Ancestor Daopo Flouts the Rules; Lu Changsheng Battles a Supreme Ancestor!

"Found you..." "To think you really are in the City in the Sky." A strange glint flashed through Ancestor Daopo's eyes. He had merely been taking a chance. He had not expected to actually track him down. Without hesitation, Ancestor Daopo vanished from the Spirit Trapper Chamber of Commerce in an instant. Watching Ancestor Daopo's departing figure, the head of the Spirit Trapper Chamber of Commerce let out a long sigh, shook his head helplessly, and muttered under his breath, "This Ancestor Daopo is completely different from Ancestor Qingtian. He acts with utter impunity, flouting all the rules. "Back then, it was precisely because Ancestor Qingtian followed the rules and acted with fairness and justice that the City in the Sky attained such prosperity. "Now, however, Ancestor Daopo treats the city purely as an instrument to plunder treasures and aid his own cultivation, caring nothing for rules. I fear the decline of the City in the Sky is inevitable..." The chamber head was even beginning to consider an escape route. There was no need to stay in the City in the Sky indefinitely. As for Lu Changsheng? The chamber head could no longer spare any concern for him. The Spirit Trapper Chamber of Commerce could barely protect itself, let alone Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng could only fend for himself. *** Rumble! The City in the Sky shook violently. Countless cultivators raised their heads toward the void. "What is going on?" "Why is the entire City in the Sky trembling? What happened?" "The city seems to be sealing itself off. Has some major catastrophe occurred?" "It's Ancestor Daopo..." For a time, shock and suspicion gripped everyone. Many wished to flee before the City in the Sky completely sealed itself. Unfortunately, it was already too late. Once the city closed, breaking through such an immortal treasure was an insurmountable task. Fear began creeping into people's hearts. Could Ancestor Daopo intend to slaughter every living soul? It was not impossible. The Boundary Sea was never lacking in ruthless figures. There were those who would wipe out an entire world without blinking, let alone the cultivators gathered in the City in the Sky. "Careless! I've always been so cautious—why was I so careless this time as to enter the City in the Sky?" "Ancestor Qingtian always adhered to the rules in the past. Who could have known things would turn out like this?" "We are in deep trouble now. Just because Ancestor Qingtian followed the rules doesn't mean Ancestor Daopo will. If he is truly merciless, we're all finished..." Dread hung heavy over the crowd. The mere thought of the potential consequences terrified them. However, many also spotted Ancestor Daopo. He seemed to be flying toward a different direction. He was not carrying out a mass slaughter? Instead, it looked as though he was searching for someone. Meanwhile, within his cave abode. Lu Changsheng had been quietly meditating. Suddenly, he felt the tremors rocking the City in the Sky. Sweeping out with his divine sense, he immediately noticed that the city was sealing shut. "Not good. Something has happened in the city..." Lu Changsheng's expression changed drastically. His immediate instinct was to leave. After all, in all the time he had spent in the City in the Sky, he had never once seen it close off. Yet now? The city had only just changed masters, and it was already being sealed. Once the City in the Sky was locked down, everyone inside would be in grave trouble. They would become meat on a chopping block, left at the mercy of others. "Go!" Lu Changsheng shot out of his cave abode at once. He intended to exit the City in the Sky without delay. Yet the moment he dashed out, an invisible force locked onto him. Buzz. The power of the City in the Sky began suppressing and sealing him down. And right now, only one person could control the City in the Sky. Ancestor Daopo! "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, where do you think you are going?" Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice reached Lu Changsheng's ears. "Hm?" "You are... Ancestor Daopo?" Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Tension gripped his heart. It truly was Ancestor Daopo. And from the looks of it, he had come specifically for him! At this juncture, Lu Changsheng instead regained his calm. Things had reached a point where flight was impossible. He wanted to see what Ancestor Daopo was truly after. "Ancestor Daopo, what business do you have with me?" Lu Changsheng asked neutrally, his tone neither obsequious nor arrogant. A sharp light glinted in Ancestor Daopo's eyes, and he spoke coldly, "Lu Changsheng, hand over the immortal spirit item. That belonged to Ancestor Qingtian. Now that he is dead, it belongs to this old man. "An immortal spirit item of that caliber is not something a mere top-tier Ancestor can protect." Ancestor Daopo minced no words, stating his objective directly. "Hand over the immortal spirit item?" Understanding dawned on Lu Changsheng. It was indeed the immortal spirit item that had brought this trouble upon him. Lu Changsheng explained, "Back then, Ancestor Qingtian sought me out and promised to give me an immortal spirit item upon completion of our agreement, on the condition that I withstand three tiers of the heavenly tribulation. "I have already withstood those three tiers and fulfilled my promise. Naturally, that immortal spirit item belongs to me. "Ancestor Daopo, is your attempt to seize it by force not a bit too overbearing, a bit too dismissive of the rules?" Lu Changsheng's words gave Ancestor Daopo a slight pause. Then, Ancestor Daopo burst into laughter. "Lu Changsheng, you have stayed in the City in the Sky for far too long. Has this place been so comfortable that you have forgotten the true nature of the Boundary Sea? "In the Boundary Sea, the strong are revered! I am stronger than you, so every treasure on your person belongs to me. "Ancestor Qingtian followed the rules with you only because he was foolish. And look—the rule-abiding Ancestor Qingtian is dead, having met a miserable end. "So, will you hand over the immortal spirit item or not? "Refuse, and die!" Ancestor Daopo's gaze was chilling. A cold, cutting killing intent laced his words. Ancestor Daopo genuinely held no regard for rules. Defy his demand, and die! Complete, unrestrained arrogance. Yet this was the true reality of the Boundary Sea. By comparison, the City in the Sky under Ancestor Qingtian's rule had truly been a pure sanctuary within the Boundary Sea. Now, with Qingtian's death, that sanctuary had ceased to exist. Though the City in the Sky remained, it was no longer what it once was. At that moment, the onlookers realized what was happening. An immortal spirit item! Ancestor Dengtian actually possessed an immortal spirit item! And now Ancestor Daopo had tracked him down to demand it by force, going so far as to seal the City in the Sky just to ensure Lu Changsheng could not escape. This showed Ancestor Daopo's unyielding determination. Yet would Ancestor Dengtian yield and hand it over? Lu Changsheng had not spent very long in the City in the Sky. Even so, his fame had spread far and wide. Everyone knew that Ancestor Dengtian possessed a fiery temperament and would never compromise easily. Faced with the threat of a supreme Ancestor like Daopo, what could Lu Changsheng do? The atmosphere grew increasingly suffocating. "If I say that I have already refined the immortal spirit item, would Ancestor Daopo believe me?" Lu Changsheng asked slowly. "Refined it?" "Then this old man will refine you! Perhaps I can still squeeze some of it out." Ancestor Daopo bristled with murderous aura. With matters having come to this, Lu Changsheng knew there was no peaceful resolution. He took a deep breath. He cast another glance at the City in the Sky. Boom! Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng struck. He instantly manifested his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body. Simultaneously, the Annihilation Divine Eye between his brows snapped open. He even unleashed the Fourth Turn of the Slaughter Dao. Lu Changsheng brought forth nearly every method at his disposal. Against a supreme Ancestor, he had no leeway to hold back. His opening move was earth-shattering! Boom! An earth-shattering assault. Whether it was the Annihilation Divine Eye or the Fourth Turn of the Slaughter Dao, driven by his current Myriad Spirits Immortal Body, their combined might shook heaven and earth. Even against a supreme Ancestor, such power was enough to make the other feel a sliver of threat. "Hm?" "Such an attack... Can this truly be from a top-tier Ancestor?" Ancestor Daopo was somewhat astonished. He had slain no small number of top-tier Ancestors. Even those hailed as invincible among top-tier Ancestors had fallen to his blade in considerable numbers. Yet the attack Lu Changsheng had just unleashed truly made Ancestor Daopo sense a hint of danger. It possessed the genuine potential to harm him. "To possess such terrifying offensive power while still a top-tier Ancestor... If you ever reach the supreme Ancestor Realm, there is no telling what heights you might achieve. "It seems I cannot allow you to live today!" A vicious light flashed in Ancestor Daopo's eyes. He was the type of ruthless character who believed in cutting the grass and pulling up the roots. Seeing Lu Changsheng's display, his immediate thought was total eradication. He had to slay Lu Changsheng today to eliminate any future threat! Clang! In the next instant, Ancestor Daopo drew his blade. Indeed, he drew a blade. He was known as Ancestor Daopo—the "Saber Soul"—and that title was certainly not empty. Just a moment ago, he had carried no visible weapon. Yet now, accompanied by a clear blade ring, a saber appeared in his grip from an unseen source. Saber qi surged through the void. Even Lu Changsheng felt a piercing, razor-sharp chill the moment Ancestor Daopo drew his weapon. Whoosh! The blade slashed downward. Lu Changsheng's heart gave a violent jolt. What was he witnessing? A terrifying arc of saber light was cleaving down through the void with boundless, majestic fury. The Light of Annihilation, the Fourth Turn of the Slaughter Dao, even the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body—all appeared minute and paled into insignificance before this single slash. Supreme! This was what it meant to be supreme! A supreme Ancestor was one who had reached the absolute pinnacle in a single aspect. A true apex among the Ancestor Realm! And Ancestor Daopo's saber was that pinnacle. Whenever his blade emerged, someone died! This held true even against fellow supreme Ancestors, let alone a mere top-tier Ancestor like Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng knew full well that he could not escape. That saber qi had already locked onto him. Evading it was virtually impossible. This slash was capable of killing him outright. Lu Changsheng was utterly certain of this. Even though his physical body was extraordinarily tough. Even though he could regenerate from a single drop of blood. If he took this blow head-on, he would surely die. At the very least, this current body would be completely destroyed. As for the fact that he had flesh elsewhere from which he could reconstitute himself, that was a different matter entirely. Right now, facing this strike from Ancestor Daopo, he could not block it! Only now did Lu Changsheng truly understand what "supreme" meant. Earlier, when facing Ancestor Qingtian, he had even toyed with the thought of testing Qingtian's measure, feeling that he might not be inferior to a supreme Ancestor. Now, however, realization struck him. He was still a step short of the supreme Ancestor Realm. And that single step was a gulf as vast as heaven and earth. He had not yet reached the "supreme" level in any single aspect. Without reaching the ultimate peak in at least one area, he could not be counted as supreme. The dazzling slash fell. With crushing momentum, it tore through every one of Lu Changsheng's attacks and bore down directly upon him. Many Ancestors witnessing the scene were shaken to their cores. Ancestor Dengtian's strength was already earth-shattering. Yet before a supreme Ancestor, he remained so powerless. This single strike seemed poised to claim Lu Changsheng's life. Boom! Finally, the slash struck home. Yet Ancestor Daopo's brow furrowed slightly. He did not feel the sensation of his saber qi biting into flesh. Ancestor Daopo focused his gaze. What did he see? A manor. A manor radiating an immortal spirit aura. "An immortal treasure!" Ancestor Daopo's eyes went wide. He could hardly believe it. An immortal treasure! Another immortal treasure? "Hahaha! Heaven aids me!" "To think my fortune would run so high! Not only did I seize the City in the Sky, but now another immortal treasure presents itself! What right does a mere top-tier Ancestor like you have to possess an immortal treasure?" "The immortal treasure and the immortal spirit item—both belong to this old man!" Ancestor Daopo was beside himself with ecstasy. He had merely come to claim an immortal spirit item. Who could have expected such an unexpected windfall? An immortal treasure was far more precious than an immortal spirit item. After all, even if an immortal spirit item were given to him, it would not guarantee ascension to the Immortal Realm. An immortal treasure, on the other hand, was entirely different; its utility was immense. Why had he joined forces with two other supreme Ancestors in the first place? Had it not been for the sole purpose of claiming the immortal treasure that was the City in the Sky? Even for supreme Ancestors, obtaining an immortal treasure was by no means easy. "Is that so?" "If you want my immortal treasure, you are welcome to try taking it." Lu Changsheng's voice drifted out from within the underwater manor. Lu Changsheng remained exceedingly confident in his underwater manor. Apart from when the Giant Spirit Ancestor had personally intervened and breached it, the underwater manor had practically never been broken. This alone proved its formidable power. Normally, the underwater manor remained unassuming and low-profile, appearing to possess little presence. In truth, however, it was Lu Changsheng's greatest trump card, capable of preserving his life at critical junctures. "Hmph." "Watch this old man shatter your immortal treasure." Ancestor Daopo snorted coldly. In the next instant, he drew his blade once more. Clang! Once again, saber qi surged. This time, however, the saber qi traversed the void and continuously condensed, forming a colossal blade of energy. A razor-sharp aura permeated the entire City in the Sky. Anyone who sensed the sharpness of this saber qi felt an instinctive palpitation in their heart. This alone demonstrated how terrifying the strike was. "Sever!" As Ancestor Daopo's command rang out, the vast torrent of saber qi descended, slashing toward the underwater manor. Rumble! The saber qi slammed violently into the underwater manor. Terrifying shockwaves rippled outward in wave after wave, spreading in all directions. Even the City in the Sky shook from the impact. This was Ancestor Daopo's full-power strike. What treasure could possibly withstand it? Yet as the dust and smoke cleared, the onlookers beheld the scene before them. Lu Changsheng's underwater manor remained where it was, completely undamaged, resting serenely in the void. Ancestor Daopo's saber qi, by contrast, had vanished without a trace. Shock! Utter shock seized everyone present! "An immortal treasure... Is this the legendary immortal treasure?" "Incredible! It actually endured a full-power strike from a supreme Ancestor without taking a scratch. Can Ancestor Daopo do anything to Ancestor Dengtian now?" "Ancestor Daopo's slash was truly terrifying, yet it was still blocked by Ancestor Dengtian's immortal treasure..." A profound awe rippled through the hearts of the crowd. Even Ancestor Daopo himself felt a jolt within his chest. He knew immortal treasures were powerful. The City in the Sky was an immortal treasure itself. Yet the City in the Sky was still different from this underwater manor. He had not expected the defensive power of the immortal treasure before him to be so formidable. However, the stronger Lu Changsheng's immortal treasure proved to be, the more excited Ancestor Daopo became. In his eyes, the underwater manor was already a prize in his pocket. Why would he complain about it being too strong? "What a fine immortal treasure!" "You managed to block one slash, but what about ten? A hundred?" Ancestor Daopo's aura surged dramatically once more. In the next breath, saber qi filled the sky. This time, it was not a single slash, but saber qi pouring down like torrential rain. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Hundreds, even thousands of streaks of saber qi rained down, hacking violently at the underwater manor. Yet it remained futile. "Hm?" Ancestor Daopo frowned. Even his saber qi could do nothing to the underwater manor. "You have an immortal treasure, but so do I!" "City in the Sky, suppress!" Ancestor Daopo was truly beginning to lose his temper. He did not hesitate to activate the City in the Sky, which he had only recently refined. Instantly, the entire City in the Sky shuddered violently. Then, the full weight of the city bore down to suppress the underwater manor. Finally, the underwater manor produced a ripple of disturbance. Inside the manor, Lu Changsheng was driving its defenses with all his might to resist the city's suppression. He had to admit that the City in the Sky, being an immortal treasure itself, was indeed formidable. Against Ancestor Daopo's individual full-power strike earlier, the underwater manor had emerged completely unscathed, bearing virtually no pressure. Yet once Ancestor Daopo mobilized the City in the Sky, everything changed. The pressure was immense. It felt as though the underwater manor might be torn apart at any moment. Lu Changsheng finally understood why Ancestor Daopo and the other two supreme Ancestors had joined forces to strike while Ancestor Qingtian was undergoing his tribulation. Because that had been their only opportunity. Under normal circumstances, with Ancestor Qingtian wielding an immortal treasure like the City in the Sky, what could three supreme Ancestors have done even if they united? They certainly could not have defeated him. Yet they had seized that singular opening, and in the end, Ancestor Daopo had reaped the benefits. "Master, while the underwater manor is formidable, the City in the Sky is equally powerful. If this war of attrition drags on, things will become very dangerous," the ancient turtle warned anxiously. "What choice do I have? The underwater manor is suppressed by the City in the Sky and cannot escape. I am no match for Ancestor Daopo, so I dare not step outside the manor," Lu Changsheng replied, shaking his head. His current situation was indeed perilous. A single misstep could cost him his life. Of course, with his avatar elsewhere, Lu Changsheng would not truly perish. However, his immortal treasure and his primary physical body would be lost. The cost was far too great. Unless driven to absolute desperation, Lu Changsheng would never abandon this body. "Master, there is only one way left." "What way?" "Master, you can only attempt to analyze the City in the Sky. Once you analyze it, we will be able to break free from its suppression and escape this danger." The ancient turtle's words made Lu Changsheng's eyes light up. Indeed, analysis. Was not analysis the sole and greatest advantage of the Mortal Immortal Dao? Even an immortal treasure could be analyzed through the Mortal Immortal Dao. Yet the crux was time. He was currently under constant suppression and assault from Ancestor Daopo. Analysis required time. If time ran out before he finished, he would be doomed. Still, Lu Changsheng had no better alternative. Analysis was his only path. Fortunately, his analytical capabilities had already improved drastically. Thus, Lu Changsheng concentrated his entire attention on analyzing the City in the Sky. Days slipped by, one after another. Ancestor Daopo's expression grew gloomier by the day. He discovered that the City in the Sky could only suppress the underwater manor; it remained unable to breach it. Naturally, Ancestor Daopo had no intention of giving up. "I will suppress you for now. "As for breaking open the immortal treasure... Hmph, this old man has his ways!" A cold light flickered in Ancestor Daopo's eyes. He could not afford a perpetual stalemate with Lu Changsheng. After all, the City in the Sky was not merely an immortal treasure; it was also a bustling trading hub. If commerce ground to a halt, the city would suffer enormous losses. Even if Ancestor Daopo disregarded the rules, he did not want to ruin such a lucrative trading ground. He had to resolve Lu Changsheng and breach the underwater manor as quickly as possible. "This old man has been nurturing a saber, which can be drawn after a century of refinement. "Once drawn, it can slay even a supreme Ancestor. "I had originally intended to keep it as my ultimate trump card, but for the sake of an immortal treasure, I have no choice but to unleash it. "However, I am still roughly a year short of the full century. "I shall suppress you for a year. Once that year passes, my blade will emerge to shatter your immortal treasure!" Ancestor Daopo declared coldly. His voice was deliberately transmitted into the underwater manor. "Century saber nurturing?" "One year left until it can be drawn?" Lu Changsheng's expression shifted slightly. From inside the underwater manor, he could still perceive Ancestor Daopo's state. The other party had spoken of century saber nurturing, which was likely true. A supreme Ancestor of his caliber certainly possessed a bottom-line trump card. Perhaps this century-nurtured saber was indeed Ancestor Daopo's ultimate technique. Yet Lu Changsheng was not so naive. He would not take Ancestor Daopo's words at face value. Nurturing a saber for a century, with exactly one year remaining? Was there truly an entire year left? Such statements were often a mixture of truth and falsehood. If Lu Changsheng genuinely believed he had a year, he would be walking straight into a trap. Lu Changsheng estimated that the time remaining was likely only a few months at most. Ancestor Daopo had deliberately claimed a year had remained in order to lull him into a false sense of security. In a few months, once the saber was fully nurtured, Ancestor Daopo would launch a sudden, decisive strike. Therefore, time was running out for Lu Changsheng. He had to analyze the City in the Sky even faster. In reality, Lu Changsheng's guess was entirely accurate. Ancestor Daopo was indeed using this tactic to make Lu Changsheng complacent. Only five months remained until the century saber nurturing was complete. Thus, Ancestor Daopo merely needed to keep Lu Changsheng suppressed for five more months. In five months, he was certain he could breach the underwater manor in a single stroke and slay Lu Changsheng! Lu Changsheng, too, needed time. And so, the two sides settled into an eerie stalemate. Day after day passed. One day, two days, three days... A month went by in the blink of an eye. Though only a single month had elapsed, Lu Changsheng found the passage of time far more agonizing than Ancestor Daopo did. Because Lu Changsheng did not know the exact timeline for the saber's completion. It might be a year, half a year, three months, or perhaps even just one month... Having let a month pass already, Lu Changsheng was already taking an enormous risk. Could he afford to keep gambling? For all he knew, Ancestor Daopo's saber might finish its refinement tomorrow. Lu Changsheng dared not stake the underwater manor on such a wager. "It seems I have to go all out..." Lu Changsheng gritted his teeth. He had not resorted to this method in a very long time. Yet in these circumstances, it was his only option. And that was... deduction! Consuming comprehension points for deduction! In essence, this was equivalent to spending comprehension points to drastically boost his analytical capability. Lu Changsheng's comprehension points were hard-won, and unless pushed to the absolute brink, he was deeply reluctant to spend them. Yet now was precisely such an emergency. Lu Changsheng immediately called up his attribute panel to review his current status. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 82,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 29% (enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 60% (incomplete) Annihilation Divine Eye: top-tier Ancestor Realm level Slaughter Dao: Fourth Turn Flesh Martial Dao: nonary growth (Sovereign Realm) Comprehension Deduction: Can consume large amounts of comprehension to perform deduction On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng's comprehension points had already surpassed eighty-two million. This was an astounding figure. With so many points at his disposal, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. "Deduce." In the next instant, Lu Changsheng's comprehension points began to burn. His comprehension spiked instantaneously. And with that meteoric surge in comprehension came an explosive leap in his analytical prowess. Lu Changsheng's mind became unprecedentedly lucid. Thoughts erupted in rapid succession. Inspirations cascaded without end. This was particularly true regarding his analysis of the City in the Sky. Originally, his analytical progress had stood at twenty-nine percent. Yet as Lu Changsheng burned comprehension to deduce the secrets of the City in the Sky, his analytical power soared, and he could feel his progress climbing continuously. Thirty percent, thirty-five percent, forty percent, forty-five percent, fifty percent... Lu Changsheng's analytical ability surged higher and higher. As it did, the City in the Sky suddenly appeared riddled with flaws in Lu Changsheng's eyes. It was not nearly as seamless and impenetrable as he had previously thought. Such was the transformation brought about by an explosive rise in analytical power. One day, two days, three days... After a mere three days—one month and three days in total—Lu Changsheng had completely analyzed the City in the Sky. "It was... that simple?" Lu Changsheng was somewhat astonished. One month and three days. Or rather, using deduction had taken only three days to decipher the City in the Sky entirely. Of course, in those three days, his analytical capability had multiplied to an unfathomable degree. It had likely more than doubled! With such terrifying analytical ability, unraveling the City in the Sky within three days was only natural. However, the price had been steep. Lu Changsheng had possessed over eighty-two million comprehension points. Yet now? A single deduction spanning just three days had consumed a full ten million comprehension points. Yes, ten million points! No wonder the results were so staggering. That was ten million comprehension points. If Lu Changsheng had gathered them at the standard rate of one million per year, that amounted to ten years of accumulation! Unfortunately, ten years of savings had vanished in an instant. As for the outcome, it was undeniably flawless. At this moment, in Lu Changsheng's eyes, the City in the Sky held no more secrets. "Go!" Lu Changsheng hesitated no further. Driving the underwater manor, he slammed it violently toward the City in the Sky. Rumble! The City in the Sky shuddered violently. This time, however, was different from before. Lu Changsheng's underwater manor struck directly at a structural weak point of the City in the Sky, tearing open a massive breach. Then, through that breach, the underwater manor shot out of the City in the Sky, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye. Witnessing this, Ancestor Daopo was consumed by uncontrollable fury. Only four months away! In just four more months, his century saber nurturing would have been complete, allowing him to shatter the underwater manor. Alas, it was all too late. "Lu Changsheng..." "You may have escaped, but can the Immortal Martial Palace escape? Can the Immortal Martial World escape?" "In four months, once my century saber nurturing is complete, I will come to take your life!" Ancestor Daopo sneered coldly. He refrained from pursuing Lu Changsheng now simply because he had no certainty of success. In four months, however, everything would be different. With his century-nurtured saber in hand, Ancestor Daopo was confident he could slay Lu Changsheng!