"It took a little time..."
The elder of the Exchange Hall fell silent.
Considering how recently Lu Changsheng had been promoted to true disciple, this was truly only "a little time" in the most literal sense.
Evolving multiple domains in just a few months...
No matter how extraordinarily gifted a true disciple might be, no one had ever comprehended domains at such an astonishing speed.
At this rate, even without using any natural treasures, simply comprehending domains alone would likely allow Lu Changsheng to expand his brain domain to a hundred li.
Yet expanding a brain domain to a hundred li relying purely on domains was something that worked only in theory.
That would require comprehending over a hundred domains.
How could that be possible?
And yet, witnessing the speed at which Lu Changsheng comprehended domains, the elder of the Exchange Hall harbored no doubt whatsoever that Lu Changsheng possessed such capability.
"Elder, the Boundary Suppressing Stone this disciple applied for..."
Lu Changsheng's voice snapped the elder back to reality.
"Here!"
"Your brain domain has indeed reached ten li, so you are eligible to apply for a Boundary Suppressing Stone."
Without the slightest hesitation, the elder turned and searched around the room for a moment.
Eventually, he brought out a Boundary Suppressing Stone.
"Lu Changsheng, here is the Boundary Suppressing Stone you requested."
"Remember, a Boundary Suppressing Stone is exceptionally precious. Should it be lost or damaged, the sect will not issue another for free; you would have to exchange contribution points for one. Otherwise, you can only apply for a second Boundary Suppressing Stone once your brain domain expands to twenty li."
The elder gave a solemn reminder.
Lu Changsheng nodded. Naturally, he knew how precious a Boundary Suppressing Stone was.
It was a strategic resource, virtually monopolized by the major martial sects across the Ancient Region.
For an ordinary martial artist, acquiring a single Boundary Suppressing Stone was excruciatingly difficult.
"This disciple understands."
Lu Changsheng accepted the Boundary Suppressing Stone, then turned and took his leave.
Before long, he was back in his immortal's cave.
"The Boundary Suppressing Stone is in hand. Now let's see what changes occur in my brain domain after refining it."
Lu Changsheng drew a deep breath.
Deep down, he felt a flicker of anticipation.
It was said that whether a Divine Treasury martial artist had refined a Boundary Suppressing Stone was an entirely different world.
A Boundary Suppressing Stone was of paramount importance to any martial artist.
Holding the stone in his palm, Lu Changsheng willed his mind forward, and his brain domain manifested.
*Rumble!*
The brain domain enveloped the Boundary Suppressing Stone.
Under normal circumstances, a brain domain was ethereal, not corporeal.
Physical objects could hardly affect a brain domain,
let alone merge into it.
Yet a Boundary Suppressing Stone was different.
Whatever material it was forged from, it could blend into an ethereal brain domain and even stabilize it.
Lu Changsheng's brain domain shuddered violently as it began refining the stone, seeking to incorporate it completely into the brain domain.
Then, a miraculous sight unfolded.
The Boundary Suppressing Stone—resting plainly before Lu Changsheng's eyes, an object he could hold in his hand—vanished.
He reached out with a light grasp.
His fingers passed straight through where the stone had been.
"Intangible? The corporeal turning ethereal?"
Lu Changsheng's heart jolted.
He had seen plenty of the ethereal becoming corporeal.
The domains and Mind Swords nurtured within the brain domain were examples of the ethereal turning corporeal.
Yet this was the first time Lu Changsheng had witnessed the corporeal turning ethereal.
He had just held the Boundary Suppressing Stone; he was certain it was an object of the physical world.
Yet after merging into his brain domain, this physical object had become ethereal, just like the brain domain itself.
Furthermore, as the Boundary Suppressing Stone integrated into the domain,
subtle changes rippled through Lu Changsheng's brain domain.
He could clearly feel that the domain had grown significantly more stable.
"Hm?"
With a thought,
*swish!*
A jade Mind Sword shot forth in an instant.
The moment he saw the jade Mind Sword, Lu Changsheng immediately noticed the difference.
*I can unleash more Mind Swords.*
*My brain domain can sustain my domains and Mind Swords turning from ethereal to corporeal for a longer duration, without any fear of the brain domain collapsing.*
*More importantly, I can sense that the nurturing power within my brain domain seems to have increased substantially...*
Lu Changsheng was currently nurturing the Five Elements Water Domain.
Previously, bringing a domain to perfection took a full month.
Now, after feeling it for a moment, he realized,
*To nurture another domain to perfection will only take twenty-five days...*
A tremor went through Lu Changsheng's heart.
Twenty-five days!
It might not seem like many days shaved off,
but he had only refined his very first Boundary Suppressing Stone.
If he refined a second, a third, a fourth, or even a fifth stone, how much higher would his efficiency climb?
Five days saved each time.
After a few more, nurturing a domain would hardly cost him any effort at all.
Refining the first Boundary Suppressing Stone held immense significance for Lu Changsheng's martial journey.
It marked his firmest step yet toward forging a Dao Foundation.
However, in terms of combat power, it did not provide much immediate boost.
"The Boundary Suppressing Stone is refined. Now I must focus all my efforts on comprehending the Five Elements Domains."
"I'll strive to nurture all of the Five Elements Domains to perfection and unify them into one. Only then will I have the means to deal with Xu Haotian!"
Lu Changsheng made no secret of his desire to deal with Xu Haotian.
After all, Xu Haotian had already dispatched people against him twice.
Even a clay figurine had a temper, let alone Lu Changsheng.
Still, Lu Changsheng knew full well that Xu Haotian was no Long Yun.
Xu Haotian was one of the Huangtian Sect's top geniuses—a Divine Treasury powerhouse with a genuine chance to take that crucial step and forge a Dao Foundation.
His strength was bound to far surpass ordinary Divine Treasury martial artists.
In the short term, it was impossible for Lu Changsheng to nurture dozens or hundreds of domains to perfection.
His best option was to pursue a fusion domain.
A fivefold unity fusing five domains together would undoubtedly wield terrifying might.
However, bringing all five domains to perfection at his current efficiency would take at least four months.
"Time for secluded cultivation."
"Four months in seclusion. I won't emerge until the Five Elements Domains are completely nurtured to perfection."
"Besides, I have enough Dao Comprehension Pills now."
Lu Changsheng reached his decision.
Before entering seclusion, however, he needed to exchange for more Dao Comprehension Pills.
He visited the Mission Hall to turn in his task, presenting thirty Five Elements spirit beasts in complete sets of all five elements to the elder.
Five spirit beasts with all five elements fetched one hundred thousand contribution points.
Thirty of them yielded a staggering six hundred thousand contribution points in one go.
He immediately converted one hundred thousand contribution points into one hundred and twenty Dao Comprehension Pills.
This brought his stock of Dao Comprehension Pills to one hundred and twenty-five.
By Lu Changsheng's estimation,
after consuming more than a hundred pills, their efficacy would begin to diminish.
Past two hundred, the effect would be nearly nonexistent.
He had already taken several dozen Dao Comprehension Pills over time.
Exchanging for another one hundred and twenty-five
would basically see him through until they lost all effectiveness.
Since he was entering seclusion, it was wise to prepare an ample supply.
Even if he ended up with leftovers, it wouldn't matter.
Dao Comprehension Pills were hard currency; using them for barter or trade would always work.
"Preparations are complete. Time for seclusion—four months!"
"If all goes well, I'll emerge in just over four months!"
Lu Changsheng sealed his immortal's cave and entered seclusion.
Once in seclusion, no one could disturb him.
Whatever happened outside, so long as he remained closed within his cave, no one could do anything about it.
Lu Changsheng rarely went into prolonged seclusion.
Four months this time already counted as exceptionally long for him.
As Lu Changsheng began his secluded cultivation, word gradually spread through the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect,
particularly regarding the events at Boundary Stele Mountain.
"What? Senior Brother Lu Changsheng, true disciple of our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, slew Long Yun of the Huangtian Sect?"
"That was Long Yun, a veteran Divine Treasury expert among the Huangtian Sect's true disciples! They say that although Long Yun kept a low profile, he was by no means weak among their true disciples. To think Senior Brother Lu slew him—and Senior Brother Lu only just became a true disciple!"
"Word has it that the one who incited Long Yun to target Senior Brother Lu was Xu Haotian again."
"Senior Brother Lu killed Xu Haotian's younger brother, Xu Haoran, so Xu Haotian keeps sending people after him."
"Much good it did him! First Wu Qingyi, now Long Yun—who will be next? Running into Senior Brother Lu means certain death!"
"It seems Senior Brother Lu's legend will carry on into the Divine Treasury Realm..."
The disciples of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect were largely awestruck.
Lu Changsheng's renown among the sect's disciples was higher than many could have imagined.
To Divine Gang Realm martial artists in particular, he was practically a figure of worship.
The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect promptly stepped forward to negotiate with the Huangtian Sect.
However, the incident had not violated any formal rules,
so the Huangtian Sect showed no fear toward the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.
At most, the two sides engaged in a war of words.
Neither could truly do anything to the other, nor were any substantive actions taken.
Even so, relations between the Huangtian Sect and the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect deteriorated sharply, growing tense.
Disciples of the two sects clashed repeatedly whenever they crossed paths, leading to multiple conflicts and even casualties.
Several true disciples of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect even stepped forward to warn the Huangtian Sect:
if anyone dared make a move against Lu Changsheng, they would retaliate against the Huangtian Sect's true disciples.
Naturally, that was mostly talk.
No one took it entirely to heart.
Though they belonged to the same sect,
if Lu Changsheng truly perished, no one would actually avenge him.
After all, only a living genius held value!
***
Meanwhile, within the Huangtian Sect, in Xu Haotian's immortal's cave,
*Bang!*
A violent crash echoed from the inner secret chamber.
Shortly after, the chamber doors swung open.
Xu Haotian walked out.
"My mind will not settle!"
Xu Haotian's eyes were cold and distant.
He wanted to forge his Dao Foundation.
Yet that step was not easily crossed.
Moreover, his brain domain had not reached a hundred li.
It stood at only ninety-three li.
Though only seven li remained, which seemed like little, expanding those final seven li was extraordinarily difficult.
With his current brain domain, he was technically qualified to attempt forging a Dao Foundation,
but success was not guaranteed.
Xu Haotian refused to take that gamble.
He wanted a hundred-percent certainty of forging his Dao Foundation.
The mind was profound and elusive.
An unsettled mind could disrupt the forging process.
And the reason his mind would not settle was simple: Lu Changsheng!
Wu Qingyi and Long Yun had both died because of Lu Changsheng.
Even Xu Haotian's Heart Clearing Pearl had fallen into Lu Changsheng's hands, aiding his enemy's cultivation.
This infuriated Xu Haotian to no end.
"Master."
At that moment, an elderly man walked in from outside the cave, his arrival unnoticed.
The elder's gaze was sharp as a blade as it settled on Xu Haotian.
"Incorrigible!"
"To let a mere Lu Changsheng disrupt your peace of mind and hinder your Dao Foundation—how utter folly!"
"If you were to forge your Dao Foundation and advance further, what would it matter even if you struck Lu Changsheng down yourself? Would the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect dare wage war against a true Dao Foundation expert over a single Lu Changsheng?"
A hint of fury showed on the elder's face.
A Dao Foundation!
It was a paramount realm in the martial path.
Once a martial artist forged a Dao Foundation, they could transform their brain domain from ethereal to corporeal.
Their strength, status, and prestige would soar dramatically.
Even if they could not stand atop the entire Ancient Region, they would undoubtedly become towering figures within it.
Yet over a single Lu Changsheng, Xu Haotian had allowed his breakthrough to be compromised.
"Please quell your anger, Master. This disciple is foolish."
"Yet I had only one brother, and he died by Lu Changsheng's hand. Until this vengeance is exacted, it will remain a thorn in my heart."
"Forging a Dao Foundation requires integrating a Boundary Transforming Stone, which brings a tribulation of the mind. With this thorn festering within me, I fear I cannot pass that tribulation."
"I implore Master to guide me. How can this disciple slay Lu Changsheng and pluck out this thorn in my heart?"
Xu Haotian spoke respectfully.
Before his master, he dared hide nothing.
To outsiders, Xu Haotian's desire to kill Lu Changsheng seemed born solely of his brother Xu Haoran's death.
Yet in truth?
Xu Haoran was indeed part of the reason,
but only the catalyst.
Xu Haotian's obsession with slaying Lu Changsheng stemmed from the fact that Lu Changsheng had tainted his state of mind, preventing him from forging his Dao Foundation.
Xu Haotian was doing this for himself!
In all the heavens and earth, self came first!
His determination to slay Lu Changsheng was primarily to pluck out that thorn from his own heart.
The elder looked at Xu Haotian's resolute demeanor, then let out a long sigh. "Very well. Since it concerns your path to the Dao, you must resolve it yourself."
"Go. Your master grants you permission to descend the mountain."
"However, whether you live or die on this descent, your master will no longer intervene."
Xu Haotian straightened, then bowed deeply. "This disciple will not disappoint Master."
With that, Xu Haotian strode out of the cave and descended the mountain.
***
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, over four months passed.
Inside Lu Changsheng's cave at the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect,
*Swish.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
"Four months..."
To Lu Changsheng, this period of seclusion had felt truly long.
He had rarely ever spent four months in continuous seclusion before.
He immediately brought up his attribute panel to inspect his status.
**Host:** Lu Changsheng
**Brain Domain:** 15 li
**Comprehension:** 5,620 (Praised in All Directions)
**Mind Sword Mantra Formula:** 22% progress (Jade Mind Sword)
**Five Elements Metal Domain:** Perfection
**Five Elements Wood Domain:** Perfection
**Five Elements Water Domain:** Perfection
**Five Elements Fire Domain:** Perfection
**Five Elements Earth Domain:** Perfection
On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng's brain domain had expanded to fifteen li.
The five li added had come precisely from the Five Elements Domains.
"The Five Elements Domains are finally complete!"
A sharp light flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
He had nurtured each of the Five Elements Domains to perfection.
Now came the final step.
Once the dismantled Five Elements Domains reached perfection, could they truly fuse back together into a five-in-one fusion domain?
Lu Changsheng could not say for sure.
It had only been a theory before.
Whether it would succeed had to be tested firsthand.
Lu Changsheng drew a deep breath.
*Buzz.*
The next instant, violent tremors shook his brain domain.
Once, twice, three times, four times, five times!
Five full reverberations.
Five layers of domains manifested instantly, turning from ethereal to corporeal.
Five Elements Metal Domain!
Five Elements Wood Domain!
Five Elements Water Domain!
Five Elements Fire Domain!
Five Elements Earth Domain!
All five domains stacked together.
"Fuse!"
Lu Changsheng willed them forward.
Instantly, the five domains began colliding and intertwining violently, attempting to merge.
*Boom!*
In almost a single breath,
Lu Changsheng felt the five domains become one.
There was no resistance whatsoever.
"It actually worked?"
"The Five Elements Domains—the fivefold unity succeeded!"
"And this is a fusion of five domains, a genuine fusion domain. It is far more powerful than ordinary fusion domains, its Five Elements mutually reinforcing and endlessly generating..."
Excitement surged through Lu Changsheng.
The success of the Five Elements Domains proved his earlier approach had been correct.
Dismantling and then reuniting them was a brand-new path to creating fusion domains!
"Wait."
"The ward on my cave was triggered more than twenty times over these four months?"
"And mostly concentrated around a month ago, with over twenty people repeatedly coming to find me?"
Lu Changsheng felt the records of disturbances in the cave's formation and found it peculiar.
He did not have many close acquaintances within the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.
Why would people come looking for him twenty times in a single month?
Had something major happened to the sect?
Lu Changsheng rose to his feet and exited the cave.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw a figure hurrying toward his dwelling.
"Senior Brother Lu, you've finally emerged from seclusion?"
"The elders instructed me to tell you under no circumstances are you to leave the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect—at least, do not descend the mountain for now."
The speaker was a deacon from the True Disciple Hall.
"What do you mean?"
Lu Changsheng asked, puzzled.
Why shouldn't he descend the mountain?
"It's... Xu Haotian is waiting at the foot of the mountain."
"He issued a challenge to you!"
"He declared that as long as you do not appear, he will not leave. Several of our true disciples couldn't stand the sight of it and went to teach him a lesson, only to be defeated by him one after another."
"The elders told me to assure you there is no need to worry. The sect is currently recalling our top true disciples; they certainly won't let Xu Haotian run rampant like this!"
The deacon spoke with evident indignation.
Lu Changsheng understood.
So Xu Haotian had come to blockade his doorstep?
In fact, he was blockading the front gates of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect itself!
Xu Haotian truly held no regard for the sect's true disciples.
As for Dao Foundation experts, they generally would not intervene in such matters.
After all, this was a dispute among disciples at the Divine Treasury level.
Xu Haotian had not openly provoked the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect as a whole; he had issued a formal challenge between peers.
Dao Foundation experts had no justification to step in.
"Blockading our gates all on his own... this Xu Haotian certainly has guts."
"Let's go take a look."
Lu Changsheng's tone was calm.
"Senior Brother Lu, you—"
"It's fine. I'm just going out to see."
"Besides, must we let Xu Haotian run rampant just because our top true disciples haven't returned?"
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
Ignoring the deacon, he took a step forward and walked down the mountain.
Chapter 171