Lu Changsheng Enters the Dao! The Mortal Dao Reigns Supreme!

"Dao rhyme!" "How is this possible?" "Even if this Lu Changsheng has reached the Ancestor Realm, how could he possibly sense Master's Dao rhyme the very moment he set foot in the Mortal Dao Field?" "Back then, Master invited countless top experts from across the Boundary Sea into his Mortal Dao Field, yet not a single one managed to perceive its Dao rhyme. How could immortal affinity be so easily obtained?" "Without immortal affinity, even lingering in the Mortal Dao Field day in and day out would never allow anyone to perceive the slightest wisp of Dao rhyme..." The ancient turtle was utterly dumbfounded. It could hardly believe what was happening right before its eyes. Yet the scene was undeniable. Lu Changsheng had truly perceived the Dao rhyme. According to Mortal Immortal Liu Yun, this meant having "immortal affinity." However, Liu Yun had once confided in private that this so-called immortal affinity was merely an excuse. To perceive the Dao rhyme, one either had to endure countless trials and temper their Dao heart relentlessly within the mortal world, or fall into sudden enlightenment, grasping the Dao rhyme through that sudden breakthrough. Had Lu Changsheng entered a state of sudden enlightenment and grasped the Dao rhyme that way? That seemed to be the only explanation. Yet beyond the two paths the ancient turtle knew of, there was actually a third possibility. The ancient turtle did not truly understand the nature of perceiving Dao rhyme. Perhaps Mortal Immortal Liu Yun had known, yet even he had likely believed no one could ever achieve it that way. And yet, Lu Changsheng had just accomplished it. Perceiving Dao rhyme was difficult, yet in a way, extraordinarily simple. It required only one thing— Comprehension! A transcendent comprehension rarely seen across heaven and earth. A terrifying comprehension that stood far above all living beings. Once comprehension reached a certain threshold, what was mere Dao rhyme? The ancient turtle had no idea that the moment Lu Changsheng stepped into the Mortal Dao Field, the "Dao rhyme" had appeared right before his eyes. Yes, the Dao rhyme had manifested directly before him. After all, Lu Changsheng's comprehension was Peerless Through the Ages! Even if Mortal Immortal Liu Yun were to be reincarnated, his comprehension would likely pale in comparison. Empowered by comprehension that was Peerless Through the Ages, Lu Changsheng could literally see the Dao rhyme drifting through the Mortal Dao Field with his naked eyes. This Dao rhyme saturated the entire field. It was virtually everywhere. Under such circumstances, how hard could perceiving it be? Thus, Lu Changsheng had simply followed the omnipresent Dao rhyme and contemplated it for a brief moment. Just like that, naturally and effortlessly, he had comprehended it. It was remarkably easy. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "Ancient turtle, about the criteria you mentioned..." "Enough, you have already met it. Master's requirement was simply to comprehend the Dao rhyme..." The ancient turtle still felt utterly bewildered. "That's all?" Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. He genuinely felt the requirement was too trivial. Was perceiving Dao rhyme supposed to be hard? With Dao rhyme scattered everywhere, shouldn't anyone with working eyes be able to see it? He honestly could not imagine anyone entering the Mortal Dao Field and failing to perceive it. "That's all?" The ancient turtle smiled bitterly. "Back then, who knows how many pinnacle Ancestors across the Boundary Sea Master invited here to listen to his sermons on the Mortal Immortal Dao. And what came of it? How many of them comprehended the Dao rhyme?" "None! Not a single one even managed to perceive the Dao rhyme, let alone take the next step to comprehend the Mortal Immortal Dao..." "I don't know how you did it, or why it seemed so easy for you. Perhaps it was pure luck... But this is the greatest opportunity of your entire life..." Lu Changsheng remained noncommittal. The greatest opportunity of his life? Lu Changsheng was certain that his greatest opportunity was definitely not what lay before him now; even the Mortal Immortal Dao could not claim that title. From beginning to end, Lu Changsheng was exceptionally clearheaded: the greatest opportunity of his life was his comprehension! It was precisely because of his transcendent comprehension that he had made it this far. And now, the ancient turtle claimed perceiving Dao rhyme was exceedingly difficult, yet Lu Changsheng had found it effortless. It had unfolded as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Lu Changsheng had already deduced the reason. Comprehension! His comprehension—Peerless Through the Ages—had undoubtedly played the decisive role. He shifted his gaze once again toward the ubiquitous Dao rhyme lingering throughout the Mortal Dao Field. Perhaps it was precisely because of his peerless comprehension that he could behold the Dao rhyme so directly. Others could not see it. They could not even feel it. At most, they could only sense that the Mortal Dao Field was somewhat extraordinary. By that standard, perceiving the Dao rhyme and meeting Mortal Immortal Liu Yun's criteria was indeed an insurmountable feat. "Now that I meet the criteria, what is the subsequent trial?" Lu Changsheng asked. He had merely qualified to take part in the trial. If he failed the trial left behind by Mortal Immortal Liu Yun, he would be unable to take control of the underwater manor, enter the manor's treasury, or leave the place. He would likely be trapped here for the rest of his life. Of course, Lu Changsheng had avatars outside. Trapping him completely was impossible. However, the hundreds of avatars currently gathered here all possessed divine bodies and spirit bodies, and had even reached the Ancestor Realm. If they were trapped within the underwater manor forever, the loss would be immense. Unless pushed to the absolute brink, Lu Changsheng would never abandon so many divine and spirit body avatars. Thus, he intended to give it his all, pass the trial, and gain control over the underwater manor. That way, he could not only leave freely, but also secure an immense opportunity. "Master's trial is actually quite straightforward as well," the ancient turtle said calmly. "Since you have already perceived the Dao rhyme, you should be able to comprehend Master's Mortal Immortal Dao." "If you can 'enter the Dao,' you will have passed Master's trial." "Once you enter the Dao, you will be able to take control of the Mortal Dao Field, and even the entire underwater manor." "Enter the Dao?" Lu Changsheng pondered. In truth, he already understood what entering the Dao entailed. It meant comprehending the Mortal Immortal Dao and truly stepping onto the path of a Mortal Immortal. This path was extraordinarily difficult! From the Dao rhyme just now, Lu Changsheng had realized that the Mortal Immortal Dao demanded an unimaginably high level of comprehension. Tens of thousands of years might not produce a single Mortal Immortal, precisely because of this absurd requirement. Yet beyond that, the Mortal Immortal Dao required nothing else. It required no resources, nor any bloodlines. It required only comprehension! And comprehension was the one thing Lu Changsheng possessed in abundance. In fact, his comprehension was already Peerless Through the Ages. Perhaps it was genuinely worth attempting to enter the Mortal Immortal Dao. Furthermore, there was another crucial detail: entering the Mortal Immortal Dao did not preclude him from reaching the Immortal Realm through other paths. Even after entering the Dao, as long as Lu Changsheng obtained an immortal spirit divine item, he could still absorb immortal spirit qi and walk the path of a Heaven Realm Upper Immortal. Moreover, he had a drop of the Giant Spirit Ancestor's essence blood. He could use that drop of essence blood as a foundation to embark upon the path of a Physical Immortal. Cultivating all three paths simultaneously presented no contradiction at all. "In that case, let's give it a try..." "After all, this is a Mortal Immortal..." Lu Changsheng knew full well that this was indeed a tremendous opportunity. He had searched for traces of a Mortal Immortal for so long. Now, wasn't that very opportunity right in front of him? This was the Mortal Dao Field— the personal Dao Field of a former Mortal Immortal. The remnants of the Mortal Immortal Dao left behind by a true Mortal Immortal served as a clear beacon guiding Lu Changsheng forward. If this was not an opportunity, what was? Since he had the chance, he had to seize it firmly. Paying no further heed to the ancient turtle, Lu Changsheng settled directly into the Mortal Dao Field. He secluded himself day after day, contemplating the Mortal Immortal Dao. He had already grasped the Dao rhyme, which served as the key to embarking on the Mortal Immortal Dao. Now that he possessed the key, all he needed was to unlock the door. His staggering comprehension of over sixty million gave Lu Changsheng absolute confidence— confidence that he could successfully enter the Dao. Even so, this was the Mortal Immortal Dao after all. It was a path where tens or even hundreds of thousands of years might pass without producing a single practitioner. Thus, as Lu Changsheng immersed himself in cultivation, time slipped away rapidly. One month, three months, six months, eight months... In the blink of an eye, a year passed. At first, the ancient turtle visited once every day. Later, it came only once a month, and eventually once every two or three months. Each time it arrived, Lu Changsheng sat motionless within the Mortal Dao Field, striving to enter the Dao. He never spoke to the ancient turtle, and even when the turtle addressed him, Lu Changsheng gave no response at all. He sat there like a statue. How could the ancient turtle maintain any interest? "Sigh. Just like Master back then. Whenever Master went into seclusion, he would vanish for years, sometimes decades." "Now Lu Changsheng hasn't even entered the Dao yet, and he's already secluding himself." "When will I ever be able to leave this underwater manor?" The ancient turtle was bored to tears. Truth be told, it longed to leave. It had spent far too long in the manor. No matter how lethargic it naturally was, being cooped up here for an eternity without stepping outside was no different from imprisonment. What joy could there be in such an existence? When Lu Changsheng appeared, the turtle had actually been quite pleased. Of course, it had looked down on him initially and even attacked him. Yet now, Lu Changsheng had perceived the Dao rhyme. That meant there was hope he might successfully enter the Dao and become the true successor to its master, Mortal Immortal Liu Yun. When that time came, Lu Changsheng would effectively become its new master. Following a new master out of the manor would be entirely natural, wouldn't it? Alas, over a year had passed, and Lu Changsheng had shown no signs of stirring. *Rumble!* Suddenly, the entire underwater manor trembled violently. The ancient turtle snapped its head up, looking toward the source of the disturbance. "That's... the Mortal Dao Field!" "Could it be that Lu Changsheng has entered the Dao?" The thought crossed its mind instantly. After all, Lu Changsheng was the only person inside the Mortal Dao Field right now. If such a dramatic change had occurred there, it could only be due to him. *Whoosh!* The next instant, the ancient turtle sped toward the Mortal Dao Field. Before long, it arrived outside. Looking in, it saw Lu Changsheng's entire being seemingly merging into the Mortal Dao Field. Faint ripples fluttered around his figure. It was precisely these faint ripples spreading outward that caused the entire Mortal Dao Field to quake. "Entering the Dao!" "He's really entering the Dao!" "He actually succeeded?" The ancient turtle's eyes widened in disbelief. How much time had passed? A little over a year, nothing more. To successfully enter the Dao in barely over a year... It was simply inconceivable. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng snapped his eyes open. His gaze was profound, as though it held the myriad mysteries of nature itself. It seemed capable of seeing through everything, gleaming with the radiant light of wisdom. "So this is entering the Dao... this is the Mortal Immortal Dao..." "Hahaha! What a Mortal Immortal Dao! To tread this path, I have no regrets in this life!" Lu Changsheng could not help but laugh aloud. It was a joy that welled from the depths of his heart. Earlier, he had learned from the ancient turtle that there were four paths to the Immortal Realm: Heaven Realm Upper Immortals, Mortal Immortals, Physical Immortals, and Loose Immortals. Loose Immortals were not worth mentioning. Heaven Realm Upper Immortals had access to immortal spirit divine items and enjoyed the easiest cultivation. Yet what Lu Changsheng had truly desired to cultivate was the Physical Immortal! After all, Physical Immortals stood supreme in combat power! One needed only look at the Giant Spirit Ancestor, who had roamed the Boundary Sea unchallenged. Even Mortal Immortal Liu Yun had only managed to contend with him through an endless array of methods. In terms of raw combat power, Liu Yun was still slightly inferior to the Giant Spirit Ancestor. Deep down, Lu Changsheng had favored the Physical Immortal the most. He had wanted to walk that path above all others. After all, who wouldn't covet the greatest combat strength? As for the Mortal Immortal? It had certainly not been Lu Changsheng's first choice for stepping into the Immortal Realm. Yet the moment he successfully entered the Dao, his perspective shifted entirely. He realized he had been wrong. Utterly, entirely wrong! Even though he had not yet come into contact with the other three immortal paths, he was now certain: The Mortal Immortal Dao was undeniably the supreme path! Without a shadow of a doubt! Unquestionable! Among the four immortal paths, the Mortal Immortal Dao reigned supreme! The reason was simple: the Mortal Immortal Dao was built upon the path of "analyzing the rules of all things." What did that mean? For a Mortal Immortal to grow stronger, they had to analyze the rules of all creation. Analyze all things. Analyze worlds. Analyze rules. As long as they analyzed an object or a rule, their Mortal Immortal Dao would advance. Not only could they thrive like a fish in water across the Boundary Sea, constantly enhancing their strength, but even upon reaching the Heaven Realm, they could continue growing by analyzing the realm's myriad rules and treasures. No matter where they went, a Mortal Immortal could always progress. Consequently, those who managed to embark upon the Mortal Immortal Dao tended to achieve immense heights on the immortal path. Lu Changsheng now possessed a thorough understanding of all four paths. In combat strength, the Physical Immortal reigned supreme. In cultivation speed, the Heaven Realm Upper Immortal took the lead. In the sheer number of immortals, the Loose Immortals were unmatched. Yet when it came to potential, the Mortal Immortal Dao stood unchallenged! Those who ultimately reached the pinnacle of the immortal path were almost always Mortal Immortals! Lu Changsheng summoned his attribute panel to inspect his current status. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 62,680,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 1% (Entering the Dao) Flesh Martial Dao: Octonary Growth Comprehension Deduction: Can consume large amounts of comprehension to perform deductions On the attribute panel, his Mortal Immortal Dao had reached 1%, which represented the state of entering the Dao. Entering the Dao did not immediately enhance his combat power. Only by analyzing various rules and treasures could he advance the progress of his Mortal Immortal Dao. For instance, Lu Changsheng now understood that the so-called "reward" of the trial—claiming ownership of the underwater manor—depended entirely on himself. He simply had to analyze the rules governing the manor. Once he did, he would gain full control over it! This was the true reward Mortal Immortal Liu Yun had left for him. Everything still depended on his own analysis. "Ah?" "Master, you still can't control the manor? Does that mean you can't leave?" The ancient turtle was dumbfounded. It had already smoothly transitioned to addressing him as "Master." Yet even after successfully entering the Dao, Lu Changsheng was still unable to control the manor. How were they supposed to get out? Lu Changsheng remained composed and shook his head slightly. "Guiding me into the Dao is already the greatest assistance Senior Liu Yun could have provided." "If I cannot even analyze and seize control of this manor with the aid of the Mortal Immortal Dao, why bother cultivating it at all?" "Be patient. A year at most, or a few months at least, and I will naturally take control of the manor!" Lu Changsheng sounded brimming with confidence. He did not explain much to the ancient turtle. After all, this pertained to the Mortal Immortal Dao; without entering it, no amount of explanation would allow someone to comprehend its wonders. Everything would be proven through results. "Very well, Master. I will wait a bit longer then," the ancient turtle nodded. It had already waited tens of thousands of years. What did another year or a few months matter? With that, the ancient turtle returned to its pool, ready to doze and wait patiently. Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng began utilizing his analytical ability to probe every corner of the underwater manor, patiently dissecting the mysteries of its rules bit by bit. Having just entered the Dao, he had acquired the analytical ability unique to Mortal Immortals. Under normal circumstances, one would begin from the simplest tasks and gradually work upward to build familiarity. Yet Lu Changsheng was different. Having just entered the Dao, his very first target of analysis was the entire underwater manor. This manor was no ordinary structure; it housed the Mortal Dao Field and was Mortal Immortal Liu Yun's personal supreme treasure. Yes, a supreme treasure. Even after a mighty Immortal Realm figure like the Giant Spirit Ancestor had once shattered it, the manor had repaired itself over the long passage of time. That alone proved how extraordinary it was. For Lu Changsheng to attempt analyzing such a treasure right after entering the Dao was an immense undertaking. Yet he felt no fear. In terms of sheer analytical skill, he might temporarily lag behind Mortal Immortal Liu Yun, but the effectiveness of analysis depended on more than just experience and cultivation—it hinged primarily on comprehension. And comprehension was precisely what Lu Changsheng had in abundance. Day after day passed. Analyzing the manor's first rule took Lu Changsheng more than three months. Yet with that experience under his belt, analyzing the second rule took only half the time—barely over a month. As he deciphered more of the manor's rules, his analytical speed accelerated. Still, the manor was governed by countless rules. No matter how fast he became, it was bound to take a considerable amount of time. In the blink of an eye, a year drifted by... Just past the one-year mark, the ancient turtle was sleeping peacefully as usual. *Rumble!* Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the surroundings, jolting the turtle awake. It hurriedly surfaced, only to find the entire underwater manor shaking violently. "What's going on?" "Could Master have taken control of the manor?" Though still slightly groggy, the ancient turtle quickly remembered that its new master, Lu Changsheng, had been trying to seize control of the manor. He had said a year at most, or a few months at least. Counting the time, a full year had already passed, falling under the "longer" estimate. After a year, he should have gained control, right? Since it was already awake, the turtle refrained from going back to sleep and swiftly sought out Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng sat in the manor's main hall. His eyes were closed, and an invisible aura faintly enveloped him. Ripples radiated outward in concentric rings, spreading in all directions. Seeing this, the ancient turtle was overcome with excitement. This sight was far too familiar. It was finally witnessing someone perform an analysis again! Its old master had been just like this—nothing seemed capable of stumping him. Faced with any object or principle, the old master could analyze it piece by piece. Now, Lu Changsheng was doing the exact same thing. Moreover, he seemed to have reached a critical juncture. The manor's violent quaking was proof enough: having reached the final stage of analysis, the manor was mounting a spontaneous resistance, attempting to halt Lu Changsheng's progress. Yet it was futile. Once the analysis began, the outcome was already sealed. *Swish.* Suddenly, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. His gaze was profound, gleaming with the brilliant light of wisdom. In this moment, he seemed omnipotent! "A Mortal Immortal... What a marvelous path." "This analytical power is truly intoxicating. It feels almost omnipotent, grasping the fundamental essence of all creation..." "A full year? In truth, it wasn't that I underestimated the manor, but that I overestimated my own proficiency. It was my first time analyzing anything, so the lack of experience cost me a great deal of time." "Still, better late than never. I've finally succeeded..." Lu Changsheng looked at the trembling manor and raised a hand. A faint handprint manifested from his palm. At the same time, his mind imprinted itself upon the underwater manor in an instant. Having analyzed its rules, the entire manor held no more secrets from him. His spiritual consciousness passed effortlessly through the manor's layers of rule barriers, leaving his imprint instantly. In that single moment, Lu Changsheng took complete control of the underwater manor. It was not through the manor acknowledging him as master on its own, nor was it a gift bestowed by Mortal Immortal Liu Yun. Rather, Lu Changsheng had analyzed it step by step, forcefully taking control through his own power! "Shrink." The underwater manor shrank rapidly. "Expand." The underwater manor expanded rapidly. "Rise." The underwater manor began to shake intensely, gradually breaking free from the whirlpool and ascending toward the surface. After all, it still sat at the bottom of the great river. Having gained complete control, Lu Changsheng commanded the manor as effortlessly as his own limbs, without the slightest resistance. Witnessing this, how could the ancient turtle not realize that Lu Changsheng had succeeded? Overjoyed, it hurriedly offered its congratulations. "Congratulations, Master, on taking control of the underwater manor! Now you can open the treasury whenever you wish, and we can leave at any time!" Lu Changsheng was already well aware of this without needing to be reminded. "Let's inspect the treasury first." Lu Changsheng led the ancient turtle directly to the treasury gates. Previously, the stone doors had been sealed tight, unyielding even to Lu Changsheng's full-power strike. Now, with a mere thought from Lu Changsheng, *Rumble!* The stone doors rose automatically, revealing the treasury within. Lu Changsheng stepped inside. "The treasury..." "After being sealed for tens of thousands of years, it has finally opened once more..." The ancient turtle sighed with deep emotion. Even it had visited the treasury only a handful of times, always brought along by its former master. The moment Lu Changsheng entered, his mind shook. Treasures! The entire treasury was packed to the brim with all kinds of treasures. Lu Changsheng sensed a dense aura of divine items. And every single one of them was a pinnacle divine item! Support-type, offensive, defensive, and divine items used to cultivate pinnacle divine bodies— there were simply too many to count. This far exceeded his expectations. Judging by the manor's simple decor, it had shown no hint of luxury. Lu Changsheng had assumed a Mortal Immortal lived plainly, perhaps even verging on impoverished. Of course, a Mortal Immortal could never truly be poor. He had merely thought they were detached by nature and had little interest in hoarding treasures. Consequently, Lu Changsheng had not harbored high hopes for the treasury. Yet seeing the dazzling, densely packed array of rare treasures before him, he realized his mistake. He had been completely, utterly wrong. How could a Mortal Immortal ever be poor? The reason struck him immediately. Among the four types of immortals, a Mortal Immortal was likely the wealthiest, possessing the greatest abundance of treasures. The reason was simple: a Mortal Immortal could analyze! Sure enough, the ancient turtle said with pride, "Old Master was indifferent to fame and fortune, and never actively sought to hoard treasures." "Yet every time he roamed the Boundary Sea, he would analyze various rules and naturally obtain these treasures along the way." "Over time, they accumulated into an impressive collection. Unfortunately, Old Master had no interest in them, so they have sat here in the treasury gathering dust for countless millennia..." Lu Changsheng fell silent upon hearing this. These treasures had truly been left to gather dust. To think Liu Yun had looked down on so many treasures. Yet it made sense. A dignified Mortal Immortal standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Boundary Sea had no need for such items. Leaving them to gather dust was inevitable. Still, this worked out in his favor. All these treasures now belonged to him. Of course, Lu Changsheng had not forgotten his primary purpose: his main objective upon entering the treasury was to find an immortal spirit divine item. That was what mattered most. Were there any immortal spirit divine items here? Lu Changsheng swept the area with his awareness. With so many divine items piled together, locating an immortal spirit divine item was actually quite simple. After all, an immortal spirit divine item carried a unique immortal spirit qi that could not be concealed. Moreover, Lu Changsheng had come to realize something: divine items had likely originated from the Heaven Realm. Immortal spirit divine items contained immortal spirit qi and could help one forge the foundation for an immortal body. As for ordinary divine items, they were likely mundane objects in the Heaven Realm that lacked immortal spirit qi. Even so, those ordinary divine items were extraordinarily powerful in their own right, capable of allowing cultivators to forge formidable spirit bodies and divine bodies. Once a divine body reached perfection, one could step directly into the Ancestor Realm! Lu Changsheng searched through them one by one. There were indeed numerous divine items in the treasury. Yet, in the end, he found no immortal spirit divine item. "None?" Lu Changsheng felt a trace of disappointment. Upon reflection, however, it made sense. An immortal spirit divine item was a product of the Heaven Realm, considered precious even up there. In the past, before the Road to Ascending Heaven was severed, such items occasionally drifted down into the lower realms. Yet once the road was cut, nothing more could ever descend from above. Every immortal spirit divine item used was one fewer in existence. Even Mortal Immortal Liu Yun would likely never have encountered one without actively seeking it out. "Master, if you are looking for an immortal spirit divine item, there might be a place that has one..." the ancient turtle suddenly spoke up.