Slaying Experts on the Dao Foundation Candidate List! A Brain Domain of Forty Li Shakes the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect!

"A five-in-one domain?" "It is indeed astonishing, but if you think a mere five-in-one domain is enough to kill me, you are sorely mistaken!" Lan Tianxiao's tone was just as icy. As the cultivator ranked forty-eighth on the Dao Foundation Candidate List, he naturally understood the formidable might of a five-in-one domain. It was enough to crush forty layers of ordinary domains. Yet how could he be an ordinary Divine Treasury cultivator? The fusion domains and ordinary domains he commanded were not merely comparable to forty layers; they far exceeded forty layers! *Buzz.* The next instant, Lan Tianxiao unleashed his domains. Layer upon layer of domains densely enveloped his body. "Slash!" Lu Changsheng's gaze turned cold. The very moment he deployed his five-in-one domain, the Mind Swords within his brain domain trembled slightly. Dozens of Mind Swords whistled forth. Lu Changsheng held almost nothing back, unleashing every single Mind Sword nurtured in his brain domain in one breath. Several dozen Jade Mind Swords—how terrifying was their power? It was impossible to discern from outward appearances, but once a Mind Sword struck the spirit, it would churn up tempestuous waves within the sea of consciousness. *Rumble!* Lan Tianxiao's mind shuddered violently, destabilizing even the domains he had manifested. However, Lan Tianxiao possessed an exceptionally resolute mental fortitude. Moreover, through the continuous expansion of his brain domain and the refinement of Boundary Suppressing Stones, his spirit had grown substantially. Thus, even under the assault of dozens of Jade Mind Swords, his spirit was not torn apart. Yet it was undeniably severely shaken. At the same time, Lu Changsheng's five-in-one domain descended upon Lan Tianxiao. *Crack! Snap!* Those unstable domains were crushed in an instant by the Five Elements Domain. The Five Elements Domain appeared to expend a portion of its force, but the five elements complemented and continually generated one another, endless and inexhaustible. Even if depleted, it recovered in a flash. As a result, Lan Tianxiao's domains were crushed continuously: ten layers, twenty layers, thirty layers, forty layers... In the blink of an eye, dozens of Lan Tianxiao's domain layers were thoroughly pierced through. Hovering between life and death, Lan Tianxiao could not even crush a Shift Talisman. With the Mind Swords constantly battering his spirit, doing so was completely out of the question. In the end, he could only watch in despair as Lu Changsheng's Five Elements Domain pierced through his final domain layer and ultimately engulfed his body. "No..." A hint of terror crept into Lan Tianxiao's voice. Yet he could not halt the Five Elements Domain. *Squelch.* With a faint sound, Lan Tianxiao's body instantly disintegrated into fine powder. A Divine Treasury martial artist possessed immensely resilient vitality, but no matter how robust a body was, once reduced to powder, death was certain! Lan Tianxiao was dead! The illustrious forty-eighth rank on the Dao Foundation Candidate List had met his end so cleanly and swiftly, dying at Lu Changsheng's hands. Silence! The surroundings turned deathly still. The twenty-some Candidate List experts who had just been brimming with murderous intent now wore expressions of utter disbelief, as though unable to accept what they were seeing. The ice-cold Hua Qianshang was shaken to her core. She had been standing right before Lan Tianxiao; no one knew better than her how he had died. A frontal obliteration! Lan Tianxiao had been utterly overwhelmed in a frontal clash, completely powerless to fight back! "A five-in-one domain that seems endlessly cyclical... Is this the Five Elements Domain?" "And that spirit secret method moves as swiftly as a flying sword, striking with astonishing speed! Once unleashed, it never misses, slashing straight into the spirit. Though its true power remains unknown, the fact that Lan Tianxiao couldn't even use a Shift Talisman proves just how violently his spirit was shaken!" "It seems Lu Changsheng hasn't even exerted his full strength yet—he still has power in reserve! Though he isn't ranked on the Dao Foundation Candidate List, he is no weaker than any expert on it." "Defying realms to slay a Divine Treasury cultivator, forging a legend... Now, Lu Changsheng has brought that legendary performance straight into the Divine Treasury Realm..." Witnessing this, how could the twenty-some martial artists on the Candidate List fail to realize Lu Changsheng's strength? He was not on the Candidate List, yet he surpassed it! "Flee!" Hua Qianshang's immediate instinct was to retreat. Unfortunately, it was too late. Without Lan Tianxiao's domains blocking the front, Lu Changsheng's Five Elements Domain expanded directly, descending upon Hua Qianshang in an instant. "Ah!" Hua Qianshang shrieked, her face draining of color. The cold aloofness vanished from her features, replaced entirely by agonizing pain and utter dread. She was terrified! With Lan Tianxiao's fate fresh before her eyes, how could she not be afraid? "Mercy..." Hua Qianshang begged. Unfortunately, Lu Changsheng had no intention of merely deterring these Candidate List cultivators—he intended to clear the field! And since he was clearing the field, no survivors were needed. "Slash!" The Mind Swords pierced into her body. Hua Qianshang once again experienced a torment worse than death. Her spirit shuddered violently, pushing her domains to the brink of collapse. At that moment, she finally understood what Lan Tianxiao had felt. She finally understood why he had died. Even fleeing was an extravagant hope. With such a terrifying spirit secret method relentlessly battering her mind, crushing a Shift Talisman under these conditions was utterly impossible! Ultimately, under the dual onslaught of the Jade Mind Swords and the Five Elements Domain, Hua Qianshang fared no better than Lan Tianxiao. After enduring for merely a few moments, her body disintegrated into fine powder. Dead! Hua Qianshang was dead as well. Lan Tianxiao, ranked forty-eighth on the Dao Foundation Candidate List, and Hua Qianshang, ranked seventy-ninth, had both been slain by Lu Changsheng. He had slain two Candidate List powerhouses in succession. Lu Changsheng was still Lu Changsheng, but in the eyes of the other martial artists, he had become an entity of sheer terror. In truth, had the remaining twenty-one Candidate List experts joined forces and charged relentlessly at any cost to besiege Lu Changsheng, things would have been exceedingly difficult for him, perhaps placing him in grave peril. Yet, much like the three hundred Divine Treasury cultivators before them, these twenty-one experts were unwilling to throw everything away just to corner and kill Lu Changsheng. "Lan Tianxiao and Hua Qianshang are dead. Competing for the Cangyun Wonder Fruits is far too dangerous. Let's go!" "Even without the Cangyun Wonder Fruits, I still have a chance to forge my Dao Foundation. Why risk my life here against someone like him?" "Even Lan Tianxiao died. If this continues, I'll probably lose my life too. I'm leaving..." In the blink of an eye, the Candidate List experts took their leave one after another. Near the Cangyun Tree, not a single Candidate List expert remained. The nearest Divine Treasury cultivator stood a full ten li away. Many cultivators merely watched from beyond that distance. Lu Changsheng had truly succeeded in "clearing the field." Watching this unfold, many of the observing Divine Treasury cultivators could not help but suck in a sharp breath. "Lu Changsheng has astounded everyone once again. Deterring over twenty Candidate List experts through his own strength alone is simply incredible." "Lan Tianxiao and Hua Qianshang are dead. Lu Changsheng's talk of clearing the field wasn't mad babble, nor was it mere talk. He took real action and slain two Candidate List powerhouses!" "Incredible, truly incredible. Lu Changsheng actually managed to clear the field. Within ten li of the Cangyun Tree, not a single Divine Treasury cultivator dares approach!" "When have Candidate List experts ever been forced into such a pathetic retreat? Not being on the list himself, he broke and intimidated over twenty Candidate List powerhouses single-handedly. As expected of someone who once defied realms to slay a Divine Treasury cultivator—truly extraordinary!" "Lu Changsheng created miracles in the Divine Gang Realm by slaying a Divine Treasury expert. Now that he has reached the Divine Treasury Realm, he continues to write legends..." Though countless Divine Treasury martial artists marveled in admiration, none dared step closer. Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain swiftly expanded across ten li as he silently monitored the surroundings. Should anyone dare approach within ten li, he would show no mercy! He had truly cleared the field! "Gu Chen, Liu Pu, Han Tianyun, hurry and prepare to harvest the Cangyun Wonder Fruits. Do not leave a single one behind!" Lu Changsheng's voice was calm, yet it rang crystal clear in the trio's ears. At that moment, Gu Chen, Liu Pu, and Han Tianyun could hardly believe their eyes. They felt as though they were trapped in a dream. What had they just witnessed? Earlier, over twenty Candidate List powerhouses had joined forces, fiercely clearing the area by repelling three hundred Divine Treasury cultivators and slaying dozens of them. That overwhelming might had sent a shudder through the three, stirring uncontrollable fear within their hearts. Yet who could have imagined that those very same twenty-some terrifying experts would be thoroughly driven off by Lu Changsheng alone after he slew two of them? Those formidable experts had fled in disarray, actively avoiding his sharp edge, not daring to contend for the fruits any longer. Every single word Lu Changsheng had spoken was no empty boast; each had been made reality. "Yes! We are ready to harvest the Cangyun Wonder Fruits," Gu Chen replied hastily. Lu Changsheng nodded and said no more. He was responsible for clearing the field, while Gu Chen and the others were responsible for harvesting the fruits—a clear division of labor. Before long, two or three more shichen slipped by, and the Cangyun Wonder Fruits finally reached maturity! Gu Chen and the other two immediately set to work. One, two, three... In less than a quarter of an hour, the trio had harvested every last Cangyun Wonder Fruit. "Thirty-seven Cangyun Wonder Fruits in total!" Gu Chen said with delight. According to their previous agreement, each of them would receive five fruits. Lu Changsheng was equally pleased. After setting aside fifteen fruits, he would still obtain twenty-two. Lu Changsheng distributed the fruits on the spot. From afar, many Divine Treasury cultivators watched with burning envy. Yet none dared draw near. Lu Changsheng's lethal might was terrifying; he had executed two Candidate List experts without batting an eye, so what chance would ordinary Divine Treasury cultivators stand? No matter how envious they were, they could only admire from afar without daring to make a move. "Our objective is complete. Let us return." Lu Changsheng wasted no time. Together with Gu Chen and the others, he swiftly departed from beneath the Cangyun Tree, making his way back toward the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Their journey was smooth, devoid of trouble, and they safely arrived back at the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Gu Chen, Liu Pu, and Han Tianyun bowed slightly toward Lu Changsheng. "Thank you, Junior Brother Lu. If not for you, we wouldn't even have had the qualifications to compete for the Cangyun Wonder Fruits, let alone obtain five of them each." The trio was genuinely grateful. Lu Changsheng had practically carried them to success; in fact, they felt as though they had hardly contributed anything at all. "The information you provided was well worth five Cangyun Wonder Fruits each! If another such opportunity arises in the future, you may come find me again." Leaving those words behind, Lu Changsheng departed directly. Watching his receding figure, Gu Chen and the other two exchanged glances, their eyes still filled with profound shock. "It truly feels... like a dream." "To think that without anyone realizing it, our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect produced such a formidable true disciple." "Before long, our sect might very well see the rise of a peerless figure who ranks first on the Dao Foundation Candidate List, suppressing every other genius!" The three knew full well that with Lu Changsheng's current display, he was bound to become a terrifying figure in time. In fact, forging a Dao Foundation would likely not be the end of his path! As for realms beyond that, it exceeded their understanding, and they dared not ponder it further. *** "I'm back." Inside his cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng laid out all twenty-two Cangyun Wonder Fruits before him. "Those Divine Treasury cultivators on the Dao Foundation Candidate List aren't all that impressive after all. For now, my strength is sufficient. Next, it is time to expand my brain domain as quickly as possible..." Lu Changsheng did not fixate on comprehending domains. He was in no rush. With his current strength, he was already considered a powerhouse even among those on the Candidate List. After all, during the battle for the Cangyun Wonder Fruits, Lu Changsheng had not even used his full strength. He had only deployed the Five Elements Domain and his Mind Swords. He still possessed four two-in-one fusion domains as well as ordinary domains. If he unleashed everything, he could crush even eighty layers of domains. Such strength was exceptionally formidable! However, in terms of cultivation realm, Lu Changsheng was still lagging behind. His brain domain currently measured only nineteen li. No matter how great one's combat power was, expanding the brain domain remained the core of martial cultivation. Having acquired twenty-two Cangyun Wonder Fruits, he could now rapidly expand it. "Let's test one first." Lu Changsheng swallowed a Cangyun Wonder Fruit directly. Instantly, a refreshing coolness welled up within him, accompanied by a peculiar power that seemed to seep into his brain domain. *Rumble!* The brain domain began to expand. Supported by this mysterious force, it swiftly broadened by one li, reaching twenty li! A brain domain of twenty li was already sufficient to request a second Boundary Suppressing Stone, but Lu Changsheng was in no hurry. "Continue." With that, Lu Changsheng consumed fruit after fruit: twenty li, thirty li, forty li... Eventually, after several days, Lu Changsheng had consumed all the Cangyun Wonder Fruits. His brain domain successfully expanded to forty-one li in a single push! "A brain domain of forty-one li means I can apply for three Boundary Suppressing Stones at once! Once three more Boundary Suppressing Stones are refined, my brain domain will become even more stable. I wonder how much the efficiency of nurturing domains will improve then?" Lu Changsheng was eager to see the increased nurturing efficiency. Standing up, he set off for the Exchange Hall. Upon arriving at the Exchange Hall, he found it bustling with foot traffic. The Exchange Hall was never short of visitors. A thought crossed Lu Changsheng's mind. Applying for three Boundary Suppressing Stones at once would undoubtedly cause a massive stir. After all, the last time he came, his brain domain had only been ten li. How much time had passed since then? To expand beyond forty li in such a short period... Lu Changsheng did not hesitate for long before making his decision. The Ancient Region was never lacking in geniuses, and the more exceptional a genius was, the more attention and resources they received from the sect. Hiding his light would only cause him to miss out on valuable resources and opportunities. If not for the terrifying cultivation speed he had maintained along the way and the immense renown he had garnered, would Gu Chen and the others have approached him to compete for the Cangyun Wonder Fruits? In the contest of martial cultivation, the key lay in the word "contest." Thus, Lu Changsheng walked directly up to the elder of the Exchange Hall. "Elder, this disciple wishes to apply for three Boundary Suppressing Stones," Lu Changsheng stated straightforwardly. "Hmm? Three Boundary Suppressing Stones?" The elder naturally recognized Lu Changsheng. He even remembered that Lu Changsheng's brain domain had only been ten li during his last visit. How long had it been? To apply for three more Boundary Suppressing Stones meant Lu Changsheng's brain domain had already surpassed forty li. Was that even possible? "Lu Changsheng, are you certain I heard correctly? You are applying for three Boundary Suppressing Stones?" "Yes, three Boundary Suppressing Stones." Without wasting words, Lu Changsheng directly released his brain domain. *Boom!* His brain domain manifested outward. While still an ethereal projection, once released, it was visible to everyone. Its interior was hazy and indistinct, yet the overall scope could be clearly estimated. In an instant, a massive brain domain materialized above Lu Changsheng's head. The entire Exchange Hall fell dead silent. Every gaze converged onto Lu Changsheng. "Incredible... It really is over forty li!" "Senior Brother Lu's cultivation speed is utterly unbelievable." "Leaping from ten li straight to over forty li... How can the disparity between people be this immense?" "Indeed, whether in the Divine Gang Realm or the Divine Treasury Realm, Senior Brother Lu radiates the brightest light..." "At this rate, Senior Brother Lu will probably be listed on the Dao Foundation Candidate List very soon." "Heh, here's the latest news! Senior Brother Lu obtained a large quantity of Cangyun Wonder Fruits, allowing him to expand his brain domain on such a massive scale. And during that very contest, he routed over twenty Candidate List powerhouses single-handedly—it was practically a miracle!" "What? Defeating over twenty Candidate List experts alone? With such combat prowess, could he be our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's foremost true disciple?" "Even if not the foremost, he's at least in the top three. I thought Senior Brother Lu would spend some time consolidating his foundation in the Divine Treasury Realm, but I never expected him to soar into the heavens so quickly..." The disciples within the Exchange Hall erupted in an uproar. Was a brain domain of forty li terrifying? Terribly so! Yet what was even more frightening was Lu Changsheng's heaven-shaking combat prowess. They could scarcely imagine that when Lu Changsheng routed those twenty-some Candidate List experts, his brain domain had only been just over ten li in size. "Good. A brain domain exceeding forty li. You are indeed eligible to apply for three Boundary Suppressing Stones directly. Here, take these three Boundary Suppressing Stones." The Exchange Hall elder was exceptionally decisive, handing Lu Changsheng three Boundary Suppressing Stones without delay. "Thank you, Elder." Lu Changsheng turned and left, returning to his cave dwelling. "Let us begin. After refining three Boundary Suppressing Stones, I shall see to what extent the domain-nurturing efficiency improves. When that time comes, will nurturing a domain to perfection take twenty days? Or fifteen days, or perhaps even ten?" Lu Changsheng was unsure, but filled with anticipation, he began refining the stones. *** Within the cave dwelling of Lei Tiandu, the foremost true disciple of the Huangtian Sect. *Whoosh.* Lei Tiandu opened his eyes. "My brain domain has finally reached one hundred li..." Lei Tiandu murmured with deep emotion. To achieve this, he had poured in efforts unimaginable to ordinary men. Yet it was all worth it. Lei Tiandu, the foremost true disciple of the Huangtian Sect, ranked ninth on the Dao Foundation Candidate List! He could be considered one of the ten greatest Divine Treasury cultivators in the entire Ancient Region! Naturally, the Dao Foundation Candidate List was updated only once a year, and a year was long enough for many changes to occur. Take Lei Tiandu, for instance: with a brain domain of one hundred li, he could refine a Boundary Transforming Stone at any moment. As long as he overcame the Tribulation of the Mind, achieving brain domain materialization would present no issue at all. However, the Tribulation of the Mind was precisely Lei Tiandu's greatest vulnerability. Although Lei Tiandu stood as the foremost true disciple of the Huangtian Sect, his path had been fraught with hardship and adversity. His journey in martial arts had never been smooth sailing. In the past, he had merely been an ordinary youth from a small town in the Ancient Region. His entire family had been butchered by enemies, and he had survived solely by a stroke of fortune. Later, relying on his own efforts to practice martial arts and wandering the pugilistic world, his strength gradually grew until he finally tracked down and slew his enemies, exacting his vengeance. Thereafter, he continued to claw his way upward through endless slaughter and competition. Lei Tiandu's martial talent was formidable, but it was not the greatest in the Huangtian Sect. His innate gift could only be considered among the top tier, far from the most extraordinary. Yet he possessed an unyielding tenacity and worked tirelessly. Through sheer diligence, he had surpassed those geniuses endowed with superior talent and backed by more influential backgrounds step by step, ultimately rising to become the foremost true disciple of the Huangtian Sect. Now, with his brain domain at one hundred li, he had practically set one foot into the Dao Foundation Realm! Yet his mind bore a fatal flaw. In his youth, his family had met gruesome deaths, and he had witnessed it all with his own eyes. Though he had exacted his revenge later in life, that horrific scene had branded itself into the depths of his soul, impossible to let go. Under normal circumstances, it caused no hindrance. But the moment he attempted to forge a Dao Foundation, he would have to endure the Tribulation of the Mind, where that trauma could spell disaster. Flaws of the mind were notoriously troublesome and difficult to resolve. "Lei Tiandu." Right at that moment, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the cave dwelling. "Elder Huang Jiufeng?" With a thought, Lei Tiandu opened the cave dwelling's protective formation, allowing Elder Huang Jiufeng to step inside. "Lei Tiandu, congratulations on achieving a brain domain of one hundred li," Huang Jiufeng said. "However, your mind bears a flaw. Should you attempt to forge your Dao Foundation, the Tribulation of the Mind will prove perilous. I happen to possess a Heart Illusion Stone. It can awaken the memories buried deep within you, reshaping them into an illusion so that you may confront that past head-on. Only by doing so can you thoroughly mend the flaw in your mind. Here is the Heart Illusion Stone." Huang Jiufeng produced a Heart Illusion Stone directly. Lei Tiandu gazed deeply at the stone. Such a treasure was exceedingly rare and could only be encountered by chance, unobtainable even through exchanges within the Huangtian Sect. This Heart Illusion Stone was Huang Jiufeng's personal possession. If Lei Tiandu wished to obtain it, he had to secure Huang Jiufeng's consent. Yet Lei Tiandu knew full well that nothing came without a price. How could Huang Jiufeng part with such a precious soul treasure so easily? "Elder, what do you require this disciple to do?" Lei Tiandu asked. "What I ask of you is quite simple," Huang Jiufeng said. "You may use the Heart Illusion Stone first to mend your mental flaw. However, once that flaw is resolved, you must not immediately forge your Dao Foundation. Before you do so, I need you to kill someone. With your capabilities, success should be practically guaranteed." Lei Tiandu paused slightly, then inquired, "Whom do you wish killed?" "Lu Changsheng of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect!" Huang Jiufeng explained, "I have just received word that Lu Changsheng has slain both Lan Tianxiao and Hua Qianshang. His spirit secret method is exceptionally formidable, and he possesses a five-in-one domain as well as several two-in-one fusion domains. After considering all options, among the Divine Treasury cultivators in the Huangtian Sect, only you possess the absolute certainty to slay him. "Once you mend your mental flaw with the Heart Illusion Stone, Lu Changsheng's spirit secret method will be utterly incapable of shaking your spirit. As for domains... with decades of accumulation behind yours, how could you possibly fall short against him? "Therefore, I have only this single condition: kill Lu Changsheng! If you agree, the Heart Illusion Stone is yours. If not, I shall seek someone else." Having said his piece, Huang Jiufeng fell silent, waiting quietly for Lei Tiandu's decision. Lei Tiandu glanced at the Heart Illusion Stone, then looked back at Huang Jiufeng. His gaze quickly turned resolute. "Elder, this disciple agrees. Slaying a mere Divine Treasury cultivator at the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect before I forge my Dao Foundation is nothing difficult." Lei Tiandu accepted the task and casually stowed away the Heart Illusion Stone. Huang Jiufeng smiled. "I shall await your good news..." With that, Huang Jiufeng drifted away. "Exchanging a mere Divine Treasury cultivator for a Heart Illusion Stone... Why couldn't such good fortune have arrived earlier?" A faint smile touched the corners of Lei Tiandu's lips. To him, the Heart Illusion Stone was of paramount importance. As for Lu Changsheng, he had no need to know who the man was. As long as the target remained within the Divine Treasury Realm, that was enough. There was no Divine Treasury cultivator he could not kill! Moreover, Lei Tiandu distinctly remembered the top ten cultivators on the Dao Foundation Candidate List, and the name "Lu Changsheng" was definitely not among them. Since the man wasn't in the top ten, what reason was there to hesitate? He would certainly take Lu Changsheng's life!