Eleven Years Past, Lu Changsheng Returns to the Boundary Sea!

"The path of a Heaven Realm Upper Immortal centers on the immortal body. "To advance an immortal body requires various treasures rich in immortal spirit qi. "To put it concretely, divine items..." A sharp light flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. Divine items had originally drifted down from the Heaven Realm. They naturally contained immortal spirit qi. As long as one refined divine items, it was theoretically possible to enhance the immortal body. "Let's put it to the test, then." Lu Changsheng immediately ordered his attendants to deliver more divine items. Over the past two years, the imperial family of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty had been gathering divine items continuously. Though their yield was modest, they still brought in a steady trickle. Soon, the divine items were set before Lu Changsheng. All told, there were barely a dozen pieces. Most of them, however, were at the divine body level, which was easy enough to understand. Ordinary people had no hope of refining a divine-body-level divine item. By contrast, spirit-body-level divine items could be refined if someone possessed enough destiny or sheer luck. Anyone who stumbled upon a spirit-body-level divine item would have refined and used it long ago. Only divine-body-level divine items were difficult to refine, allowing them to accumulate over time. Once the imperial family issued their decree and launched an exhaustive search, these divine-body-level divine items were naturally tracked down, swept up, and brought before Lu Changsheng. Such was the benefit of having an entire faction at one's disposal. Backing by a powerful divine dynasty made acquiring resources effortless. It took nothing more than a single word. Yet this held true only because a few years had passed, allowing them to harvest this many divine-body-level divine items. Once this wave was depleted, finding more in such numbers would prove difficult. Lu Changsheng did not dwell on the distant future. For now, he merely wished to test the effect divine items had on the immortal body. Circulating the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body, he refined all dozen divine items. The outcome caught him slightly by surprise. He brought up his attribute panel to examine his current state. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 62,680,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 2% (Enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 2% (Incomplete) Flesh Martial Dao: Octonary Growth Comprehension Deduction: May consume substantial comprehension to perform deductions Lu Changsheng glanced at the progress of his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation. It had increased by only 1%, currently standing at 2%. With a quick calculation, he understood the ratio. It took roughly ten divine-body-level divine items to raise the immortal body's progress by 1%. As for spirit body divine items? It would likely take a hundred of them to yield a single percent. This caused Lu Changsheng to furrow his brow. Cultivating the immortal body did seem slightly easier than the Mortal Immortal path, but its reliance on resources was staggering. To push the progress to 100% and fully step into the Immortal Realm, he would need at least a thousand divine-body-level divine items. Yet up until now, he had obtained only three hundred or so in total. And that included the more than two hundred divine items from within the underwater manor—the accumulation of Mortal Immortal Liu Yun across countless years. Excluding the underwater manor's hoard, Lu Changsheng had secured barely over a hundred divine-body-level divine items, which amounted to just over 10% progress. Reaching 100% remained far beyond the horizon. Yet gathering those hundred-plus divine-body-level divine items had nearly emptied the treasuries of two great divine dynasties. Even if he scoured the entire Kunwu World, how many divine-body-level divine items could he possibly acquire? "Relying on the divine items within the Kunwu World to pursue the immortal body path and step into the Immortal Realm will be exceedingly difficult... "In fact, it is nearly impossible..." Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath. A Heaven Realm Upper Immortal primarily forged an immortal body. An immortal body did not demand deep insights. While it seemed easier on the surface, its resource demands were astronomical, especially its dependence on treasures containing immortal spirit qi. In the Heaven Realm, that might be manageable. Yet in the Kunwu World—and in the Boundary Sea—where could one find so many immortal spirit items? "No wonder Liu Yun chose the Mortal Immortal path. If one pursues the immortal body path, stepping into the Immortal Realm within the Boundary Sea is practically impossible..." Lu Changsheng began to understand why Liu Yun had resolutely embarked upon the Mortal Immortal path. It was an arduous road that seemed brimming with boundless potential and a promising future, but what was the reality? Liu Yun had most likely had no other choice. Without walking the Mortal Immortal path, achieving the Immortal Realm would have been entirely out of reach! "Master Lu." Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. A familiar figure had arrived before him: Ou Fuchun. Back then, Ou Fuchun had been captured by the imperial family. Later, Lu Changsheng suppressed the royal house through sheer power, and Ou Fuchun was naturally released. "What is it?" Lu Changsheng asked calmly. Ou Fuchun had been sensible over the past two years, never disturbing Lu Changsheng. Coming forward so abruptly now meant he likely had a favor to ask. Ou Fuchun hesitated, but ultimately steeled his resolve and spoke in a deep voice: "Master Lu, my visit today is indeed to beg a favor. "Could you take me with you when you leave the Kunwu World and travel to the realm beyond? "I have heard that beyond the skies lies a vast world, and I yearn for it as well. "This junior is willing to offer my clan's heirloom treasure in return to thank you, Master Lu!" Gritting his teeth, Ou Fuchun produced the Ou clan heirloom treasure. Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. Ou Fuchun was willing to part with his family's ancestral treasure? This was renouncing the heirloom altogether. Previously, Ou Fuchun had treated it as his very life, refusing to surrender it even on pain of death. Now he was willingly giving it up just to go to the Boundary Sea? "Why do you wish to go to the Boundary Sea?" Lu Changsheng asked. Ou Fuchun hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied solemnly, "I have heard that otherworldly godly beings like Master Lu enjoy immense lifespans, living for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. "Having been hunted all these years, I have come to see things clearly. In the Kunwu World, no matter how great an individual may be, they turn into a handful of yellow earth after a fleeting few decades. It holds no meaning at all. "Therefore, this junior desires longevity..." Ou Fuchun was honest, laying out his thoughts without holding back. Desiring longevity was no sin. In truth, many powerhouses within the Kunwu World secretly captured otherworldly godly beings. For instance, the imperial families of the various divine dynasties had previously deployed national divine items to capture countless otherworldly godly beings. As a result, many people possessed some understanding of the Boundary Sea. Yet the more they understood, the more they envied otherworldly godly beings, and the more they yearned to venture into the Boundary Sea. Once they entered the Boundary Sea, however, the powerhouses of the Kunwu World would lose every advantage they possessed—including national divine items! Within the Kunwu World, a national divine item was immensely formidable, leaving almost no one able to match it. But in the Boundary Sea, Ancestor Realm experts were legion, completely free from the world's rejection. Even if one wielded a national divine item there, what significance would it hold? It would be nothing more than courting death. Consequently, to live safely in the Boundary Sea, one had to find a trustworthy otherworldly godly being. As for the Ou clan heirloom treasure, since Ou Fuchun had resolved to head to the Boundary Sea, continuing to carry such a treasure would be like a child walking through a crowded market carrying gold and silver—purely inviting disaster. Only by letting go of the heirloom treasure could he travel light in the Boundary Sea, entirely unburdened by worry that someone might covet what he carried. Lu Changsheng looked at Ou Fuchun. He could sense the man's resolve. It seemed the other party had made up his mind. "Very well." Lu Changsheng did not refuse. He accepted the heirloom treasure from Ou Fuchun's hands. It was indeed a divine item, and an auxiliary one at that, designed to make refining divine items easier. To be honest, Lu Changsheng did not particularly need such a treasure; it served him little practical purpose. Now, however, circumstances were different. Ou Fuchun was asking a favor of him, and this was Ou Fuchun's payment. Though Lu Changsheng might not use this heirloom divine item directly, he needed to analyze it. If he could analyze this heirloom divine item, his progress in the Mortal Immortal Dao would surely advance. For a Mortal Immortal, only through continuous analysis could one's realm climb. And the rarer, more peculiar the treasure, power, or rule he analyzed, the faster his Mortal Immortal realm would advance. "Thank you for granting my wish, Master Lu!" Ou Fuchun looked elated. After all, he would finally be able to travel to the Boundary Sea instead of remaining trapped within the Kunwu World. The Kunwu World both protected its native inhabitants and bound them in place. As long as one could depart while ensuring personal safety, few within the Kunwu World would refuse the opportunity. Yet finding someone from the Boundary Sea whom one could fully trust was exceedingly difficult. It was only Ou Fuchun who placed complete trust in Lu Changsheng. "You will need to wait for some time. "Perhaps several months, or perhaps a year or two. "Within a few years, however, I will likely leave the Kunwu World. When the time comes, I shall take you with me." Lu Changsheng spoke slowly, offering no fixed date. After all, he was in no hurry to depart the Kunwu World just yet. He needed to seize every opportunity the Kunwu World had to offer. "Understood, Master Lu. I shall wait patiently." Ou Fuchun bowed and took his leave. Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. In his mind, he sorted through the things he currently required within the Kunwu World. The most important was undoubtedly divine items! He had to harvest divine items until the vast majority of the Kunwu World's supply was delivered into his hands. In the past, no Boundary Sea cultivator had ever dared to act so brazenly. After all, the Boundary Sea cultivators capable of entering the Kunwu World were all merely at the Limit Realm. Who among them could bring an entire divine dynasty under control? Who possessed the confidence to stand against the entire Kunwu World? No matter how peerlessly talented a Limit Realm expert might be, the national divine items of the Kunwu World could easily strike them down. Lu Changsheng was different. He had already brought the royal house of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty under his control, and he possessed the strength to face the entire Kunwu World. Rising to his feet, Lu Changsheng sought out the Emperor of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty in person. "Master Lu." Upon seeing Lu Changsheng, the Emperor of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty instantly became fraught with apprehension, anxiety stirring in his chest. Under normal circumstances, Lu Changsheng never came looking for him. Yet now, Lu Changsheng had come in person. Had some major event occurred? Lu Changsheng walked over and sat down directly in the Emperor's throne. The Emperor's expression showed no hint of resentment; instead, he stood respectfully to the side, ready to listen. Lu Changsheng said indifferently, "Emperor, I wish for you to issue a decree in the name of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty, demanding that the various divine dynasties yield the divine items in their reserves. "Remember: all of them. "If any choose not to comply, or seek to hide them and turn over only a fraction, I shall pay them a visit in person. "When that time comes, should a few divine dynasties or factions vanish, I hope you will be prepared to take over their territory smoothly." Lu Changsheng's words were a notice and a command, not a discussion. The Emperor's heart trembled. He understood Lu Changsheng's intent all too well. This was forcing the other divine dynasties to pay tribute. It was simply inconceivable. Formidable though the Wenhua Divine Dynasty was, it had never reached the point of compelling other divine dynasties to offer tribute. Certain divine dynasties were in no way inferior to Wenhua. The Kunwu World held far more than just the Wenhua Divine Dynasty and the Great Qian Divine Dynasty; divine dynasties large and small were numerous. Lu Changsheng could not be bothered to seek them out one by one. Leveraging the influence of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty would suffice. If any divine dynasty truly sought to resist, he would act then. He was even prepared to annihilate one or two divine dynasties to establish deterrence. He simply wondered which dynasties would choose to court death. "Understood, Master Lu." The Emperor knew that foul winds and a rain of blood were about to engulf the Kunwu World once more, but he had no choice. On second thought, might this not present an unprecedented opportunity for the Wenhua Divine Dynasty instead? Thus, acting upon Lu Changsheng's instructions, the Emperor dispatched demands to the various divine dynasties across the Kunwu World. Instantly, an immense uproar swept through the entire Kunwu World. "What does the Wenhua Divine Dynasty think it's doing? Demanding our divine items—is this not demanding tribute? Even if it were tribute, there is no reason for us to hand over all our divine items!" "Heh, let alone the Wenhua Divine Dynasty of today, even back during its most glorious peak, it had no right to make us surrender all our divine items!" "This time, the Wenhua Divine Dynasty issued formal missives to every divine dynasty across the Kunwu World. Tsk, tsk, what madness has possessed them?" "Hm? The Wenhua Divine Dynasty even set a deadline? Stating that failing to surrender them or offering too few would bring dire consequences? I'd like to ask: just how dire could those consequences be? Could the Wenhua Divine Dynasty truly raise an army capable of wiping out so many of us?" The divine dynasties receiving the messages could hardly believe it. Yet it was an undeniable fact. The Wenhua Divine Dynasty seemed to have gone mad. Many divine dynasties began investigating what gave Wenhua such brazen confidence. The Wenhua Divine Dynasty made no attempt to conceal the truth, disseminating information regarding Lu Changsheng. Whether those dynasties believed it or not was beyond Wenhua's concern. Day after day slipped by. As the deadline set by the Wenhua Divine Dynasty's ultimatum arrived, the entire Kunwu World grew strangely quiet. Lu Changsheng paid no attention to the commotion outside. On this day, he opened his eyes. "The two national divine items are finally analyzed..." "Analyzing a national divine item for the first time was indeed somewhat clumsy, but analytical capability improves with practice. The next time I analyze a national divine item, my efficiency will certainly be much higher..." Numerous thoughts flitted through Lu Changsheng's mind. For more than two whole years, he had been analyzing the two national divine items and refining the ordinary divine items. The divine items had long since been refined, but the analysis of the two national divine items had only concluded today. Analyzing a national divine item was not overwhelmingly difficult, but it was troublesome and yielded slow progress. Moreover, the results seemed rather modest. Lu Changsheng sensed his condition carefully. Analyzing the two national divine items had not raised his Mortal Immortal Dao progress at all—not even by 1%. Based on his senses and deductions, he estimated he would need to analyze five national divine items before the Mortal Immortal Dao might increase by 1%. This was truly... far too difficult! After all, who in the Kunwu World did not know how precious national divine items were? All the national divine items held by the various dynasties and those scattered abroad amounted to perhaps a dozen pieces in total. Even if he analyzed every last one, his Mortal Immortal Dao progress would hardly advance. This left Lu Changsheng sighing inwardly: cultivating the immortal body was hard, but walking the Mortal Immortal Dao was harder still! As time went on, some factions obediently delivered divine items, but far more divine dynasties remained unmoved. On this day, the Emperor sought out Lu Changsheng in person to report the current state of affairs. "I understand." Lu Changsheng already had a clear picture of which dynasties refused to yield their divine items. What surprised him slightly was the Great Qian Divine Dynasty. They had obediently delivered divine items. Naturally, having already had their treasury plundered by Lu Changsheng, they did not possess many, but they had indeed sent what they had. "That leaves it: the Hongyu Divine Dynasty!" Lu Changsheng settled on a target. The Hongyu Divine Dynasty lay closest to the Wenhua Divine Dynasty. It was renowned for producing a type of jade known as red jade—blood-red and exceedingly peculiar, from which the dynasty derived its name. The Hongyu Divine Dynasty had not sent a single divine item, clearly treating the Wenhua Divine Dynasty's words with utter contempt. Since he intended to take action, Lu Changsheng would naturally strike the Hongyu Divine Dynasty first. He set off directly for their lands. This time, Lu Changsheng made no effort to conceal his movements, advancing with great fanfare. The Hongyu Divine Dynasty had long prepared for this, even deploying their national divine item. Yet Lu Changsheng revealed the underwater manor in plain view of all. The outcome was obvious. The Hongyu Divine Dynasty was defeated—crushed completely. Even the Emperor of the Hongyu Divine Dynasty had no choice but to take his own life in atonement. Lu Changsheng seized their national divine item and plundered every divine item within their borders. In that moment, the Hongyu Divine Dynasty met a tragic end. Moreover, without their national divine item, whether the dynasty could keep the Boundary Sea cultivators within their borders—or their own ambitious figures—in check remained entirely uncertain. From that day forward, the Hongyu Divine Dynasty was destined for turmoil. The battle sent shockwaves through the entire Kunwu World. The dynasties that had previously stood idle were left slack-jawed. An otherworldly godly being! The Wenhua Divine Dynasty had actually mobilized an otherworldly godly being. While deploying an otherworldly godly being was shocking, it was not unheard of for divine dynasties to collaborate with them. What truly stunned everyone was his strength. Lu Changsheng's power had reached a level where he could topple an entire nation by his own hand. Even a national divine item was no match for him. How could anyone fight that? A divine dynasty's ultimate trump card was its national divine item, yet it was completely ineffective against Lu Changsheng. The details of the battle in the Hongyu Divine Dynasty quickly spread. Every divine dynasty learned that Lu Changsheng possessed a miraculous treasure capable of isolating the battlefield from the Kunwu World. Once pulled inside the treasure, one was forced to face the truly terrifying Lu Changsheng. Rumors claimed he was an Ancestor Realm powerhouse who had infiltrated the Kunwu World through unknown means. Under normal circumstances, he dared not unleash power beyond the Limit Realm, but once he deployed the underwater manor and pulled his foes within, all restrictions were cast aside, allowing him to unleash Ancestor Realm strength. Under such conditions, who in the entire Kunwu World could oppose him? The fate of the Hongyu Divine Dynasty thoroughly terrified the other dynasties. No longer daring to delay for a single moment, they promptly began sending an endless stream of divine items. Lu Changsheng received an uninterrupted supply. He launched no further attacks against the divine dynasties. Alongside gathering divine items, he demanded that the dynasties send over their national divine items as well, needing to analyze them to further his Mortal Immortal Dao progress. After all, even the thinnest meat was still nourishment. Any gain, however small, was worthwhile. Three years flew by in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lu Changsheng finished analyzing the final national divine item. He called up his attribute panel to review his condition. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 62,680,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 5% (Enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 25% (Incomplete) Flesh Martial Dao: Octonary Growth Comprehension Deduction: May consume substantial comprehension to perform deductions On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng's Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation showed conspicuous progress, having reached 25%. Of course, such a dramatic increase was possible only because he had scoured nearly every divine item in the Kunwu World. As for the Mortal Immortal Dao, relying solely on analyzing national divine items had yielded limited progress, bringing it to merely 5%. Lu Changsheng felt that analyzing entire worlds would likely yield far greater advancements. Back then, Liu Yun had traversed the Boundary Sea and analyzed countless worlds before finally stepping into the Immortal Realm. "Counting the time, it has been over ten years since I arrived in the Kunwu World—nearly eleven, in fact..." Lu Changsheng murmured. In nearly eleven years, his gains within the Kunwu World had been immense. Not only had he obtained two distinct immortal paths, but he had also made progress in both. As for the Road to Ascending Heaven, he had learned enough about it. The road was already severed. If even Immortal Realm mighty figures had been powerless to mend it, what could he possibly do? "It is time to leave..." Lu Changsheng muttered softly. The thought of departing had already taken root. Remaining in the Kunwu World would offer him no further improvement. Even if he stayed for thousands or tens of thousands of years, he could never step into the Immortal Realm here. To achieve the Immortal Realm, he had to return to the Boundary Sea. "Master, are we returning to the Boundary Sea?" the ancient turtle asked, already growing impatient. Lu Changsheng did not answer directly; he was still waiting. After several days of waiting, a soft *whoosh* sounded. A figure appeared within the imperial palace and stood before Lu Changsheng. The figure looked identical to Lu Changsheng in every way. "You have worked hard, Fellow Daoist." "We are one and the same; why speak of hardship?" The two smiled at each other. It was a wondrous sensation, for the newcomer was none other than Lu Changsheng's true body. All along, his true body had been concealed in a remote corner of the Kunwu World. No one knew that the overwhelmingly powerful Lu Changsheng had been merely an avatar from start to finish. Looking upon his true body, Lu Changsheng felt a trace of emotion. Back when he first separated his avatar, it had been weak, far inferior to the true body. Yet what about now? His true body remained merely at the Limit Realm. Upon fusing with the avatar, however, he could instantly attain Ancestor Realm power. No—it was not as simple as merely reaching the Ancestor Realm. He had already stepped onto the path of the Immortal Dao. This set him apart from ordinary immortal cultivators. Even Mahayana cultivators among them stood only at the Ancestor Realm. Stepping onto the path of the Immortal Dao was exceedingly difficult. Still, avatar and true body were fundamentally one. There was no true distinction between them. "Come." With a thought from Lu Changsheng, his avatar walked straight toward his true body. *Buzz...* The avatar merged seamlessly into Lu Changsheng's true body. Instantly, Lu Changsheng felt the power within his true body surge violently. Naturally, that was all. On the surface, he remained at the Limit Realm. Yet in reality, whenever he wished, fusing his avatars would instantly grant him combat strength on par with a peak Ancestor Realm powerhouse! As for the Mortal Immortal Dao, it was an advancement in realm rather than raw combat power, offering little direct boost to his battle strength. Even so, this journey into the Kunwu World had brought about a qualitative metamorphosis, bestowing unimaginable benefits upon him. From the Limit Realm, he had leapt to peak Ancestor Realm combat power. Furthermore, he had embarked upon two distinct immortal paths! Such fortune could only be described as immense. Before departing, however, Lu Changsheng had to take Ou Fuchun along in addition to the ancient turtle. This was a promise he had made to the man. Soon, Ou Fuchun arrived. Lu Changsheng swept both Ou Fuchun and the ancient turtle directly into the underwater manor. He cast one final look over the imperial palace of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty, and across the entire Kunwu World. Then, without lingering attachment, he gave the command. "Fuse!" As Lu Changsheng fused his avatars, the aura around him surged wildly. In that instant, his presence climbed straight from the Limit Realm into the Sovereign Realm. Having reached the Sovereign Realm, Lu Changsheng waited quietly. One breath, three breaths, eight breaths, ten breaths... *Swish!* At the tenth breath, Lu Changsheng's form vanished without a trace, thoroughly squeezed out of the Kunwu World. *** In the Boundary Sea, outside the Kunwu World, the void stretched empty and desolate. Yet the closer one drew to the Kunwu World, the more figures could be seen constantly entering. These figures were experts from the myriad races of the Boundary Sea, all at the Limit Realm, venturing into the Kunwu World in pursuit of its various fortunes. *Buzz...* Suddenly, a ripple disturbed the void. Immediately after, a figure slowly materialized from within the rippling space. "Who is that?" "Did he just emerge from the Kunwu World?" "Was he expelled by the Kunwu World?" "To be expelled by the Kunwu World, he must have encountered an opportunity inside and broken through to the Sovereign Realm!" "How fortunate, to obtain a breakthrough inside the Kunwu World..." As the figure appeared, countless gazes turned toward him, accompanied by hushed murmurs. Everyone knew the Kunwu World held great fortune. Yet among the countless Limit Realm experts who entered, how many actually secured an opportunity and broke through to the Sovereign Realm? Every single one was undeniably favored by fortune. Many took Lu Changsheng for just such a lucky soul. "I'm back..." Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and swept his gaze over his surroundings. Though nearly eleven years had passed in the Kunwu World, the sight of the Boundary Sea still brought a familiar sensation. He had finally returned! Just as the onlookers were looking upon Lu Changsheng with envy, an Ancestor Realm powerhouse clad in green robes, towering several dozen zhang tall, descended upon the scene. The figure locked onto Lu Changsheng immediately. "I have heard that unforeseen shifts have arisen within the Kunwu World. "You have just returned from inside; you must know of these changes. "Tell this seat: what exactly has transpired within the Kunwu World?" The terrifying Ancestor Realm powerhouse unleashed an overwhelming aura that flooded the void of the Boundary Sea, pressing down with suffocating weight!