Flying Sword, Talisman, and Divine Sense! Lu Changsheng Battles the Daoist Acolytes in Total Dominance!

"A flying sword!" Lu Changsheng spotted a beam of white light in the distance. A flying sword! Within the immortal path system, it was the attack method most favored by Immortal Masters and Dao Lords. However, this was not a true flying sword, but merely the manifestation of a talisman. Even so, the talisman contained traits of a flying sword, and its offensive power was by no means inferior to one. The flying sword traveled at extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, it breached Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain. Within his Perception Domain, Lu Changsheng felt the terrifying potency of this strike with absolute clarity. This sword talisman was the purest, simplest kind of sword talisman, possessing only two traits: razor sharpness and speed. Yet when speed reached its pinnacle and was paired with indestructible piercing force, how terrifying would the unleashed power be? *I can't block it!* *My Divine Gang can't withstand a single strike from that flying sword!* A strange glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. It was merely a sword talisman—and one driven not by an Immortal Master, but only by a Daoist acolyte using divine sense—yet its destructive power was already this terrifying. Even with four layers of Divine Gang and a ninety-fold physical amplification, Lu Changsheng would still struggle to block it head-on. Although a Daoist acolyte had not yet become an Immortal Master and had no dharmic power in their body, they could use divine sense to wield certain dharma artifacts and talismans, relying on spirit stones to sustain the consumption. In a sense, when it came to offensive firepower, a Daoist acolyte was no different from an Immortal Master. Even if an Immortal Master activated the sword talisman, it would possess the exact same might. Of course, if dharmic power were used to drive certain dharma artifacts, it could unleash catastrophic power. Moreover, spells could only be cast using dharmic power. Talismans, on the other hand, had their power fixed upon creation. Whether driven by an Immortal Master or not, the strength remained the same. Therefore, the talisman attack Lu Changsheng currently faced was practically equivalent to an attack from a genuine Immortal Master. "Pity you aren't true Immortal Masters!" Lu Changsheng's gaze turned chillingly cold. Even if they could unleash talismans, Daoist acolytes were still just acolytes. They relied on divine sense to drive their talismans, and divine sense ultimately belonged to the realm of mental power. A martial artist's domain was fundamentally designed to suppress the mental plane. However, a Daoist acolyte's divine sense possessed high quality, meaning an ordinary domain's suppression would have no effect at all. Lu Changsheng, however, was different. He possessed perfected domains! What was more, Lu Changsheng had the Mind Sword! *Rumble!* The next instant, Lu Changsheng's domain descended. This time, Lu Changsheng did not hold it back in the slightest, unleashing it to the fullest. The Starry Sky Domain instantly engulfed all three Daoist acolytes within its expanse. "Why did the sky go dark?" "Is this... a starry sky?" "Not good, it's a domain! My divine sense is being suppressed—how is that possible?!" All three acolytes panicked. They were merely Daoist acolytes, and their greatest reliance was their divine sense. Only with divine sense could they control talismans, dharma artifacts, and the like. Yet now, their divine sense was actually being suppressed? This was simply inconceivable. It was not as if they had never encountered a martial artist's domain before. No matter how powerful a Divine Gang Realm martial artist's domain was, it could never suppress their divine sense; at most, it could only make them feel slightly uncomfortable. Yet now, their divine sense was genuinely, thoroughly suppressed. "Sever!" Lu Changsheng barked in a low voice. Instantly, the Mind Sword was unleashed. This time, however, Lu Changsheng did not direct his Mind Sword at the three Daoist acolytes. Instead, it slashed straight toward the flying sword. The flying sword was transformed from a sword talisman, steered by an acolyte's divine sense. Lu Changsheng's perfected Starry Sky Domain could only suppress the acolyte's divine sense, but it could not fully halt the sword talisman. But when the Mind Sword slashed forward and plunged directly into the sword talisman... "Aaargh!" A shrill, agonized scream suddenly tore from the acolyte's throat. "I... I've lost connection with the sword talisman..." "He... he wiped out the divine sense I placed inside it! Th-this is impossible!" The acolyte's voice trembled uncontrollably. He could not believe the scene unfolding before his eyes. What kind of Divine Gang Realm martial artist could forcibly erase his divine sense from within a talisman? Without dharmic power, once his divine sense inside the talisman was destroyed, he lost all means of attack. *Whoosh.* The flying sword reverted to its original form in an instant, revealing a paper talisman. Having lost the guidance of the acolyte's divine sense, it was easily caught in Lu Changsheng's hand. "So this is a talisman?" Lu Changsheng sensed it briefly. For now, it was useless to him. He had neither divine sense nor spirit stones, so he could not activate it. Still, it would not hurt to study it once he had time in the future. With that in mind, Lu Changsheng put the sword talisman away. "Now it's your turn!" Lu Changsheng unleashed his Mind Sword repeatedly. *Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!* Lu Changsheng knew very well that the Mind Sword needed frequent use. The stronger the opponent's mental power, the faster the Mind Sword would improve. "Aaargh!" "It hurts! It hurts so much!" "A mental secret method! He's using a mental secret method, stop him, hurry..." The three acolytes screamed hysterically. Suppressed mentally by Lu Changsheng's perfected Starry Sky Domain and then repeatedly struck in their minds by a barrage of Mind Swords, all three acolytes collapsed, clutching their heads and writhing in agony on the ground. Even so, their divine sense was indeed extraordinary. Despite Lu Changsheng striking them with so many Mind Swords, he still failed to annihilate their spirits; he could not even sever their divine sense. However, Lu Changsheng possessed far more than just the Mind Sword. Deprived of the ability to use their divine sense, these three Daoist acolytes were no different from ordinary mortals. *Clang!* The next instant, Lu Changsheng drew his saber. A beam of blood-red light split into three, tearing through the air and sweeping toward the three acolytes with overwhelming momentum. Though clutching their heads in agony, the moment the three acolytes saw the three blood-red saber lights hurtling toward them, their expressions twisted in abject horror. "I'm destined to become an Immortal Master, even a Dao Lord in the future! I can't die here..." "No..." Unwilling to accept their fate, the three acolytes frantically tried to mobilize their divine sense to activate their dharma artifacts or talismans to block Lu Changsheng's blade. Yet pinned beneath the suppression of a perfected domain and battered continuously by Mind Swords striking their spirits, they could not command their divine sense at all. They could only watch helplessly as the blood-red saber light descended upon them. *Slash!* The blade light tore through flesh. The bodies of the three Daoist acolytes were fragile as paper, instantly cleaved in two. In terms of physical constitution, an acolyte's body was merely on par with the Body Tempering level, inferior even to the Divine Strength Realm. How could they possibly withstand a strike from Lu Changsheng? *Snap.* Lu Changsheng sheathed his saber. "Too weak..." Lu Changsheng felt somewhat disappointed. In the Ancient Region, Daoist acolytes were supposed to stand above Divine Gang Realm martial artists. In fact, it was only upon reaching the Divine Treasury Realm that martial artists could barely contend with Immortal Masters. Theoretically, they were on the same level, but in actual combat, martial artists remained inferior to Immortal Masters. As for Daoist acolytes? In terms of offensive and defensive power, they were effectively no different from Immortal Masters in certain respects. As long as one could not suppress an acolyte's divine sense, they practically had to be treated as an Immortal Master. Unfortunately for these three acolytes, they had run into Lu Changsheng, who counteracted them completely. The suppressive force of a perfected domain against an acolyte's divine sense was simply too overwhelming. Coupled with the Mind Sword, the three acolytes had been butchered without the slightest power to fight back. This scene unfolded right before the eyes of the onlookers. Even though they knew Lu Changsheng was a terrifying, peerless prodigy capable of slaying Divine Treasury experts from below, watching him slaughter three Daoist acolytes as effortlessly as chopping vegetables still shook them to the core. "Is this the strength Lu Changsheng used to slay a Divine Treasury expert? That's absurdly powerful!" "Lu Changsheng didn't even manifest his domain into reality, meaning he hasn't even brought out the means he used to slay a Divine Treasury expert. Even without it, killing three Daoist acolytes looked completely effortless for him." "Those three acolytes were totally suppressed! If it were any other Divine Gang expert instead of Lu Changsheng, they wouldn't have stood a chance against that flying sword—they would've been run through long ago." "A perfected domain combined with a mental secret method is a direct counter to Daoist acolytes!" "Still, those three acolytes belonged to Dao Lord Zilong. With them dead, how could Dao Lord Zilong possibly let this go?" "Let's get out of here, fast! We can't linger to watch this drama anymore. If Dao Lord Zilong flies into a rage, he might hesitate because of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect backing Lu Changsheng, but we don't have such a massive backer. If Dao Lord Zilong vents his wrath on us, we'll be done for!" Having witnessed the spectacle, the martial artists immediately made themselves scarce. They clearly understood that sticking around any longer would be suicidal. Lu Changsheng flew over to the corpses of the three acolytes and began searching them. The three of them still carried dharma artifacts and talismans. They had been thoroughly prepared and were quite wealthy, possessing even pills. Unfortunately for them, it all ended up in Lu Changsheng's hands. While these items could not be exchanged for sect contribution points and were of little use to martial artists, they could fetch a hefty haul of good things if traded with Immortal Masters. "Dao Lord Zilong..." Lu Changsheng frowned. A Dao Lord! Moreover, the master of Purple Dragon Peak in the Xianling Sect. That was no ordinary figure. Daoist acolytes corresponded to the Divine Gang Realm. Immortal Masters corresponded to the Divine Treasury Realm. As for Dao Lords, they corresponded to the realm above the Divine Treasury—true titans of the world! Killing Dao Lord Zilong's acolytes might not necessarily draw the personal intervention of the lofty Dao Lord himself, but it would certainly alert the Immortal Masters of Purple Dragon Peak. Lu Changsheng did not wish to clash with an Immortal Master right now. Daoist acolytes had glaring weaknesses, but Immortal Masters had none. On the contrary, their methods were extraordinarily varied. Since Lu Changsheng had not yet reached the Divine Treasury Realm, there was no need to butt heads with an Immortal Master. *It's just a shame I only managed to comprehend half of the Tempest Domain, and I even wasted a Dao Comprehension Pill...* Lu Changsheng considered the situation. Though it was a pity, he had to leave. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng departed. Wolf Crying Gorge remained Wolf Crying Gorge, but not a single martial artist was left—only a dead spirit beast and the three corpses of the acolytes. Lu Changsheng did not know whether Dao Lord Zilong would discover that he had killed the acolytes, but he was not afraid. A lofty Dao Lord would not lower himself to attack him. As for Immortal Masters? The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect had already shown everyone through practical action what consequences awaited anyone who broke the rules and used senior strength to bully Lu Changsheng. And if an Immortal Master sent more acolytes after him, Lu Changsheng's various methods completely countered them, posing no threat to him whatsoever. Instead of returning to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect right away, Lu Changsheng headed to a secluded mountain ravine. This ravine held no fame, so there were no martial artists around. However, fierce winds howled through it from time to time, making it a decent place to comprehend the Tempest Domain. Lu Changsheng decided to stay here, continuing to consume Dao Comprehension Pills to comprehend his Tempest Domain. Day after day passed. In the blink of an eye, three days flew by. On the fourth day, the Tempest Domain manifested around Lu Changsheng's body. The entire Tempest Domain underwent a rapid transformation, filled with terrifying gales howling across the space as if tearing everything to shreds. The Tempest Domain had finally reached perfection! *This time took seven days in total, and I used one extra Dao Comprehension Pill—thirteen pills altogether!* Lu Changsheng was thoroughly satisfied. He quietly sensed his mind power. His mind power had likely increased by another fifteen points, probably placing it above ninety points now. Lu Changsheng summoned his attribute panel to inspect his status: Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 4,570 (Praised in All Directions) Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: Sword casting: 14 years, 8 months Mind Sword Mantra Formula: Progress 86% (Mind Sword) Ocean Wave Domain: Progress 1% Tempest Domain: Perfected (untransformed) Perception Domain: Perfected (untransformed) Starry Sky Domain: Perfected (untransformed) Waterfall Domain: Perfected (untransformed) Indeed, the Tempest Domain had achieved complete perfection. Lu Changsheng's gaze fell upon the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method. Originally, he had intended to cultivate this secret method slowly over time to serve as a trump card. Now, however, it seemed of little use. Qi and blood strength was still effective against Divine Strength and Divine Gang opponents, but it held virtually no significance against the Divine Treasury Realm. Divine Treasury cultivators nurtured their domains, turning virtuality into reality. The immense power born from such domains was no longer something mere qi and blood could rival. *Crack.* With a single thought from Lu Changsheng, the blood qi sword inside his body instantly shattered and dispersed. He had voluntarily dissolved it. *Wait, wasn't the Mind Sword Mantra Formula at fifty-six percent progress before?* *How did it jump to eighty-six percent?* Lu Changsheng was taken aback. The Mind Sword Mantra Formula was notorious for its sluggish progress. Sometimes a month or two would pass without any noticeable improvement. Yet now, it had surged by thirty percent all at once, reaching a staggering eighty-six percent. Such a massive leap in progress was distinctly abnormal. Lu Changsheng carefully recalled everything he had done recently that could have boosted the Mind Sword so drastically. *Wait... could it be the battle against the three acolytes?* A possibility crossed his mind. During that fight, Lu Changsheng had unleashed dozens of Mind Swords, relentlessly striking the acolytes' spirits. Daoist acolytes seemed fundamentally different from martial artists. Their divine sense was formidable; though it belonged to the category of mental power, it was visibly far stronger than the mental power of martial artists. *Divine sense...* *Could it be that my Mind Sword can sever divine sense?* Lu Changsheng was surprised. Mind Sword severing divine sense—he had never actually tested it before. But since both were manifestations of mental power, it was entirely within the realm of possibility. The surge in Mind Sword progress was almost certainly related to the acolytes' divine sense. *According to the manual, once the Mind Sword reaches perfection, it undergoes a transformation.* *I wonder what it will transform into?* Lu Changsheng felt a surge of anticipation. "Time to head back." Lu Changsheng stood up and returned to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Upon returning to the sect, he sought out Liu Yuan. "Captain, do you know where I can find an ocean?" Lu Changsheng asked directly. Of his five domains, only the Ocean Wave Domain remained unperfected. Once it reached perfection, Lu Changsheng felt his mind power would likely hit one hundred points. At that point, he would be able to open his brain domain and break through to the Divine Treasury Realm. "An ocean... our Ancient Region doesn't have an ocean." "Hm? What do you mean, no ocean?" Lu Changsheng paused in surprise. "There might be one, but I've never seen it. In fact, none of the many Divine Treasury experts in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect have seen one either," Liu Yuan explained. "The Ancient Region is unimaginably vast; even Divine Treasury experts would struggle to travel its entirety. But within a radius of ten thousand li, there's certainly never been word of an ocean." Lu Changsheng fell silent. Without an ocean, how was he supposed to comprehend the Ocean Wave Domain? How could he cultivate it to perfection? This was the final step for his mind power to reach one hundred points. Was he going to be stalled here? Or should he return to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect? Yet Lu Changsheng had not been promoted to a true disciple, so he could not simply return to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. At the very least, he lacked the spirit stones. If he wanted to return on his own, he would have to supply the spirit stones required to activate the teleportation array. He had acquired several spirit stones from the three acolytes, but they were of extremely crude quality, nowhere near sufficient to power a grand teleportation array. "Lu Changsheng, your domain is the Ocean Wave Domain, right?" "While the Ancient Region has no ocean, it does have rivers." "There is an Ancient River that is magnificent beyond compare, with turbulent waves surging through it from time to time. As long as there are waves, does it really matter whether it's an ocean?" Liu Yuan's words caused Lu Changsheng's eyes to brighten. Indeed, all he needed was waves. "Where is the Ancient River?" Lu Changsheng asked. "In the second layer region." Lu Changsheng frowned. Divine Gang Realm martial artists could enter the second layer region, but once he stepped foot there, he risked encountering demons. Demons were at least at the Divine Treasury level. Although Lu Changsheng could now manifest a domain into reality, he could not sustain prolonged combat. If he failed to kill a demon quickly, he would be in grave danger. Therefore, before breaking through to the Divine Treasury Realm, Lu Changsheng had no intention of taking risks in the Ancient Region's second layer. "Lu Changsheng, you're not thinking of going to the second layer, are you?" "Actually, if you want to comprehend the waves of the Ancient River, why do you have to go there in person?" Lu Changsheng blinked. "What do you mean? How can I comprehend the waves of the Ancient River without going there?" Lu Changsheng was thoroughly confused, but he knew Liu Yuan would not speak in riddles without reason. "The Ancient River... others have already ventured out to see it," Liu Yuan said. "Because of its grandeur, many martial artists have comprehended the Ancient River Domain. Some Divine Treasury experts have even manifested the Ancient River Domain into reality." "If you can find a Divine Treasury expert who cultivates the Ancient River Domain and have them manifest it for you, wouldn't that be just like visiting the Ancient River in person? In fact, they could produce whatever scale of waves you desire without any trouble." Liu Yuan's words struck Lu Changsheng with sudden clarity. Of course! His domain cultivation was rooted in learning from nature. And what did Divine Treasury martial artists do? They turned virtual domains into reality! Once an Ancient River Domain was manifested into reality, how would it differ from the genuine Ancient River? In fact, the elder could specifically control the waves Lu Changsheng wished to comprehend, potentially making the experience even more effective than visiting the real river. "Which Divine Treasury expert in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect possesses the Ancient River Domain?" Lu Changsheng asked. "There are indeed a few Divine Treasury experts who comprehended the Ancient River Domain, but most of them stay in the second layer region." "Within our sect's mountain gate, it seems only Elder Sun Ming of the Hall of Law Enforcement commands the Ancient River Domain." "However, asking Elder Sun Ming for help will likely require a steep price. You should be prepared for that," Liu Yuan cautioned. Lu Changsheng nodded. Asking Elder Sun Ming for help was a private matter, and for private requests, one naturally had to offer benefits. Otherwise, why would Sun Ming help someone unrelated to him? "I understand." Lu Changsheng nodded, then stood and took his leave. Bidding farewell to Liu Yuan, Lu Changsheng headed straight for the Hall of Law Enforcement. "Please inform Elder Sun Ming that disciple Lu Changsheng seeks an audience to discuss a matter," Lu Changsheng said respectfully to an elder upon arriving at the hall. "Wait here." Before long, Lu Changsheng was granted an audience with Sun Ming. Sun Ming appeared ancient and decrepit, his hair completely white, exuding a palpable aura of decay and lifelessness. Lu Changsheng was startled. He had never seen a Divine Treasury martial artist look so deathly. "Elder Sun, you..." Lu Changsheng began, visibly surprised. "I am old. My lifespan draws to its close; I have only a few years left to live." "Lu Changsheng, hailed as the Ancient Region's number one Divine Gang, the top genius disciple who slays Divine Treasury experts from below, blessed with boundless prospects." "Speak. What brings you to see this old man?" Though on the verge of death from old age, Sun Ming was well-informed and fully aware of Lu Changsheng's deeds. "Lifespan limit..." Lu Changsheng felt a pang of emotion. The Divine Treasury Realm extended one's lifespan, but only by a hundred years. Yet one must not look down on a hundred years of life. A Divine Gang Realm martial artist might not live to a hundred even free of illness and disaster. Lifespan was truly mysterious. Even if one's might shook the heavens and their qi and blood surged like an ocean, it was utterly useless once the limit arrived—death came just the same. Only by opening the brain domain could one shatter the shackles of mortality and gain a century of life. When it came to extending lifespan, the immortal path system seemed superior. It was said that a Qi Refinement Immortal Master possessed a lifespan of up to three hundred years, whereas a Divine Treasury expert could live for nearly two hundred years at most—a considerable gap. "Elder Sun, I heard that the domain you comprehended is the Ancient River Domain." "This disciple wishes to cultivate my Ocean Wave Domain to perfection, but there are no oceans in the Ancient Region, while the Ancient River also surges with waves. With the aid of your Ancient River Domain manifested into reality, I might be able to cultivate the Ocean Wave Domain to perfection much faster." "I request Elder Sun Ming's assistance!" Hearing Lu Changsheng's words, a slight gleam entered Sun Ming's eyes. "So it concerns cultivation." "Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be an issue. But now, this old man's lifespan is nearing its end. In eight to ten years at most, or three to five at the shortest, I shall pass away." "Expending mind power now to manifest a domain into reality and aid your cultivation of the Ocean Wave Domain might stir my emotions and hasten my demise..." Sun Ming did not refuse, nor did he agree. However, Lu Changsheng understood the implication. He wanted compensation! What did mind power have to do with lifespan? Absolutely nothing. Sun Ming using his mind power to manifest the Ancient River Domain would have no bearing on his lifespan whatsoever. Even so, Lu Changsheng nodded and said, "Elder Sun, if you have any needs, please speak freely." Sun Ming smiled. Narrowing his eyes, he said calmly, "Given this old man's current condition, I need life-extending treasures." "Within three years, by whatever means necessary, procure some life-extending treasures for this old man. Do you agree?" Sun Ming's condition was life-extending treasures—and he had generously allowed a window of three years. "This disciple naturally agrees!" Lu Changsheng accepted. Within three years, he was certain to advance to the Divine Treasury Realm. Once he achieved that breakthrough, securing life-extending treasures with his strength would hardly be difficult. Presumably, Sun Ming had considered this as well, demanding such treasures precisely because he recognized Lu Changsheng's prowess and potential. Other disciples would find life-extending treasures near impossible to obtain, but Lu Changsheng was different; he was destined to become a prominent figure among Divine Treasury experts. There was truly hope. "Good. When do you wish to begin cultivating the Ocean Wave Domain?" "Right now." Lu Changsheng could hardly wait. He had his Dao Comprehension Pills ready and was prepared to begin comprehending the Ocean Wave Domain at any moment. "Right now? Very well. Follow me to my cultivation chamber." With that, Sun Ming led Lu Changsheng to his cultivation chamber. The two sat cross-legged on the floor. "Watch closely... the Ancient River Domain..." With a thought from Sun Ming, the Ancient River Domain instantly descended!