"Hahaha, the young are truly formidable! Truly formidable!"
"Materializing your brain domain took a full fifteen days. Advancing to Divine Treasury just months ago, and now forging a Dao Foundation. Lu Changsheng, your martial future is immeasurable! You might even have a chance to condense divine abilities and become a titan!"
The speaker was Zhong Yu, Hall Master of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's Hall of Law Enforcement.
He truly had not expected Lu Changsheng to forge a Dao Foundation so quickly.
Moreover, it had taken him a full half-month to materialize his brain domain.
His potential was beyond estimation.
For the entire Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, this was a massive, delightful surprise.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhong; congratulations, Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. And congratulations to you as well, Lu Changsheng."
The deputy tower master of Feiyan Tower also walked over with a smile, his gaze settling on Lu Changsheng.
This was his first time seeing Lu Changsheng in person.
Yet when it came to understanding Lu Changsheng, few could match him.
Having gathered all sorts of information on Lu Changsheng, the deputy tower master had long understood him.
Yet the more he learned, the more alarmed he became.
With the terrifying talent and comprehension Lu Changsheng displayed, the Dao Foundation would definitely not be his end point.
Even divine abilities might not be the limit of Lu Changsheng's martial journey.
Lu Changsheng's future was unimaginable!
"Deputy Tower Master, you flatter him," Zhong Yu replied, his heart filled with joy.
This trip to Mount Yan was a tremendous harvest.
Not only had Lu Changsheng slain Yu Feixiao, becoming number one across both lists and spreading his fame throughout the Ancient Region—surpassing both the immortal and martial paths to become the undisputed number one among Divine Treasury practitioners and Immortal Masters—
Moreover, Lu Changsheng had forged his Dao Foundation in public atop Mount Yan, becoming a Dao Foundation powerhouse.
The potential he displayed even exceeded that of Tianwen Sect's once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
Tianwen Sect's prodigy was already considered once in a millennium.
What about Lu Changsheng, who was even more gifted?
"Lu Changsheng, let us go," Zhong Yu said.
Lu Changsheng nodded. He had no acquaintances atop Mount Yan anyway.
Now that he had broken through to the Dao Foundation, there was no need to remain on Mount Yan.
This time, Lu Changsheng did not need Zhong Yu to carry him with his brain domain.
Lu Changsheng's brain domain descended, enveloping his surroundings.
Then, he took a step forward.
*Whoosh.*
In the next moment, Lu Changsheng soared into the sky. His speed was not the least bit inferior to Zhong Yu's.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the horizon, gone without a trace.
"Flight!"
Lu Changsheng had already departed the summit of Mount Yan, flying through the air by the power of his brain domain.
So-called flight was actually achieved with the aid of the brain domain's power.
Within his brain domain, Lu Changsheng was almost omnipotent.
The brain domain was a "world" under Lu Changsheng's absolute control.
Of course, calling it a "world" was merely a metaphor.
Turning the brain domain into a world was also a metaphor.
Brain domain materialization was not turning it into a real world.
Rather, it was akin to a space.
Yet this space possessed all manner of miraculous powers.
Flight was merely one application of brain domain materialization.
"Hall Master, Divine Treasury cultivates the brain domain, but what about Dao Foundation? What does Dao Foundation cultivate?" Lu Changsheng asked Zhong Yu as they flew through the void.
Although Lu Changsheng could look through books in the Technique Transmission Hall to learn about the Dao Foundation and the direction of future cultivation, he had a renowned Dao Foundation powerhouse right beside him.
Wouldn't it be a waste not to ask when such a fine opportunity presented itself?
Thus, Lu Changsheng asked Zhong Yu for guidance.
Zhong Yu did not hesitate to resolve his doubts. Smiling, he asked, "Lu Changsheng, do you know the origin of the term 'Dao Foundation'?"
"Why must one forge a Dao Foundation?"
"And what exactly is this so-called 'Dao Foundation'?"
Lu Changsheng listened attentively.
He knew that what followed might be the crux of Dao Foundation cultivation!
"Dao Foundation refers to the foundation of the martial path! Just like Foundation Establishment in the immortal path, it forges the foundation of the immortal Dao."
"The immortal path refines qi and cultivates immortality, comprehending the operating laws of heaven and earth."
"The martial path cultivates laws and trains divine abilities, gathering boundless mighty power into one's own body!"
"The immortal path and the martial path walk diametrically opposite paths. The immortal path borrows the power of heaven and earth, whereas the martial path cultivates the martial artist's own body into a world, capable of contending against heaven and earth."
"Therefore, our Dao Foundation is about cultivating laws."
"When one comprehends a law, continually deepens that comprehension, elevates the law, and from it grasps terrifying divine abilities—that is the transition from Dao Foundation to Divine Ability."
"However, relying on a single law alone to comprehend divine abilities is far too difficult. Because of this, many Dao Foundation experts comprehend two, or even three laws, using the differences between distinct laws to comprehend divine abilities."
"At the same time, laws within the brain domain can unleash terrifying might. With every gesture, they can release earth-shaking power."
"In theory, the more laws you have, the stronger the brain domain. The more laws you have, the greater the hope of comprehending divine abilities from them. After all, if you cannot comprehend divine abilities from one law, you can switch to another; naturally, the probability is higher."
"However, if you have too many laws and cannot comprehend them, you will never be able to condense divine abilities and will remain a Dao Foundation for life."
"Therefore, before you determine which laws to cultivate, you must first brand law seeds and fuse them into your brain domain before you can cultivate. Once you decide on your laws and brand the law seeds, they cannot be changed."
Lu Changsheng understood.
Dao Foundation cultivates laws, and laws were of utmost importance. One had to determine beforehand which laws to cultivate.
Or rather, decide how many laws to cultivate?
One had to strike the right balance.
In theory, the more laws, the better.
Yet too many would impede comprehension.
Along the journey, Lu Changsheng asked many questions, and Zhong Yu answered every one, explaining in great detail.
Before long, the two returned to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.
"Lu Changsheng, you can go to the Technique Transmission Hall and look through some ancient records."
"Every Dao Foundation martial artist's path is different. Once you choose your laws, they cannot be changed."
"Laws are not only tied to your cultivation in the Dao Foundation realm, but also intimately connected to condensing divine abilities in the future and even the power of those divine abilities."
"Dao Foundation and Divine Ability—strictly speaking, these two realms complement each other. And the foundation of everything is the laws."
"A martial artist truly enters the higher halls of martial arts starting with the comprehension of laws!" Zhong Yu exhorted once more.
"Thank you, Hall Master." Lu Changsheng bowed with sincere gratitude.
Zhong Yu nodded.
He believed that with Lu Changsheng's talent and comprehension, he would understand what these words meant.
He would also know how to choose.
Cultivation was a very personal matter. Even a master would not meddle haphazardly at such a juncture, offering only advice.
Which laws to cultivate and how many laws to cultivate were choices Lu Changsheng had to make for himself.
Zhong Yu departed.
After some thought, Lu Changsheng headed straight to the Technique Transmission Hall to browse the records.
The records contained cultivation insights from various Dao Foundation powerhouses of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.
From these insights, Lu Changsheng gained a deeper understanding of the Dao Foundation, laws, and even divine abilities.
From the experiences of these Dao Foundation predecessors, Lu Changsheng also drew several conclusions.
Cultivating only a single law was indeed very difficult to break through to the Divine Ability realm.
Of course, that was not absolute.
If someone cultivated a single law to an extremely profound level, quite a few still managed to condense divine abilities.
However, after perusing numerous records and hearing Zhong Yu's explanations, Lu Changsheng had already formed certain conjectures regarding the two realms of Dao Foundation and Divine Ability.
At this moment, countless sparks of inspiration clashed within Lu Changsheng's mind.
Many wondrous ideas surfaced.
Each of these ideas was exceedingly bold.
"The martial path cultivates oneself, gathering boundless might into one body, ultimately enabling one to contend against the vast heaven and earth. Yet the human body is ultimately frail, far weaker than demons. How could it contend against heaven and earth?"
"Therefore, a martial artist needs brain domain materialization and needs to cultivate laws. One enriches oneself with laws and supports the brain domain with laws, gradually letting the brain domain evolve into a real world—only then can one contend with heaven and earth."
Lu Changsheng's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Although even the Divine Ability realm made no mention of "evolving a world," Lu Changsheng vaguely sensed that the martial path ought to be walked this way.
Otherwise, how could it ever contend against the immortal path, which borrowed the mighty power of heaven and earth?
"And if one wants to evolve a true world, relying on a single law is simply impossible."
"For instance, one would need the two fundamental laws of time and space. But those are castles in the air, flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water; no one can comprehend those two laws."
"Ordinary Dao Foundation powerhouses rely on the domains they once evolved, slowly comprehending laws from them. That is the realistic approach."
"My laws must also be comprehended from the domains I have grasped. Moreover, the number of laws cannot be too small, yet cannot be too large either. A suitable number is needed."
"Since I deduce that the direction of martial arts is evolving a world, which laws can evolve a world?"
Lu Changsheng sank into deep contemplation.
Time and space were out of the question.
Completely impossible.
No one could comprehend those two laws.
So Lu Changsheng shifted his train of thought.
In the memories of his past life, there were many conceptions regarding worlds and heaven and earth.
For example, the Five Elements.
Many Daoist doctrines stated that all things in heaven and earth evolved from the Five Elements.
The Five Elements were metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Coincidentally, Lu Changsheng had comprehended the Five Elements Domain. Comprehending these five laws would be comparatively easier for him.
Yet other worldviews posited that the physical world was composed of the four basic elements: earth, fire, water, and wind.
Earth, fire, water, wind—and metal, wood, water, fire, earth.
Two of them overlapped: water and fire were indispensable to both.
There might be other theories.
Overall, however, they were similar to these two concepts.
"So, if I have earth, fire, water, and wind, along with the Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, can I evolve a world? Or stabilize a world?"
Though Lu Changsheng did not know how to evolve a world, having the fundamental laws should not be wrong.
"Water and fire overlap, so out of the nine laws, I actually only need to comprehend seven!"
A sharp gleam flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
Seven laws!
When browsing the records in the Technique Transmission Hall, Lu Changsheng had also looked into the cultivation of laws by Dao Foundation powerhouses.
Dao Foundation powerhouses who cultivated two or three laws were plentiful and considered the mainstream.
After all, if there were more, most Dao Foundation powerhouses could not comprehend them.
If there were fewer, it was truly hard to condense divine abilities.
Two or three was the most suitable.
Those with more than five could be counted on one hand—exceptionally rare.
Let alone seven.
In all the records Lu Changsheng had read, he had not seen a single Dao Foundation powerhouse choose to cultivate seven laws.
However, if one truly could comprehend seven laws, allowing them to clash and interact, condensing divine abilities would be much easier.
"With my comprehension, comprehending seven laws should not be difficult."
A sharp glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
He knew very well what his advantage was.
Supreme comprehension gave Lu Changsheng many advantages over other martial artists.
Yet among those who could achieve Dao Foundation, whose comprehension was poor?
"Seven laws are not merely about a higher probability of condensing divine abilities; they also pertain to evolving a world... Wait. Earth, fire, water, wind, and the Five Elements are all components of the physical world."
"What about life?"
"What is the fundamental building block of life, or rather, the most important element? What is the fundamental difference between sentient life and matter?"
A flash of inspiration struck Lu Changsheng's mind.
A concept gradually emerged.
Mind! Or spirit!
The fundamental difference between sentient life and matter like stone was spirit.
Spirit gave birth to consciousness.
Possessing spirit meant being a sentient life.
Life was an essential part of heaven and earth.
A world without life was like a stagnant pool of water—incomplete.
"In that case, do I also need to comprehend the law of spirit?"
Coincidentally, Lu Changsheng also nurtured the Golden Mind Sword within his brain domain.
The Golden Mind Sword represented spiritual power.
If he were to comprehend the law of spirit, he would certainly have the assistance of the Golden Mind Sword.
"In that case, the laws I must comprehend are eight. The Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, plus earth, fire, water, and wind, and the law of spirit."
Lu Changsheng made up his mind.
"Then let it be these eight laws."
"To comprehend laws, I must first brand law seeds."
"If the brain domain did not previously possess the domain corresponding to a law, one cannot brand that law seed."
"Therefore, how many domains a Divine Treasury martial artist comprehends is intimately linked to their cultivation in Dao Foundation and exerts a tremendous influence."
Lu Changsheng was pensive.
The martial path never cultivated each realm in isolation.
That was simply impossible.
The martial path was a path of heritage and continuity.
Every realm was intimately connected to the previous ones.
It came down to whether the foundation was solid.
If there were an extreme Divine Treasury martial artist who possessed only one perfected domain and relied entirely on curiosities to expand their brain domain, in theory they could expand it to a hundred li, strike at the Dao Foundation, and even succeed in forging a Dao Foundation.
Yet after becoming a Dao Foundation expert, they would have no choices.
Because they had only one domain, they could only comprehend one law.
Their Dao Foundation journey would essentially come to an end.
Everything had pros and cons, cultivation even more so.
At every realm, one could not cut corners.
The foundation had to be solid.
The more solid the foundation, the more options one had in the future, the broader the martial path, and the higher one could naturally climb!
Just like right now, Lu Changsheng had comprehended enough domains.
Even if he comprehended eight laws, he could find corresponding domains within his brain domain.
At the very least, branding the law seeds would be no problem.
He possessed the qualification to cultivate eight laws!
Many Dao Foundation powerhouses did not even possess eight domains in total within their brain domains.
How could they cultivate eight laws?
One must realize: each tier of law is a tier of heaven.
An additional law brought not just greater hope of condensing divine abilities, but also the power of an additional law.
In terms of combat prowess, the more laws one had, the stronger one became.
The more laws, the greater the benefits.
However, the prerequisite was being able to comprehend the laws.
Few Dao Foundation martial artists had Lu Changsheng's courage to directly target eight laws.
Once the law seeds were branded, if Lu Changsheng did not comprehend all eight laws, he would never be able to condense divine abilities.
This was equivalent to voluntarily increasing his own difficulty.
Yet Lu Changsheng felt that this "difficulty" he was adding was entirely necessary.
Otherwise, he likely would not get far beyond the Dao Foundation realm.
"Back to the cave abode first."
Lu Changsheng returned to his cave abode.
He had basically determined that he would cultivate eight laws.
Now, he had to begin cultivation.
"Let us begin. First, brand the eight law seeds."
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
*Boom.*
Lu Changsheng's brain domain descended, enveloping the entire cave abode.
Within the brain domain, Lu Changsheng was like an omnipotent deity.
The countless domains he had previously nurtured within his brain domain had all fused into it.
Yet as long as Lu Changsheng willed it, he could manifest them within the brain domain.
"Wind."
With a thought from Lu Changsheng, wild winds instantly whipped up within the brain domain.
"Water."
A torrential flood immediately surged within the brain domain, waves churning as it swept forth with immense momentum.
"Fire."
Flames descended from above, spreading as if incinerating all things.
This was the brain domain.
Any power from domains Lu Changsheng had previously comprehended could be displayed within the brain domain.
However, although these powers appeared terrifying, a brain domain without laws was quite ordinary in might.
Even a single law would be able to crush Lu Changsheng's current brain domain.
"Each tier of law is a tier of heaven" was by no means mere talk.
*Buzz.*
With a thought, the Five Elements Domain of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, along with the Earth Domain, Tempest Domain, and Golden Mind Sword, all surfaced around Lu Changsheng!
"Law seeds..."
Enlightenment dawned on Lu Changsheng.
His brain domain vibrated slightly.
Immediately, at the core of these eight powers, wisps of law seeds began to condense.
This part was not difficult.
Even the Golden Mind Sword condensed a wisp of a spiritual law seed.
The law seeds were condensed.
"Fuse."
In the next moment, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer.
The brain domain shuddered.
The eight law seeds instantly merged into the brain domain, becoming indistinguishable from it.
Once the eight law seeds were thoroughly fused, Lu Changsheng felt the brain domain seem to become a fraction more solid, as if undergoing some qualitative change, yet something was still lacking.
Lu Changsheng understood.
What was lacking were true laws!
Right now, he had only fused law seeds.
He was still hundreds of thousands of li away from comprehending the laws, standing at the very beginning.
"The eight law seeds have been branded into the brain domain."
"From now on, I must begin comprehending laws."
"The sooner I comprehend a law, the sooner my brain domain will undergo a complete transformation."
"One law brings one transformation to the brain domain. Eight laws mean eight complete transformations."
"This is the true reason behind 'each tier of law is a tier of heaven'!"
Lu Changsheng now understood.
Once each law was comprehended, it would bring earth-shattering changes to the brain domain, causing it to transform.
With one transformation, the brain domain would become stronger.
With eight transformations, its combat prowess would be terrifying beyond imagination.
Lu Changsheng had not asked Zhong Yu how many laws he had comprehended.
However, it was likely not many.
Even though Zhong Yu was among the strong within Dao Foundation powerhouses, Lu Changsheng estimated he had comprehended two or three laws at most.
"Out of eight laws, which should I comprehend first?"
Lu Changsheng pondered, his gaze ultimately settling between water and fire.
After all, water and fire were where the Five Elements laws and the earth, fire, water, wind laws overlapped.
Comprehending water or fire carried great significance.
Lu Changsheng went on to choose the flame law.
He wanted to comprehend the flame law first.
After all, the flame law was inherently powerful and explosive; once he comprehended the flame law, his strength would advance by leaps and bounds.
"Fire."
In the next moment, raging flames enveloped the entire brain domain.
These were not illusionary flames, but real ones.
After all, the brain domain had already materialized.
Lu Changsheng felt an incomparably scorching heat.
Flames rose continuously.
Lu Changsheng immersed himself in comprehension amidst the flames.
One day, three days, five days, ten days...
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
Yet in his gaze lay a trace of surprise and disappointment.
"No, I still haven't comprehended the flame law."
"In fact, it's not merely that I haven't comprehended it—I don't have the slightest clue..."
This had been a full month.
Lu Changsheng had spent almost all of his time attempting to comprehend the flame law.
Yet he had failed.
Lu Changsheng was very disappointed.
After all, his comprehension was very high.
Lu Changsheng immediately called up his attribute panel to inspect his status.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 8,200 (Praised in All Directions)
Mind Sword Mantra Formula: 1% progress (Golden Mind Sword)
On Lu Changsheng's attribute panel, his comprehension was already as high as 8,200.
Yet with comprehension exceeding eight thousand, he still could not comprehend the law.
He did not even have a single clue.
This was abnormal!
As for the Mind Sword Mantra Formula, ever since it transformed into the Golden Mind Sword, it had remained motionless no matter how much time passed.
Lu Changsheng currently had no energy to attend to the Mind Sword Mantra Formula.
He had devoted all his focus to comprehending laws.
Yet reality had dealt him a frontal blow!
The comprehension had failed.
Not a clue in sight.
In fact, Lu Changsheng felt that if he continued like this, let alone a month, even in a year or ten years, he might not comprehend the flame law.
For the first time, Lu Changsheng felt a sense of defeat.
"So my comprehension, high though it is, is still not high enough to comprehend everything..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly.
Back in the Divine Treasury realm, his comprehension had swept through all opposition, completely invincible.
Martial conceptions, domains, and the like were nothing to him, grasped with effortless ease.
Yet upon reaching the Dao Foundation realm and needing to comprehend laws, Lu Changsheng was startled into realizing that although his comprehension was high, it was not high enough to casually comprehend laws.
Or rather, Lu Changsheng's comprehension could not touch "laws" just yet.
"My comprehension isn't enough..."
Lu Changsheng finally experienced the sensation of insufficient comprehension.
Previously, he had always felt that his comprehension was so high it crushed everyone else.
Yet now, advancing to Dao Foundation and attempting to comprehend laws, he learned his comprehension fell short.
"If my comprehension reaches ten thousand and undergoes a complete transformation, perhaps that will help me comprehend laws."
"However, calculating by the current increase of 150 points of comprehension per month, a year's time will add 1,800 points, which would bring comprehension exactly to ten thousand for a transformation."
"Yet that requires a whole year..."
Lu Changsheng furrowed his brows.
A year was not really long.
Relative to a Dao Foundation expert, it was rather brief.
Once a martial artist advanced to Divine Treasury, their lifespan increased.
Divine Treasury granted a lifespan of a hundred and fifty.
Dao Foundation granted a lifespan of three hundred.
Of course, compared to Immortal Masters and Foundation Establishment cultivators, the lifespan was somewhat inferior.
Still, three hundred years was very respectable.
Lu Changsheng had cultivated for less than eight years up to this point.
Being asked to quietly wait an entire year felt far too long.
"There must be other ways to comprehend laws."
"Otherwise, relying solely on comprehension, if even I cannot comprehend laws, what laws could other Dao Foundation powerhouses possibly comprehend?"
Lu Changsheng remained confident in his comprehension.
If even his comprehension was insufficient to grasp laws, what about others?
If one had to rely purely on natural comprehension to grasp laws, Dao Foundation powerhouses capable of comprehending laws would likely be few and far between.
"Lu Changsheng."
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice drifted into the cave abode from outside.
Lu Changsheng looked up, somewhat surprised.
"This is... the Hall Master of the True Disciple Hall!"
Lu Changsheng saw an elderly man outside the cave abode.
The aura on this man was far more terrifying than that of Hall Master Zhong Yu of the Hall of Law Enforcement.
He was definitively a top-tier Dao Foundation powerhouse!
Lu Changsheng recognized him at a glance: it was the Hall Master of the True Disciple Hall.
This True Disciple Hall Master was named Wang Feng. His name was ordinary, and his past deeds were seemingly ordinary as well.
Cultivating step by step, he had ultimately become the Hall Master of the True Disciple Hall.
Yet no one dared underestimate Wang Feng.
After all, the Hall Master of the True Disciple Hall was the strongest hall master in the entire Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.
Stronger even than the Hall of Law Enforcement!
"Disciple greets the Hall Master!"
Lu Changsheng immediately opened the cave abode and bowed respectfully to Wang Feng.
Wang Feng nodded and stepped inside.
Lu Changsheng was puzzled.
He did not know what had happened.
However, for the Hall Master of the True Disciple Hall to visit his cave abode in person, it certainly could not be a trivial matter.
"You have only just advanced to Dao Foundation, so many matters..."
Suddenly, Wang Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression changed drastically.
"Lu Changsheng, have you already branded law seeds?" Wang Feng shouted in shock.
"Yes, disciple has just branded law seeds. Hall Master, is something amiss?" Lu Changsheng asked, looking thoroughly confused.
"Release your brain domain."
"Yes, Hall Master."
Lu Changsheng directly released his brain domain.
Immediately, the brain domain descended, enveloping Wang Feng.
Looking upon the brain domain Lu Changsheng released, Wang Feng, who was normally unflappable, was thoroughly shocked.
He even sucked in a breath of cold air.
"Eight law seeds... You actually branded eight law seeds?"
Wang Feng's eyes widened, his heart filled with immense shock.
He had long known of Lu Changsheng's great reputation in the True Disciple Hall.
The decisive battle atop Mount Yan had made Lu Changsheng's fame skyrocket all the more.
Yet no matter how many rumors one heard, nothing compared to witnessing it with one's own eyes.
The moment they met, Wang Feng was stunned by Lu Changsheng's staggering move.
Eight law seeds!
Just how confident did one have to be to dare brand eight law seeds?
Chapter 184