Joining the Heaven Realm Association, a Casual Strike Shocks a Supreme Ancestor!

"An opportunity..." A sharp glint flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes. He already had some ideas regarding an opportunity, but he was still biding his time. Lu Changsheng called up his attribute panel to take a look. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 35,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 60% (Enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 64% (Not yet perfected) Physical Immortal Dao Foundation: 83% (Not yet perfected) Annihilation Divine Eye: Supreme Ancestor Realm Level Slaughter Dao: Six Revolutions Flesh Martial Dao: Ten Growths (Ancestor Realm) Comprehension Deduction: Massive amounts of comprehension can be consumed to perform deductions. On Lu Changsheng's attribute panel, his comprehension had increased significantly. Refining the four martial dao fragments presented as an apology by Ancestor Feixing and the others had added roughly one million points of comprehension. Furthermore, through parsing the four martial dao fragments and the damaged immortal spirit items, his Mortal Immortal Dao had progressed by one percent, reaching sixty percent. As for the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body, it had advanced four percent, reaching sixty-four percent. Beyond that, Lu Changsheng showed little change overall. All three of his Immortal Dao paths were now firmly on track. On the surface, each of the three held the promise of attaining the Immortal Realm, but in reality, every one of them was extraordinarily difficult. Ascending to the Immortal Realm was not something accomplished overnight. Whether through the Mortal Immortal Dao, the immortal body, or the Physical Immortal Dao, Lu Changsheng required opportunities. Even obtaining more Great Dao fragments demanded fortuity. A few days later, a familiar figure arrived at the City in the Sky. Ancestor Feixing! Ancestor Feixing came directly to find Lu Changsheng. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, good news—monumental news! There is word on the matter you asked this old man to look into." Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened. "There is news? Tell me the details." For over a year, he had been waiting precisely for this word. Or rather, he had been waiting for this very opportunity. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, contact has been established with the Ascending Immortal Alliance, the Supreme Sanctuary, and the Heaven Realm Association. You may depart at any time for the headquarters of any of these three factions to apply for membership. However, which one you choose to join will be entirely up to you," Ancestor Feixing said. The opportunity Lu Changsheng had spoken of was indeed joining these organizations. These three factions were practically the greatest powers composed of supreme Ancestor Realm figures in the entire Boundary Sea. Without exception, their members were all supreme Ancestors. However, all three were loose associations. Entirely unlike sects, merchant guilds, or clans, they placed very few binding obligations on their members. There was only one strict rule: one could join only one of the three factions, never the other two. This was a tacit understanding shared among all three. Lu Changsheng had waited so long because he had entrusted Ancestor Feixing with contacting them on his behalf. Ancestor Feixing himself belonged to the Supreme Sanctuary, as did Ancestor Yinshen. Ancestor Daopo, on the other hand, was said to have been a member of the Ascending Immortal Alliance, while Ancestor Qingtian seemed to have joined the Heaven Realm Association. All three served as loose networks for exchange. If a member died, none of the factions would intervene. Lu Changsheng contemplated which one he should join. "The Ascending Immortal Alliance... Its membership is quite complicated, and every one of them resorts to any means necessary to reach the Immortal Realm. Supreme Ancestors like Ancestor Daopo are hardly rare among them. "The Heaven Realm Association and the Supreme Sanctuary are practically the same. Why do supreme Ancestors gather together if not to obtain Great Dao fragments and achieve the Immortal Realm? Employing any means to achieve that goal is only natural. "Yet I am not satisfied with any of them..." Lu Changsheng shook his head. Indeed, none of the three appealed to him. They were far too loose. A loose faction without restrictions sounded fine on the surface, but it remained nothing more than a hub for networking. More often than not, one would gain very little from it. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, in truth, there is one more faction," Ancestor Feixing said. "This faction is rather unique. In terms of influence, it is not in the least inferior to the three major factions, but it is exceedingly secretive. It is called the Secret Alliance. "Anyone who joins the Secret Alliance conceals their true appearance and real name. Furthermore, a vast amount of intelligence is disseminated within it, such as news of Great Dao fragments, or someone undergoing a heavenly tribulation. "In short, many supreme Ancestors dislike the Secret Alliance, as it might very well sell out their own secrets. Yet many cannot do without its information..." Lu Changsheng felt a stir of interest. The Secret Alliance! This organization sounded intriguing indeed. In fact, Lu Changsheng suspected that quite a few members of the three major factions were secretly part of the Secret Alliance as well. After all, it imposed no membership restrictions—any Ancestor Realm could join. Yes, even ordinary Ancestors were admitted, not just supreme Ancestors. Viewed in that light, when it came to genuine influence, the Secret Alliance was likely the foremost faction of all. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, I shall leave the information on all these factions with you." "Then I must trouble you, Fellow Daoist Feixing." Ancestor Feixing took his leave. He would not pry into which faction Lu Changsheng ultimately decided to join; after all, that was Lu Changsheng's private affair. "The Secret Alliance..." A strange glint passed through Lu Changsheng's eyes. The Secret Alliance was fascinating. Everyone hid their identity, yet they exchanged information and even collaborated. Every member knew their ultimate goal was to attain the Immortal Realm, and they would spare no cost to achieve it. Lu Changsheng had made his decision. He would certainly join the Secret Alliance. However, among the other three major factions, he still had to pick one. After some thought, Lu Changsheng decided to join the Heaven Realm Association. It was a faction dedicated purely to commerce, functioning essentially as a trading platform. Ancestor Qingtian had previously joined it, relying on the Heaven Realm Association to sell or acquire many precious treasures, such as Great Dao fragments, which were often traded there. If Lu Changsheng wished to build the renown of the City in the Sky, he needed to make several major transactions within the Heaven Realm Association. In truth, expanding the influence of the City in the Sky slightly conflicted with the Heaven Realm Association's role, as most supreme Ancestors conducted their trades within the three major factions rather than elsewhere. But Lu Changsheng merely sought to broaden his city's reach, not displace the three giants. He lacked the energy for such an endeavor anyway. And so, Lu Changsheng gave instructions to Ancestor Powang, Ancestor Juding, and the three Martial Ancestors. Then, boarding the underwater manor, he departed from the City in the Sky. Naturally, Lu Changsheng left an avatar behind in the city. Bearing the power of the Mortal Immortal Dao, his avatar could control the City in the Sky without issue—no differently than a true supreme Ancestor operating it. Even if confronted by a supreme Ancestor, no mishap would befall the city. The vast Boundary Sea seemed boundless. Without boundaries, there could be no center; no one knew where such a center lay. Yet the Heaven Realm Association claimed to reside at the very heart of the Boundary Sea. It was said that the founder of the association had been an Immortal Realm existence. That mighty figure had surveyed the entire Boundary Sea, deduced its central point, and subsequently established the headquarters there. It was known as Realm Core City! Lu Changsheng spent roughly one year and three months before finally arriving at Realm Core City, an illustration of just how vast the Boundary Sea was. And this was under the premise that the City in the Sky was relatively close to Realm Core City; had the distance been truly remote, it might have taken several years or even decades to make the journey. Of course, during this year of travel, Lu Changsheng had not been idle. With his avatar stationed in the City in the Sky, he had acquired several more Great Dao fragments in addition to the original martial dao fragments. Over that year, his comprehension points had increased by approximately three million. Such efficiency was remarkably high. Perhaps before long, not only would he recover all the comprehension points he had spent, but he might even break through the hundred-million mark. Once he reached one hundred million, his comprehension would undergo a transformation. It had been a long time since his comprehension had last transformed, and Lu Changsheng eagerly anticipated it. "Finally arrived!" Lu Changsheng stowed away the underwater manor. Ahead of him stood a majestic, colossal city. Clearly visible to the naked eye, it was immensely grand—larger than an entire world. Yet it was not a world, but a city. An immortal city personally forged by an Immortal Realm mighty figure! A dense immortal spirit qi radiated from it, perceptible to Lu Changsheng with utter clarity. It was far richer than the immortal spirit qi of either the City in the Sky or the underwater manor. Even among immortal treasures, there were differences in grade, and Realm Core City far surpassed the underwater manor and the City in the Sky combined. Whoosh. Lu Changsheng entered Realm Core City. This was the headquarters of the Heaven Realm Association, which permitted only supreme Ancestors to join. Yet within Realm Core City, the vast majority of inhabitants were ordinary Ancestor Realm cultivators. Wherever one went, supreme Ancestors were never numerous, and to maintain its daily operations, the city could not rely solely on supreme Ancestors. Thus, many ordinary Ancestors came to Realm Core City to try their luck or conduct business. After all, whatever crumbs fell from the fingers of supreme Ancestors were enough to send ordinary Ancestors into raptures. Even so, within Realm Core City, the supreme Ancestors held the highest status. Lu Changsheng went straight to the Heaven Realm Association headquarters within the city. "Master of the City in the Sky, Ancestor Dengtian Lu Changsheng, requests to join the Heaven Realm Association." Lu Changsheng directly stated his identity. "The City in the Sky?" "The previous master of the City in the Sky should have been Ancestor Qingtian." "It seems something must have happened to Ancestor Qingtian. As for this Ancestor Dengtian Lu Changsheng, I have hardly heard of him." A few bystanders cast curious glances at Lu Changsheng. His deeds in the City in the Sky had certainly sent shockwaves through many, but Realm Core City was simply too far away. It was only natural that the news had not yet spread here. However, that did not matter. The Heaven Realm Association did not care who the previous master of the City in the Sky had been. As long as Lu Changsheng was a supreme Ancestor, that was enough. Furthermore, provided he had not joined the other two major factions, he was qualified to enter the Heaven Realm Association. "Fellow Daoist Lu, please step inside for the test." Lu Changsheng nodded and followed behind an Ancestor Realm attendant to the testing grounds of the headquarters. The testing grounds were overseen by three supreme Ancestors. "Another newcomer?" "I wonder which fellow Daoist it is. Have we heard of him?" "The number of supreme Ancestors born in recent years is growing fewer and fewer..." "Fewer? They have clearly been snatched away by the Ascending Immortal Alliance and the Supreme Sanctuary!" The three supreme Ancestors seemed quite familiar with one another and bickered casually. "Fellow Daoists, please administer the test first," the attendant said. Hearing this, the three ceased their squabbling. "Who goes?" "Old Ghost Chen, you first?" "Forget it. I am currently contemplating a secret method. Old Ghost Liu, you go." The three pushed the task onto one another. Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. Was the discipline of the Heaven Realm Association this lax? They even pushed testing duties back and forth. What cohesion could such an organization possess? Then again, it was only natural. The Heaven Realm Association possessed no true cohesion to begin with; it was merely a trading platform, and even these three supreme Ancestors had only been invited here to oversee matters. "Fine, this old man will give it a try." In the end, Ancestor Liu stepped forward. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, after you," Ancestor Liu said with a calm expression. "How is the test conducted?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Simple. As long as you can unleash a single strike at the supreme Ancestor level, you pass." "Hmm? Just that simple?" Lu Changsheng was taken aback. If it only required unleashing a single supreme Ancestor-level strike, what if a top-tier Ancestor relied on powerful treasures to deliver such an attack? Wouldn't that allow them to slip through? Yet on second thought, what did it matter if someone slipped through? The Heaven Realm Association was just a trading platform. Even after joining, all one gained was greater convenience in trading, with few other benefits. Moreover, the supreme Ancestor Realm was defined purely by combat prowess. If one could produce a strike of that caliber using treasures, one counted as a supreme Ancestor anyway—hardly an impostor, just a slightly weaker supreme Ancestor. "Very well. Fellow Daoist Liu, take care." Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. By his estimate, delivering a supreme Ancestor strike required the fifth turn of the Slaughter Dao, though that might cut it close. To be safe, he would use the sixth turn. Furthermore, he would only activate the sixth turn using his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body. That should ensure nothing went awry. Besides, judging by the demeanor of these three supreme Ancestors, they were surely seasoned and powerful. Even with his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body driving the sixth turn of the Slaughter Dao, his opponent should be able to handle it easily. Since it was only a test, Lu Changsheng cast aside all lingering reservations. The next instant, Lu Changsheng channeled his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body. Boom! The aura of his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body erupted instantaneously. Having reached sixty-four percent, the eruption of its aura was terrifyingly immense. What was more, alongside the surge of that aura, an appalling killing intent billowed from Lu Changsheng. "Slaughter Dao, Sixth Turn!" Driven by the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body, Lu Changsheng unleashed the sixth turn of the Slaughter Dao in a flash. The three supreme Ancestors, previously nonchalant, stiffened the moment they sensed that dreadful killing intent. An extreme sense of crisis seized their hearts. "Not good!" "Myriad Tribulations Imperishable Body!" Ancestor Liu's expression changed drastically. He instantly deployed his strongest defensive technique. Lu Changsheng's sixth-turn strike slammed violently against him. Boom! The void roared. The horrific killing intent proved practically omnipresent. Even with Ancestor Liu's reputedly imperishable constitution, he felt a faint sensation of the killing intent piercing straight through him, like a candle flame flickering in a gale, liable to be snuffed out at any moment. Fortunately, it was only a single blow. Lu Changsheng halted immediately after striking. Ancestor Liu was drenched from head to toe—entirely in cold sweat. Just moments ago, he had genuinely felt the faint approach of death. *This was just a test! Did he have to go all out like his life depended on it?!* Ancestor Liu could not help but say, "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, this was merely a test. You only needed to display a supreme-level strike." Lu Changsheng nodded. "Did Lu use too much force? But this is already Lu's routine measure." Ancestor Liu: "..." The three supreme Ancestors stared at one another in stunned silence. Only now did they snap back to reality: they had run into a tough customer. In the vast Boundary Sea, supreme Ancestors were indeed fairly numerous, but they were still ranked by strength. The three of them were considered quite capable supreme Ancestors; otherwise, they would not have been chosen as examiners. And yet, what of Lu Changsheng? A casual blow had forced Ancestor Liu to give his all, and he had still nearly failed to withstand it! What else was there to say? Nothing! They could only blame their rotten luck. "Very well, Fellow Daoist Dengtian. You have passed the test," Ancestor Liu said weakly. Though uninjured, being thoroughly overpowered by another naturally left him feeling thoroughly dispirited. "I thank Fellow Daoist for your trouble." Lu Changsheng nodded, then turned and walked away. Ancestor Liu and the other two exchanged bewildered glances. "Where did this fierce dragon cross the river from? Looking at him, this seems to be his first time joining any of the three major factions, and it is highly likely he only recently reached the supreme Ancestor Realm. Yet how can someone newly advanced be this formidable?" "Word has it that he is the current master of the City in the Sky, Ancestor Dengtian Lu Changsheng." "This man is certainly no ordinary figure. Go investigate him..." Curiosity piqued among all three Ancestors, and they promptly dispatched subordinates to look into him. At this moment, Lu Changsheng was unaware that a simple test had shaken three supreme Ancestors to their core. Before long, Lu Changsheng completed the formalities and received an identity medallion. "Fellow Daoist Lu, this medallion grants you entry into the core district of Realm Core City," the attendant explained. "Only supreme Ancestors may enter. Within, one may socialize, trade, and the like, but private combat is strictly prohibited. If an irreconcilable conflict arises, you may take the fight into the Boundary Sea, where the Heaven Realm Association will not interfere. But if hands are raised within Realm Core City, the association will impose severe punishment!" Lu Changsheng nodded. Taking the identity medallion, he walked straight into the core district of Realm Core City. The moment he stepped inside, his eyes lit up. The core district was entirely different from the outer city. Within lay all manner of treasures—even Great Dao fragments were on display. Moreover, every individual present radiated the aura of a supreme Ancestor. Groups of two and three stood together, conversing and discussing various matters. There were also requests for assistance posted about. For instance, seeking powerful experts to join forces and brave the Road to Ascending Heaven. *Wait, the Road to Ascending Heaven?* Lu Changsheng's heart stirred. The Road to Ascending Heaven was truly extraordinary. If one wished to enter the Heaven Realm, the Road to Ascending Heaven was the sole path. Later, however, the road had been severed. Yet even severed, remnants of immortal spirit items might still linger along its path. Consequently, many Ancestor Realm figures sought to brave the Road to Ascending Heaven. The main hurdle was the extreme scarcity of clues. Apart from the Kunwu World, Lu Changsheng had never encountered any trace of the Road to Ascending Heaven in the Boundary Sea. He had not anticipated that within the core district of Realm Core City, information regarding the road would be everywhere. "The Road to Ascending Heaven..." Lu Changsheng walked directly up to a bearded Ancestor. The man had posted a team-recruitment request to explore the Road to Ascending Heaven together. However, the exact location of the road remained confidential, requiring an oath beforehand never to leak the slightest detail. Lu Changsheng did not agree to join. He merely wished to understand the general situation first. Besides this bearded man, many other supreme Ancestors had posted similar recruitment requests, all seeking to explore the Road to Ascending Heaven. *It seems the Road to Ascending Heaven is not rare at all—there might even be many of them?* *Yet even a supreme Ancestor must form a team and dare not explore alone. In other words, the Road to Ascending Heaven is very likely fraught with perilous danger, carrying the risk of death even for supreme Ancestors. Otherwise, these supreme Ancestors would never insist on teaming up.* Lu Changsheng understood the mindset of these mighty experts very well. If there were genuinely good fortune to be had, they would claim it for themselves. Why bother recruiting a team to explore together? Only when one could not manage alone would one think of joining forces. Lu Changsheng continued browsing. He spotted Great Dao fragments—the ultimate hard currency. Essentially every supreme Ancestor walking the Loose Immortal Dao required them. Yet treasures as precious as Great Dao fragments were still put up for trade, meaning what the seller sought must be exceedingly valuable as well. Lu Changsheng walked over to a female Ancestor and examined her terms. "Ten Great Dao fragments in exchange for a single immortal spirit item?" Lu Changsheng was astonished. Were immortal spirit items truly this valuable? That was ten Great Dao fragments! Yet upon careful consideration, it made sense. Immortal spirit items were non-renewable; with every one consumed, one fewer remained in existence. Right now, it cost ten Great Dao fragments; in the future, even a hundred fragments might not buy a single immortal spirit item. At present, the woman had stood there for a long time without drawing any interest. Simply put, no one was willing to make the trade. Naturally, Lu Changsheng would not trade either. He possessed no spare immortal spirit items, and even if he did, he would consume them himself. Why would he ever trade them away? Lu Changsheng wandered the core district for several days, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the place. The core district of Realm Core City was truly a hub for exchange and trade, conducted exclusively among supreme Ancestors. Was it useful? Certainly. But the prerequisite was possessing Great Dao fragments. Because the vast majority of supreme Ancestors in the Boundary Sea cultivated the Loose Immortal Dao, Great Dao fragments served as the hard currency that nearly every supreme Ancestor needed. Transactions between supreme Ancestors were conducted almost entirely using them. Currently, Lu Changsheng carried not a single Great Dao fragment on his person. Even when he laid eyes on fine treasures, he could only look on with envy, unable to purchase them. Previously, Lu Changsheng had hoped to make a name for the City in the Sky within the Heaven Realm Association, drawing supreme Ancestors to his city to trade. Now, it seemed practically impossible. Did the City in the Sky have immortal spirit items or Great Dao fragments to attract supreme Ancestors? Without treasures capable of enticing them, why would supreme Ancestors ever bother traveling to the City in the Sky to trade? Couldn't they simply conduct their business here in Realm Core City? Although Lu Changsheng had bought nothing, he had successfully integrated into the circle of supreme Ancestors. He now understood the next step in a supreme Ancestor's cultivation. It was nothing other than the Immortal Realm! That was the goal of every supreme Ancestor. *I have joined the Heaven Realm Association.* *I also understand the association's nature—it is purely a place for trade.* *Next, it is time to take a look at the Secret Alliance...* A strange glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. The Secret Alliance! In truth, that was what he anticipated most from this journey!