfall Domain. Before long, he smoothly entered a state of sudden enlightenment. Within that state, inspiration burst forth in endless waves. His progress in the Waterfall Domain climbed rapidly. However, the effects of a single Dao Comprehension Pill lasted only five shichen. Lu Changsheng could take two pills a day, which amounted to roughly ten shichen. With each period of sudden enlightenment, his progress in the Waterfall Domain increased by about eight to ten percent. In a single day, he could raise the domain's progress by sixteen to twenty percent. One day, two days, three days, four days, five days... In the blink of an eye, six days had passed. Lu Changsheng's Waterfall Domain had already reached ninety-nine percent progress. All it lacked was a single spark of insight to bring the Waterfall Domain to complete perfection. In the past, Lu Changsheng might have needed several more Dao Comprehension Pills to find that spark. However, he had already experienced perfecting a domain once before. He possessed ample experience. Therefore, seeking that spark did not cost him much time or effort this time. He had not even needed to take the very last Dao Comprehension Pill. Rumble! The next moment, the Waterfall Domain manifested around Lu Changsheng. It roiled incessantly, as though on the verge of a transformation. Standing guard nearby, Liu Yuan's eyes widened at the sight, a trace of shock surfacing on his face. "This is... domain perfection?" Liu Yuan could hardly believe his eyes. Six days! A mere six days. Lu Changsheng was actually about to bring another domain to perfection. Although Liu Yuan knew Lu Changsheng had consumed twelve Dao Comprehension Pills over those six days, what were twelve measly pills? Liu Yuan had taken dozens of Dao Comprehension Pills himself. And what was the result? Had his domain reached perfection? No! He was not even close to perfecting his domain. "Lu Changsheng's comprehension is truly unparalleled throughout history. I've never heard of anyone taking a dozen or so Dao Comprehension Pills, spending a few days in sudden enlightenment, and bringing a domain to perfection." "Such comprehension is simply unbelievable..." Liu Yuan was profoundly shaken. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have believed anyone's comprehension could reach such an extent. Now Liu Yuan understood why Lu Changsheng had been able to bring the Starry Sky Domain to perfection while still in the Divine Gang Realm. With such terrifying comprehension, what domain could he not perfect? As time passed, Lu Changsheng's Waterfall Domain finally attained complete perfection. Just as with the Starry Sky Domain, Lu Changsheng felt his mind power surge rapidly. He wondered whether his mind index had increased by fifteen points again. He would have to test it once he returned. "Mm?" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng sensed something unusual. His Starry Sky Domain and Waterfall Domain naturally began attempting to fuse at this moment. Lu Changsheng had not even deployed the Starry Sky Domain. Yet it had been drawn forth by the Waterfall Domain. Lu Changsheng knew the Starry Sky Domain and Waterfall Domain could likely fuse; after all, they had originally been the Starry Sky Waterfall Conception. However, what would happen once the domains fused? Lu Changsheng was not certain. Yet he could faintly sense that the fusion of two domains would cause no small commotion. Liu Yuan was still present. Even though Lu Changsheng trusted Liu Yuan deeply, some secrets were better kept to himself. Knowing too many secrets was not necessarily a good thing for Liu Yuan either. Thus, Lu Changsheng halted the process and retracted the Waterfall Domain as well. Liu Yuan stood up, walked over to Lu Changsheng, and smiled. "Congratulations! Your Waterfall Domain has reached perfection as well. Possessing two perfected domains at once—who among the Divine Gang martial artists in the entire Ancient Region can compare to you?" In all his years in the Ancient Region, Liu Yuan had never heard of anyone perfecting two domains in the Divine Gang Realm. It was simply inconceivable. Yet such an unbelievable feat had unfolded right before his eyes. "Thank you for standing guard for me, Captain." Lu Changsheng said nothing more, and the two promptly returned to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Upon returning, Lu Changsheng immediately headed to the Technique Transmission Hall to find the Mind Stele. The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's system and structure were almost identical to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect's. There was a Mind Stele in its Technique Transmission Hall as well. Lu Changsheng arrived before the Mind Stele. Many disciples were gathered around, mostly belonging to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Northern Region Heavenly Sect disciples were few and far between. "Is that Lu Changsheng?" "Yes, the true disciple seed from the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. His talent is extraordinary." "I wonder what his mind index is?" "Hard to say. But a genius like him should have at least eighty points, right?" Paying no heed to what the others thought, Lu Changsheng released his mind power directly. Hum. The Mind Stele vibrated. However, since many in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect could release mind power, no one was particularly astonished by that. Soon, dazzling light radiated from the Mind Stele. In the end, the mark settled at sixty-three. That number left the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect disciples utterly dumbfounded. Not because it was too high, but because it was too low. "A mind index of sixty-three? Am I seeing things?" "Didn't they say Lu Changsheng is a true disciple seed of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect? They even spent precious spirit stones activating the teleportation array just to send him to the Ancient Region. And his mind index is only sixty-three?" "Something's not right. How can someone sense mind power with an index of sixty-three? Lu Changsheng just made the Mind Stele vibrate—he clearly senses mind power." The disciples were bewildered. Recent rumors claimed Lu Changsheng had slain Xu Haoran and the Five Peaks Squad. He was considered one of the top geniuses. And yet, one of the top geniuses had a mind index under seventy? Clearly, the news of Lu Changsheng unleashing a perfected domain upon his initial arrival in the Ancient Region had not spread widely. At least a considerable portion of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect disciples remained unaware. Lu Changsheng, of course, offered no explanation. He returned to his courtyard. "A mind index of sixty-three means my mind power increased by fifteen points. As expected, it increased by the same amount as when the Starry Sky Domain reached perfection." "In that case, my plan is correct. As long as I bring all five domains to perfection, my mind index will reach one hundred!" A sharp glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. The mind index was the sole path for a Divine Gang martial artist to reach the Divine Treasury Realm. Reaching an index of one hundred would allow one to open the brain domain and advance to the Divine Treasury! While others were still racking their brains over how to raise their mind power to one hundred points, Lu Changsheng already possessed a clear path: bringing all five domains to perfection. This sounded like an impossible fantasy to anyone else. Yet for Lu Changsheng, it posed no real difficulty. As long as he had Dao Comprehension Pills, he could cultivate his domains to perfection. "Twelve Dao Comprehension Pills are roughly enough to bring one domain to perfection." "Even if there's some variance, it should take around twelve to fifteen pills." "Therefore, I need to find a way to obtain a massive amount of contribution points to exchange for more Dao Comprehension Pills." Lu Changsheng contemplated his next move. Dao Comprehension Pills! They were a tangible resource within his grasp. So long as he had contribution points, he could exchange for them. As for the diminishing returns from taking too many pills, Lu Changsheng had already looked into it. Generally, their effects only began to wane after several dozen pills had been consumed. Lu Changsheng had taken far fewer than that. They should easily be enough to support him until he cultivated the remaining three domains to perfection. Lu Changsheng intended to find a suitable time to consult Liu Yuan. With his own strength combined with the support of the Tianlin Squad, Lu Changsheng felt they could compete for any natural treasure within the first tier of the Ancient Region. They should acquire as many contribution points as possible. This would benefit both him and the entire Tianlin Squad. Lu Changsheng was in no hurry, however. Having just returned, he needed a few days of rest. Liu Yuan had also exerted himself guarding him for days, and required proper rest as well. "Right, back at the Bitan Grand Waterfall, when my Waterfall Domain reached perfection, it seemed to want to fuse with the Starry Sky Domain on its own..." Lu Changsheng faintly sensed that the fusion of two perfected domains was extraordinary. He had refrained from fusing them earlier because Liu Yuan had been there. Now that he was back at the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect inside his own courtyard, he had no need to worry about being discovered. The next moment, Lu Changsheng unleashed both the Waterfall Domain and the Starry Sky Domain. Hum. The two domains instantly enveloped the entire courtyard. This was even with Lu Changsheng restraining them. Otherwise, their coverage would have been far broader. "Fuse!" With a single thought from Lu Changsheng, the two domains began to merge automatically. He did not even need to expend any effort. The two domains blended together like fish taking to water, harmonizing with effortless ease. Soon, the two perfected domains thoroughly fused, giving birth to a brand-new domain: the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain! The instant the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain formed, Lu Changsheng was startled. Real! It felt astonishingly real! A boundless starry sky stretched outward, shimmering with countless stars. Within that starry sky hung an enormous waterfall, seemingly piercing through the cosmos and straddling the void. Even gazing at it from afar, one could feel its majestic grandeur. Moreover, standing within the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain felt noticeably more tangible than standing in either separate domain before. It was even translucent already. "What is going on?" "Fusing perfected domains can directly make them semi-tangible?" "Without even needing to be nurtured in the brain domain?" Lu Changsheng was astonished. He had acquired a deep understanding of domains. He knew that manifesting a domain from illusion into reality usually required nurturing it within the brain domain. Only Divine Treasury experts could achieve that. As for Divine Gang martial artists? Unless their mind power was extraordinarily monstrous—perhaps exceeding one hundred points—it was impossible to manifest a domain into reality, and even then, they could only sustain it briefly. Previously, whether it was his perfected Starry Sky Domain or his perfected Waterfall Domain, neither individual domain had transformed into a semi-tangible state. Only when the two perfected domains fused did a qualitative leap occur, turning the domain semi-tangible. Lu Changsheng closely observed the semi-tangible Starry Sky Waterfall Domain. Such a formidable domain naturally carried terrifying might. Against another martial artist's domain, it would crush opposition like dry weeds; no domain could possibly rival the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain. A single perfected domain was already enough to overpower other domains. Now that two perfected domains had fused into a semi-tangible domain, it seemed to hold even greater wonder. "Wait. If a semi-tangible domain is forcibly supported by mind power to manifest completely from illusion into reality, wouldn't that consume far less mind power?" A thought struck Lu Changsheng. He conceived a possibility. Without relying on the brain domain, could he use mind power alone to sustain the semi-tangible Starry Sky Waterfall Domain and make it fully real? It was merely a hypothesis; Lu Changsheng did not know if it would work. Yet once the thought took root, he could no longer suppress it. He wanted to try! "At worst, I'll just exhaust my mind power and need a few days of rest to recover." Taking a deep breath, Lu Changsheng made up his mind. "Let's begin." With the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain already fused, Lu Changsheng willed his mind power to surge forth, pouring it into the domain. The next instant, a miraculous scene unfolded. The semi-tangible Starry Sky Waterfall Domain trembled slightly, then rapidly manifested from illusion into reality! It truly became real! And with astonishing speed. In barely the blink of an eye, Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Waterfall Domain became completely solid and real. "This is... a genuine starry sky?" "And the waterfall... it's all real?" With a thought, a stream of water from the waterfall flowed into Lu Changsheng's hand. Cold! The water was bone-chillingly cold. It was as though the temperature naturally plummeted within the starry sky. Lu Changsheng opened his mouth and took a sip of the waterfall's water. "Mm?" "It's sweet and crisp, just like mountain spring water." "This is real water..." Lu Changsheng was thoroughly shocked. Real! His Starry Sky Domain had truly manifested into physical existence! Of course, it was only real within the area covered by the domain. And a domain manifested from illusion into reality possessed terrifying might. Lu Changsheng recalled Xiao Jian, the true disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. Xiao Jian was a Divine Treasury martial artist who had deployed a Sword Domain nurtured within his brain domain. His Sword Domain had manifested from illusion into reality. Standing inside it meant enduring the slicing assault of thousands upon thousands—even an endless deluge—of sharp swords. Lu Changsheng still remembered that overwhelming power vividly. "So what kind of might does my Starry Sky Waterfall Domain possess now that it has become real?" Inspiration struck Lu Changsheng. Having manifested the domain into reality, he naturally understood its dreadful power. With a shift of his mind... Rumble! The starry sky shook violently. One waterfall after another materialized across the expanse. They cascaded down from the heavens, piercing the starry sky and washing over everything in their path. It seemed as though anything standing in their way would be thoroughly obliterated by the deluge. Such power... Lu Changsheng compared it to Xiao Jian's Sword Domain. It seemed... his cascading starry waterfalls could pierce straight through Xiao Jian's Sword Domain! Of course, that was merely his intuition. Without testing it, Lu Changsheng could not be certain. However, judging by domain strength alone, the Sword Domain was at most comparable to Lu Changsheng's individual Starry Sky Domain or Waterfall Domain. The Starry Sky Waterfall Domain was a fusion of two domains, meaning its power had multiplied tremendously. "Mm?" "My mind power can't sustain it!" "How long has it been?" Lu Changsheng felt a sharp, intense pain in his mind. Simultaneously, the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain flickered and quickly reverted to its semi-tangible state. Lu Changsheng felt an overwhelming emptiness in his spirit. He knew his mind power had been completely drained. From the moment he channeled his mind power to make the Starry Sky Waterfall Domain real until his power was depleted and could no longer maintain the materialization... Barely half a breath had passed! Not even a full breath. One had to realize that Lu Changsheng's mind index had reached sixty-three. He was only a step away from the seventy-point mark. And yet, he could only sustain the materialized Starry Sky Waterfall Domain for half a breath? "Half a breath... if used well, can accomplish plenty." "It could even decide the outcome of a battle." "Once my domain turns real, it means I briefly possess the strength of a Divine Treasury martial artist. And not an ordinary one—a top-tier Divine Treasury expert!" "After all, the power of my materialized Starry Sky Waterfall Domain is simply too terrifying." "In a sense, I now possess a trump card capable of contending with Divine Treasury experts!" Lu Changsheng possessed vast combat experience. Though half a breath was exceedingly brief, using it properly could deliver a decisive, fatal blow! Of course, Lu Changsheng would not resort to this ability unless pushed to the brink. Once he manifested the domain into reality, his mind power would be entirely consumed. If he failed to kill his opponent, Lu Changsheng would be the one to die. Moreover, exhausting his mind power left him in a weakened state. He must not use it lightly; but once he chose to materialize the domain, it had to be a decisive strike to obliterate the enemy! Lu Changsheng understood full well how fearsome this ability was. At a critical juncture, it allowed him to fight above his realm! However, Divine Treasury martial artists commanded many methods. If the enemy withstood it, Lu Changsheng would be in grave danger. "Still, I mainly operate in the first tier of the Ancient Region, so I shouldn't run into Divine Treasury experts." "As long as I quickly earn plenty of contribution points and raise my mind index, I'll be able to open my brain domain and become a genuine Divine Treasury expert. Then I won't have to worry about running out of mind power." Lu Changsheng kept his priorities straight. He closed his eyes. Having exhausted his mind power, he needed several days to recover. In the blink of an eye, five days passed. Lu Changsheng's mind power finally recovered completely. "Five days have passed. Liu Yuan should be well-rested by now." Lu Changsheng stood up and went to find Liu Yuan. At that moment, Liu Yuan was at the Martial Arts Field. Not only Liu Yuan, but the other members of the Tianlin Squad were there as well. When they saw Lu Changsheng, their eyes lit up. "Senior Brother Lu, you're quite something now! Your fame has spread throughout the entire Ancient Region Heavenly Sect!" "That's right! Outside, everyone is calling you a peerless fiend who wiped out the entire Five Peaks Squad. They're all terrified of you." "There are even crazier rumors floating around..." Xia Bao and the others were thrilled. After all, Lu Changsheng was a member of the Tianlin Squad, their teammate. By extension, the Tianlin Squad had become famous as well! In assessments of squads in the first tier of the Ancient Region, the Tianlin Squad was now ranked among the very top. Xia Bao and the others shared in that glory! "Lu Changsheng, did you come here for something?" Liu Yuan asked. "Captain, I wanted to ask if it's time for us to head out again." "Last time, we found Cold Ice Grass and everyone reaped a great harvest. Is there anywhere else in the first tier of the Ancient Region like that, where we can earn a massive amount of contribution points?" "I need a large number of contribution points to exchange for Dao Comprehension Pills to comprehend my domains." Lu Changsheng stated his purpose plainly. He wanted to earn a large sum of contribution points. Liu Yuan knew Lu Changsheng had just brought the Waterfall Domain to perfection. He had likely gotten a taste of success and wanted more Dao Comprehension Pills to cultivate his other domains to perfection as well. It was a completely mad idea. If anyone else had suggested it, Liu Yuan would have dismissed it as a pipe dream. Yet he had watched with his own eyes as Lu Changsheng perfected a domain using a mere twelve Dao Comprehension Pills. If Lu Changsheng exchanged for a massive stash of pills, he might truly be able to bring his other domains to perfection. Perhaps then, Lu Changsheng could rely on perfected domains to push his mind power to one hundred points, opening his brain domain and advancing to the Divine Treasury! At that thought, Liu Yuan's expression turned solemn. This concerned Lu Changsheng's martial path, so he had to take it seriously. "There is indeed a place where we could earn massive contribution points if we succeed." "However, it's very dangerous." "We might have to compete against the strongest squads in the first tier of the Ancient Region," Liu Yuan said hesitantly. At this moment, Xia Bao seemed to realize something and blurted out, "Fighting for the Golden Fruits?" Liu Yuan nodded. "Correct, fighting for the Golden Fruits." "Golden Fruits have a ten-year ripening cycle, and the next harvest is less than a month away." "Every time Golden Fruits ripen, the top squads in the first tier gather to fight for them." "Those top squads are even stronger than the Five Peaks Squad. As for our Tianlin Squad in the past, we didn't even qualify to participate." "Now that we have Lu Changsheng, our overall strength places us among the top squads of the first tier, so we do qualify to fight for them." "Still, fighting for Golden Fruits is perilous every time. Many people die, and top experts are no exception." At the mention of "Golden Fruits," the expressions of the Tianlin Squad members grew heavy. Clearly, these Golden Fruits were no trivial matter. "I only care about how many contribution points we can earn," Lu Changsheng asked calmly. "A single Golden Fruit can be exchanged for ten thousand contribution points." "Each harvest yields around twenty-odd fruits." "If we can truly seize them, twenty-odd Golden Fruits would equal over two hundred thousand contribution points." "Given your strength, Lu Changsheng, seizing them would mostly depend on you while the rest of us provide support. If you take eighty percent of the credit, you should receive around two hundred thousand contribution points!" Lu Changsheng quickly ran the numbers in his head. If he could secure two hundred thousand contribution points at once, he would be set! At the very least, exchanging for Dao Comprehension Pills would give him more than enough to cultivate his remaining three domains to perfection! Naturally, there was danger. In fact, the danger was immense. According to Liu Yuan, every top squad in the first tier would compete for the Golden Fruits. In other words, securing them meant defeating all the top squads! Furthermore, the ripening time of the Golden Fruits was only an estimate. No one could pinpoint the exact moment. Once ripe, they had to be harvested and preserved within a single shichen. Otherwise, the fruits would fall to the ground and rot rapidly. That meant they had to guard the vicinity of the Golden Fruit Tree in advance, preventing any other squad from approaching. It would be far more than a simple skirmish. They would have to withstand the pressure of every squad present. It was exceptionally dangerous. Even a top squad could be wiped out. If the Tianlin Squad went, they would have to rely entirely on Lu Changsheng. The others were far weaker. If Lu Changsheng could not protect them, or if his guard slipped, they could die! This was no exaggeration. Many top squads possessed unfathomable abilities, and might even wield methods granted by Immortal Masters. If his teammates were too weak, they might perish. Yet if Lu Changsheng went alone, though he feared no squad, he would need someone to harvest the fruits while he held off the powerful enemies. He needed a team. Thus, Lu Changsheng fell silent. The others fell silent as well. Everyone was weighing the risks and rewards. "I want to fight for the Golden Fruits!" "If we succeed, I only want eighteen Golden Fruits. Whatever remains, no matter how many, goes to the rest of you." After a long silence, Lu Changsheng spoke slowly. There was risk involved. After all, the Tianlin Squad members did not possess his strength; competing for the Golden Fruits drastically increased their risk of dying. Lu Changsheng had to yield some profit! He had calculated that eighteen Golden Fruits amounted to one hundred and eighty thousand contribution points, which could be exchanged for roughly thirty-six Dao Comprehension Pills. He still had one pill left and ten thousand contribution points. In total, that would give him thirty-nine pills. Lu Changsheng still had the Perception Domain, Ocean Wave Domain, and Tempest Domain left to perfect. Each required around twelve pills to reach perfection. Three domains would only take thirty-six pills. Moreover, his Perception Domain was already past forty percent progress, meaning it would take fewer than twelve pills to reach perfection. All things considered, taking eighteen Golden Fruits would guarantee him enough Dao Comprehension Pills for his cultivation. The rest could go to the Tianlin Squad members. For them, this was also a massive opportunity! With a bit of luck, each of them could walk away with twenty thousand contribution points. "Let's do it! The battle for Golden Fruits is a battleground for the strongest Divine Gang martial artists. I never imagined that I, Chen Gang, would have a chance to participate!" "I agree to go as well. With Senior Brother Lu's strength, who among the Divine Gang Realm can match him? We're only there for support and harvesting. If we don't even have the courage for that, why bother practicing martial arts?" "Indeed, this is a rare opportunity. Perhaps this battle will make our Tianlin Squad famous throughout the entire Ancient Region..." For a moment, the Tianlin Squad members voiced their agreement one after another. Danger? How could venturing through the Ancient Region be free of danger? Danger often came hand in hand with enormous rewards. Besides, Lu Changsheng gave them confidence! In the end, everyone's gaze fell upon Liu Yuan. As the captain, the final decision rested with him. Seeing the eager looks in their eyes, a smile touched the corners of Liu Yuan's lips. "Since everyone agrees, then this time, our Tianlin Squad will fight for the Golden Fruits!" Liu Yuan agreed as well. He understood Lu Changsheng even better than Chen Gang and Xia Bao did. Lu Changsheng already possessed two perfected domains. In the entire Ancient Region, what Divine Gang martial artist possessed such overwhelming domains? With Lu Changsheng around, the Golden Fruits were indeed worth fighting for!