A streak of light flew through the void.
From within it manifested a man dressed in ornate robes with a jade belt.
Immortal light swirled around him, and his countenance bore natural authority without any show of wrath.
"Old ancestor! It's our Yue clan's True Immortal old ancestor!"
"The old ancestor has finally arrived."
"Our Yue clan's old ancestor has been a True Immortal for ages, while the Qi clan's True Immortal has only just ascended. Between the two, who is stronger and who is weaker is plain to see."
"Indeed. Although the Qi clan has also become a True Immortal family, whether in family heritage or their True Immortal old ancestor's might, they fall far short of our Yue clan."
Those Yue clan cultivators who had withdrawn on their own initiative had not actually retreated very far.
They had been waiting for their clan's old ancestor all along.
Now that he had finally arrived, they felt a quiet surge of exhilaration.
Two True Immortals.
A clash between True Immortals was a sight rarely witnessed across countless years—something one could only hope to encounter by sheer fortune.
And now, an immortal battle between two True Immortals was about to erupt!
In contrast to the cheers of the Yue clan, the hearts of the Qi clan sank.
Qi Yutang in particular felt his chest tighten.
As the young master of the Qi clan, he naturally understood the Yue clan, and especially the Yue clan's old ancestor.
Back in the day, this old ancestor had been no gentle soul.
Back in the Ancestor Realm, he had carved out an expansive foundation for the Yue clan—a powerhouse who had walked entirely out of slaughter.
Later, favored by fortune, he had discovered an unclaimed immortal vein and broke through to become a True Immortal.
From then on, the Yue clan became a True Immortal family, their power flourishing with each passing day up to the present.
This True Immortal Yue was said to be aloof, arrogant, and fiercely protective of his own.
Qi Yutang could not help worrying.
After all, Old Ancestor Lu had only recently broken through.
Compared to a veteran True Immortal, there was bound to be a gap.
If their old ancestor were defeated...
Qi Yutang suddenly felt that compared to the old ancestor's safety, this crystal ore vein was no longer so important.
At that moment, up in the void.
The Yue clan's old ancestor swept his gaze over the ground below.
Promptly, his eyes settled upon Lu Changsheng.
"Are you True Immortal Lu?"
The Yue clan old ancestor's voice was frigid.
"I am," Lu Changsheng replied. He seemed completely unbothered by the terrifying aura of the Yue clan's old ancestor.
Instead, as if walking on invisible stairs, he stepped through the air stride by stride until he stood in the void at equal height with the Yue clan's old ancestor.
The two faced each other from a distance in the void.
"This crystal ore vein is mine," Lu Changsheng said calmly.
Since the other party showed no courtesy, Lu Changsheng naturally saw no need to be polite either.
The Yue clan's old ancestor's eyes turned cold.
"What haughty words!"
"I know you ascended to True Immortal in the Blood Marsh Mountain Range."
"They say the Blood Marsh Mountain Range is extraordinary, and anyone who survives it to become a True Immortal is certainly no ordinary True Immortal."
"I would like to test that."
Lu Changsheng spoke no further.
Words were useless now.
Their gazes collided in the void.
It seemed as though an invisible ripple expanded outward in ring after ring in all directions.
A clash between True Immortals was also called an immortal battle.
This was not actually the first time Lu Changsheng had faced a True Immortal.
However, the previous time had been in the Boundary Sea, where Lu Changsheng had been no match at all for a True Immortal.
Now, things were different.
Both were True Immortals.
Lu Changsheng could finally confront a True Immortal head-on.
*Boom!*
The Yue clan's old ancestor made his move.
He threw a punch, and the void seemed to warp.
The horrifying force of the fist seemed capable of shattering the entire Jiayan Mountain Range in one blow.
This was precisely why True Immortals generally fought in the void.
If they fought on the ground, the destruction would be catastrophic.
Perhaps even the crystal ore vein would be blown to pieces, leaving neither side with anything.
Lu Changsheng's expression remained tranquil.
He reached out with a hand and flipped it lightly.
*Rumble!*
It felt as if heaven and earth were truly being overturned.
Heaven-Overturning Seal!
Lu Changsheng unleashed the Heaven-Overturning Seal, its might elevated to the True Immortal level.
Moreover, it was driven by an immortal body that united three Immortal Daos.
How terrifying was its power?
With just this single palm strike, the Yue clan True Immortal's fist force was effortlessly crushed. The horrifying momentum continued downward, slamming directly toward the Yue clan True Immortal's body.
If such a devastating palm struck him, it would undoubtedly grind him into powder.
"What?!"
Everyone below could hardly believe their eyes.
What were they seeing?
One move!
In just a single move, the Yue clan old ancestor had been forced into a disadvantage!
This stood in stark contrast to his earlier aggressive arrival.
Wasn't the Yue clan old ancestor a veteran True Immortal?
How could he fall into a disadvantage in a single exchange?
Jaws dropped, yet no one dared utter a word.
The next instant, Lu Changsheng's Heaven-Overturning Seal finally crashed against the Yue clan True Immortal.
*Dong—*
The toll of a great bell rang out.
At some point, the phantasmal silhouette of a massive bell had appeared around the Yue clan old ancestor.
The bell radiated a golden light, completely enveloping him.
When Lu Changsheng's Heaven-Overturning Seal struck the golden bell, it sent ripples spreading across its surface.
Then, the bell remained unharmed.
The Yue clan old ancestor also remained unharmed.
"An immortal treasure!"
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had nearly forgotten.
True Immortals possessed immortal treasures.
In fact, Lu Changsheng possessed one as well.
However, his underwater manor seemed weaker compared to this bell.
The underwater manor had merely been forged by Liu Yun, a Mortal Immortal in the Boundary Sea.
Even if it had taken a long time and used precious materials, Mortal Immortal Liu Yun had only been in the lower realm's immortal stage, not a genuine True Immortal. How could it compare to an immortal treasure from the Heaven Realm?
This immortal treasure was clearly extraordinary.
It enclosed the Yue clan old ancestor completely, seamless and without a single flaw.
It was most likely a defensive immortal treasure of great power.
Otherwise, it could never have blocked Lu Changsheng's Heaven-Overturning Seal driven by his three-in-one immortal body.
"Well done, True Immortal Lu!"
"Worthy of one who ascended in the Blood Marsh Mountain Range—remarkable indeed."
"Sword, come!"
The Yue clan old ancestor was a swordsman.
Lu Changsheng had known this all along.
Earlier, the Yue clan old ancestor had been overconfident and had not used his sword.
Now that he knew Lu Changsheng's strength, he would no longer underestimate him.
He would go all out!
"Absolute Heaven Sword Array!"
With a wave of the Yue clan old ancestor's sleeve, immortal swords filled the sky.
One sword, two swords, three swords...
Lu Changsheng watched as sword after sword appeared.
In the end, they became countless—every one an immortal sword.
This was no longer just a collection of swords.
This was a rain of swords!
*Swish, swish, swish!*
The sword rain poured down.
It blanketed heaven and earth, leaving nowhere to evade.
Yet Lu Changsheng knew it was not that simple.
This was not merely swordsmanship; it was a sword array.
Each immortal sword was arranged according to an array formation.
Once it descended, its might would multiply severalfold or even tenfold!
This was a true method of a True Immortal!
No True Immortal was simple.
Let alone a veteran True Immortal like the Yue clan's old ancestor, who possessed an unknown number of trump cards.
Facing the dense shower of immortal swords, Lu Changsheng had nowhere to hide.
In that case, he would not hide.
"Divine Eye, open!"
On Lu Changsheng's forehead, a vertical eye abruptly manifested.
This was the Annihilation Divine Eye!
*Buzz.*
The divine eye opened.
A beam of light shot toward the sky, instantly enveloping an area of several hundred zhang.
This was the Light of Annihilation.
Any immortal sword caught in the Light of Annihilation vanished as if erased by an invisible force, disintegrating completely into powder.
"What?!"
Witnessing this, even the usually confident Yue clan old ancestor could no longer maintain his composure.
This set of sword arrays was an immortal treasure he had nurtured for countless years.
Yet it was shattered in a single blow?
"A divine ability?"
"No, it's not a divine ability. There is no aura of a Dao Fruit; this is one of his standard techniques."
"And if a standard technique can shatter my sword array, even with an immortal treasure protecting me, I would likely struggle to withstand it."
"Unless I deploy a divine ability. But once divine abilities are unleashed, it becomes a fight to the death..."
Thinking of this, the Yue clan old ancestor took a sharp step backward.
This retreat already signaled his attitude.
Lu Changsheng also closed the Annihilation Divine Eye. Standing with hands clasped behind his back, he watched the Yue clan old ancestor quietly.
"Impressive methods, Fellow Daoist Lu. This crystal ore vein belongs to you!"
Having said that, the Yue clan old ancestor turned and left without looking back.
After all, uttering those words was already an admission of defeat.
Of course, he had not yet used a divine ability.
Yet everyone knew that once True Immortals clashed using divine abilities, it was a fight to the death.
Unless necessary, no one would use divine abilities casually.
Moreover, a single crystal ore vein was hardly worth risking a True Immortal's life over.
Leaving was the best choice.
Still, the outcome of the battle between Lu Changsheng and the Yue clan old ancestor left everyone stunned.
Below, the members of the Qi clan and the Yue clan had witnessed this immortal battle with their own eyes.
For a time, they were utterly dumbfounded.
"The old ancestor left?"
"This... How could the old ancestor have lost?"
"Is that True Immortal of the Qi clan really that terrifying? In terms of standard True Immortal techniques, the old ancestor was indeed defeated..."
"The Qi clan has truly produced an incredible True Immortal..."
Although the Yue clan members found it hard to believe, the truth lay before their eyes.
With even their old ancestor gone, remaining here was pointless.
Thus, the Yue clan cultivators all withdrew.
With that, the crystal ore vein of the Jiayan Mountain Range truly belonged to the Qi clan.
Naturally, the Qi clan broke into triumphant cheers.
They cheered not only for securing the crystal ore vein.
What excited them even more was Old Ancestor Lu's strength.
Having just ascended to True Immortal, he could already defeat a veteran True Immortal.
As long as Lu Changsheng was present, the Qi clan was guaranteed glory for an entire epoch of one hundred and twenty thousand years.
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng descended in front of Qi Yutang.
"Have the Qi clan begin mining the crystal ore vein as quickly as possible. Once mined, do not sell the crystal ores; deliver them all to me."
"These crystal ores are critical to my cultivation."
"If possible, you may also continuously purchase crystal ores from elsewhere."
"In short, maintain an uninterrupted purchase of crystal ores."
Lu Changsheng instructed with a grave tone.
Seeing Lu Changsheng so solemn, Qi Yutang understood immediately.
This concerned Lu Changsheng's cultivation at the True Immortal stage, so there was no room for carelessness.
"Understood, Old Ancestor."
Lu Changsheng was quite reassured by how the Qi clan handled matters.
As long as he gave an order, the Qi clan would do their utmost to execute it properly.
"Good."
"I leave the rest to the Qi clan. How to purchase large amounts of crystal ores at low prices, or even buy crystal ore veins directly, is your responsibility. I only want the crystal ores!"
With that, Lu Changsheng transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon.
"Crystal ores?"
"So the old ancestor needs crystal ores for his cultivation, and in massive quantities at that. Even this single large crystal ore vein might not be enough..."
Qi Yutang naturally understood the gravity of the matter.
He still needed to return and confer with Qi Guangmao.
Figuring out how to provide Old Ancestor Lu with a continuous stream of crystal ores without disrupting the Qi clan's overall operations was their foremost priority.
Lu Changsheng had not felt fully satisfied by his battle with the Yue clan old ancestor.
In truth, he had hoped to clash with divine abilities.
Yet he also knew that once divine abilities were used, it would be a fight to the death.
Confident though he was, he had no reason to fight a True Immortal to the death over nothing.
While Lu Changsheng felt underwhelmed, for the Qi clan, it was a massive victory.
Qi Yutang and his father spread the news immediately.
After all, this was the moment to build Lu Changsheng's renown and solidify the Qi clan's status.
Sure enough, as the news spread, all of Lu City was shaken.
"What? An immortal battle erupted between the Qi clan's Old Ancestor Lu and the Yue clan's old ancestor?"
"It's absolutely true. They say Old Ancestor Lu won."
"The news came from the Qi clan, but the Yue clan hasn't denied it. It is most likely true."
"Old Ancestor Lu has only just become a True Immortal, yet he could defeat the Yue clan's old ancestor! What fearsome power!"
"He returned alive from the Blood Marsh Mountain Range and claimed an immortal vein to ascend—how could he be an ordinary True Immortal?"
"Now, the Qi clan's status as a True Immortal family is thoroughly cemented..."
This immortal battle made various factions across Lu City realize that Lu Changsheng was no ordinary True Immortal, but a formidable powerhouse comparable to veteran True Immortals.
As for the Qi clan, their standing became rock-solid, and their business dealings proceeded without hindrance.
Compared to the commotion outside, Lu Changsheng remained completely calm in his quiet meditation room.
He felt little emotion regarding the battle with the Yue clan's old ancestor.
He did not feel particularly excited or thrilled.
After all, his immortal body combined three Immortal Daos into one.
The strength of his immortal body alone exceeded that of most True Immortals.
Defeating a Yue clan old ancestor was nothing extraordinary.
The crucial point was that a True Immortal's divine ability was their strongest method.
Yet Lu Changsheng had not witnessed any True Immortal divine abilities this time.
In fact, even the True Immortal he had encountered back in the Boundary Sea had not deployed a divine ability.
Otherwise, perhaps both he and the Giant Axe Immortal would have died long ago.
Thinking of the Giant Axe Immortal, Lu Changsheng had actually instructed the Qi clan to discreetly inquire about him.
After all, both he and the Giant Axe Immortal had ascended from the Boundary Sea to the Heaven Realm together, but he did not know where the Giant Axe Immortal had ended up.
If they could find each other, they could exchange experiences.
Unfortunately, up until now, there had been no news of the Giant Axe Immortal.
Before Lu Changsheng lay a mountain of crystal stones.
These had not been mined from the Qi clan's crystal ore vein; mining could not happen that quickly.
These were crystals purchased by the Qi clan within Lu City.
Since crystal stones were very common, acquiring them was no trouble for the Qi clan.
This was the advantage of being "cheap."
A steady, massive supply of crystal stones could be acquired to fuel Lu Changsheng's cultivation.
However, Lu Changsheng currently could not cultivate yet.
He had not yet created his immortal art.
Still, he had already determined the foundation of the immortal art: it would take crystal stones as its basis.
All that remained was to create the immortal art himself.
On this point, Lu Changsheng was quite confident.
With his analytical ability and comprehension, would creating an immortal art suited to himself be difficult?
What was more, he had fourteen immortal arts to serve as reference.
Thus, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer and began his closed-door seclusion to create the immortal art.
Lu Changsheng's approach to creating the immortal art differed from the fourteen existing arts.
He had decrypted the secret of immortal arts—or rather, the secret of physical immortality.
The physical body's immortal characteristic came from fusing immortal substance, thereby gradually rendering the flesh immortal.
Therefore, the primary objective of an immortal art was not to temper the physical body.
Rather, it had to refine crystal stones, extract the immortal substance from within them, and then fuse it with the physical body.
That was the purpose of the immortal art.
Refining crystal stones to obtain immortal substance.
Fusing the immortal substance into the physical body.
These were two steps.
The immortal art Lu Changsheng needed had to possess both functions.
With a clear objective, Lu Changsheng set about creating the art.
With his comprehension that was Peerless Through the Ages, creating an art was no pipe dream; it was an eminently practical task.
Days passed one by one.
In just one year, Lu Changsheng drafted a preliminary immortal art.
He tested it briefly: it could refine crystal stones, extract immortal substance, and even fuse it into his physical body.
However, the efficiency was far too low.
This clearly did not satisfy Lu Changsheng.
Yet this was merely one immortal art.
Lu Changsheng continued, creating a second art, a third, a fourth, a fifth...
Over ten years, Lu Changsheng created eighteen immortal arts.
Such efficiency was astonishing.
Of course, these could be regarded as eighteen versions of the immortal art.
They were all more or less related, each with its own emphasis.
For example, some arts were highly efficient at refining crystal stones, while others were highly efficient at fusing immortal substance.
That did not matter; the reason Lu Changsheng created so many was to optimize and refine them.
Thus, Lu Changsheng spent another three years adjusting and optimizing these eighteen immortal arts one by one, ultimately merging them into one to thoroughly forge an immortal art that satisfied him.
"It is finally complete!"
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
A full thirteen years had passed before he created this single art.
Although it had taken considerable time, Lu Changsheng was very pleased.
As the saying went, sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutter.
With an excellent immortal art, his future cultivation would proceed smoothly.
"This immortal art shall be called the Immortal Crystal Stone Immortal Art!"
The name was simple and apt.
Yet this immortal art was truly extraordinary.
In particular, its efficiency—the aspect Lu Changsheng valued most—had reached the peak of perfection.
"I wonder what tier my Immortal Crystal Stone Immortal Art ranks among immortal arts?"
"A superior immortal art?"
"Or perhaps even a top-tier immortal art?"
Lu Changsheng mused thoughtfully.
Regardless, it suited him perfectly, and that was enough.
Lu Changsheng immediately called up his attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 16,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages)
Mortal Dao Fruit: 1% (Illusory Realm divine ability)
Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit: 1% (Devour Spirit divine ability)
Flesh Dao Fruit: 1% (Mighty Power divine ability)
Immortal Crystal Stone Immortal Art: Perfection
Annihilation Divine Eye: True Immortal level
Slaughter Dao: Nine Revolutions
Comprehension Deduction: Deductions can be performed by consuming large amounts of comprehension
Because Lu Changsheng had created the Immortal Crystal Stone Immortal Art himself, it immediately reached Perfection.
The efficiency of this immortal art was pushed to the maximum.
Lu Changsheng began to test it.
He picked up a crystal stone and refined it directly.
Before long, the crystal stone was completely refined.
Lu Changsheng could clearly feel a very faint, almost negligible trace of power fusing into his flesh.
This nearly negligible power was, in fact, immortal substance.
Everything flowed naturally, without the slightest obstruction.
"It works!"
Lu Changsheng smiled.
This was true success.
Then came a second crystal, a third, a fourth...
One crystal stone after another was refined by Lu Changsheng.
The more he refined, the more immortal substance he accumulated, and naturally the more fused into his flesh.
As for how much immortal substance was required before the physical body acquired the immortal characteristic, Lu Changsheng had no way to estimate precisely.
However, it would certainly require a prolonged period—definitely not an achievement attainable in mere years or decades.
Perhaps it would take over a century.
Of course, if a body could acquire the immortal characteristic in just a century, that efficiency would be extraordinarily high, and the cultivation speed remarkably swift.
Even superior immortal arts could never achieve such speed.
Perhaps only top-tier immortal arts could match it.
Lu Changsheng's art did not rely on rare, precious treasures.
It triumphed through sheer volume.
He would take as many crystal stones as were available, thereby accumulating a vast amount of immortal substance.
Lu Changsheng left his meditation room.
Since creating the Immortal Crystal Stone Immortal Art, the rate at which crystal stones were acquired could no longer keep pace with his consumption.
Even though the Qi clan had been striving hard to purchase them, the volume Lu Changsheng required was simply too enormous.
They could not keep up at all.
Yet Lu Changsheng did not reproach them.
The quantity of crystals he needed was indeed immense; accumulating a larger supply before refining them made no difference.
Lu Changsheng sought out Qi Guangmao, also taking the opportunity to learn about the Qi clan's recent developments.
Everything in the Qi clan was progressing smoothly.
Their power was steadily expanding, and their businesses were flourishing day by day.
"By the way, Old Ancestor, there is finally news regarding the Great Dao fragments you asked us to watch out for."
"Great Dao fragments can be purchased, but with our Qi clan's current financial strength, we can buy at most about ten pieces each year."
"If we buy more, it will impact the normal operation of our businesses," Qi Guangmao said cautiously.
The Qi clan had too many expenses now.
Most of their funds went toward purchasing crystal stones.
Now Great Dao fragments had to be added to the tally.
One could say the Qi clan was going all out to support Lu Changsheng's cultivation.
Qi Guangmao finally understood why many True Immortals either joined major factions or insisted on cultivating and backing factions of their own.
The reason was simple: cultivating as a True Immortal consumed astronomical amounts of resources.
Providing for a True Immortal was no easy feat; in fact, it was extraordinarily difficult.
However, Qi Guangmao was not complaining—he was merely stating a fact.
Furthermore, he was well aware that while supporting a True Immortal was hard, had the Qi clan not supported Old Ancestor Lu, how could they have attained their current standing?
"Ten Great Dao fragments a year?"
"Very good, that is enough."
Lu Changsheng nodded upon hearing this.
His comprehension had not increased in a long time.
Now that Great Dao fragments had been found, his comprehension could steadily climb once more.
Ten pieces a year should provide no less than one million comprehension points annually.
That was quite respectable.
"Qi Guangmao, what are your thoughts on a Dao field?"
"Do you think it is necessary for me to establish a Dao field?" Lu Changsheng suddenly asked.
Although he was the Qi clan's old ancestor and the pillar of the clan, capable of deciding matters with a single word, establishing a Dao field was closely tied to the Qi clan's interests—and even to its fate.
Lu Changsheng naturally had to take the Qi clan's views into account.
Chapter 386