Ascending to Heavenly Immortal, Physical Immortality, Life as Long as the Heavens!

Just as Lu Changsheng was racing against time, seizing every moment to cultivate and strive for early physical immortality, two figures suddenly appeared in the void a thousand li from the Changsheng Dao Field, gazing toward it from afar. "Is that the Changsheng Dao Field?" one of the immortals spoke slowly. "Yes, that is the Changsheng Dao Field." "It is said that a newly risen Changsheng True Immortal named Lu Changsheng resides there. He possesses formidable strength and has even condensed three Dao Fruits. With such extraordinary talent, he stands a very high chance of ascending to Heavenly Immortal in the future." The other immortal adopted an extremely humble attitude, treating the figure beside him as someone of immense status. "Heavenly Immortal..." The mysterious immortal wore a profound smile. Ordinary True Immortals had no inkling of what "Heavenly Immortal" truly meant. Once one achieved the realm of Heavenly Immortal, one actually lost the carefree freedom enjoyed by True Immortals. "According to the rules, so long as a True Immortal does not take the initiative to provoke a Heavenly Immortal, a Heavenly Immortal may not act against them. "Who could have imagined that upon becoming a Heavenly Immortal, one's hands and feet would be bound..." The mysterious immortal's expression shifted uncertainly. Once upon a time, he too had believed that becoming a Heavenly Immortal—an aloof, exalted Immortal Monarch—would grant him free rein to roam the boundless Heaven Realm as he pleased. Alas, only after truly achieving that realm did one come to understand its reality. Within the Heaven Realm, there were rules governing Immortal Monarchs. The rule consisted of just a single line: so long as a True Immortal did not take the initiative to provoke a Heavenly Immortal, the Heavenly Immortal was forbidden from acting against them. Just that one line. It seemed riddled with loopholes, appearing as though there were countless ways to circumvent it. Yet no Heavenly Immortal dared to try. None dared to play clever tricks. For this was a rule jointly established by the Dao Ancestors. Who would dare defy them? The Dao Ancestors could reverse time itself. Any petty schemes to bypass the rule were utterly futile. Violating the rule meant offending the Dao Ancestors, whose majesty was inviolable. Every Immortal Monarch or even Golden Immortal Venerable who had ever tested it had perished. "Immortal Monarch Lieyang, are you truly going to the Changsheng Dao Field?" the other immortal could not help asking. Addressing the figure as "Immortal Monarch" made it clear: this mysterious immortal was indeed a Heavenly Immortal—an Immortal Monarch! "Yes, I must pay a visit to meet this Lu Changsheng. After all, my descendants are facing their physical tribulations. If he truly obtained Eight Treasures Great Immortal's blood of the You clan, everything can be negotiated. Besides, this trip of mine is merely for discussion..." With that, Immortal Monarch Lieyang took a step forward. Instantly transforming into a streak of flowing light, he flew toward the Changsheng Dao Field. Outside the Changsheng Dao Field, two streaks of light materialized in the void. One of the immortals called out in a ringing voice, "Immortal Monarch Lieyang comes to visit Changsheng True Immortal!" The voice echoed into the Changsheng Dao Field. *Boom!* Countless individuals heard it, minds roaring as if struck by thunder. What had they just heard? An Immortal Monarch! An Immortal Monarch had come to visit Changsheng True Immortal. How could that be? An Immortal Monarch! Everyone knew what that title signified. Only a Heavenly Immortal was addressed as an Immortal Monarch. In other words, a Heavenly Immortal had come to visit Lu Changsheng. A Heavenly Immortal reigned supreme, towering over all True Immortals and Great Immortals. Although many had heard rumors of this faction or that clan possessing a Heavenly Immortal, how many had ever laid eyes on one? Practically none. They had heard countless legends of Heavenly Immortals, but had never witnessed one in person. Yet now, an actual Immortal Monarch stood before them—Immortal Monarch Lieyang! Since they dared proclaim the title of Immortal Monarch openly, it could not possibly be false. This was a true Immortal Monarch! "Why would an Immortal Monarch visit Changsheng True Immortal?" "No idea. Immortal Monarchs are aloof and distant, rarely seen by anyone. Why would one appear publicly now?" "What could an Immortal Monarch possibly want?" Some even began to suspect that Immortal Monarch Lieyang had arrived with ill intent. "Hmm? An Immortal Monarch?" Deep within the Changsheng Dao Field, Lu Changsheng, who was meditating in seclusion, also sensed the anomaly and withdrew from his cultivation state. He could not ignore a Heavenly Immortal. "Please welcome Immortal Monarch Lieyang," Lu Changsheng's voice resonated through the entire Dao field. A passage opened through the field's protective perimeter. Without hesitation, Immortal Monarch Lieyang led the True Immortal behind him and flew directly inside. "Hmm? This Changsheng Dao Field... That immortal treasure... An immortal treasure at the Heavenly Immortal tier?" Immortal Monarch Lieyang, who had appeared calm and composed as though everything lay within his grasp, underwent a subtle change in expression the moment he crossed into the Changsheng Dao Field. An immortal treasure! More precisely, the Dragon-Suppressing Pillar exerted a tangible pressure upon him. Evidently, the Dragon-Suppressing Pillar was no ordinary treasure. A Dao field established around it, combined with Lu Changsheng's three Dao Fruits, rendered the Changsheng Dao Field exceptionally potent—so potent that it exceeded the bounds of the True Immortal realm. Even a distinguished Heavenly Immortal like Lieyang felt a flicker of wariness. In fact, a tinge of regret stirred within him. He should not have stepped so casually into Lu Changsheng's Dao field. Trespassing into another's Dao field was fundamentally a grave taboo. It was only because Lu Changsheng was merely a True Immortal that Lieyang had lowered his guard. Now, however, he could not relax in the slightest. Still, having come this far, he could only fly toward the Dao field's grand hall. Before long, Immortal Monarch Lieyang arrived. Only one person sat high upon the main seat, remaining seated without rising to greet him. "Insolence!" the True Immortal beside Lieyang barked, face flushed with fury. "How dare you behave with such disrespect before my monarch?" Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed Immortal Monarch Lieyang had not come with good intentions after all. Lieyang had taken the initiative to visit, yet allowed his subordinate to utter such words. What was this? An attempt to intimidate him, or to seize the upper hand? However, this was the Changsheng Dao Field—Lu Changsheng's domain. "Suppress." Lu Changsheng did not bother with pleasantries. With a single thought, the full might of the Changsheng Dao Field converged instantly upon the True Immortal beside Lieyang. *Boom!* A terrifying force surged from every direction, crashing down upon the True Immortal. The pressure was overwhelming—far beyond what an ordinary True Immortal could withstand. Only then did fear grip him. Only then did he realize that this was the Changsheng Dao Field, Lu Changsheng's territory. Even with Immortal Monarch Lieyang standing beside him, if they truly came to blows, Lu Changsheng could snuff him out with ease. "Why must Fellow Daoist be so quick to anger?" Immortal Monarch Lieyang smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, the pressure on the True Immortal vanished. Yet the pressure had not truly dissipated; rather, it had all shifted onto Immortal Monarch Lieyang. In that instant, Lu Changsheng and Immortal Monarch Lieyang clashed invisibly. Lu Changsheng channeled the power of his entire Dao field, while Immortal Monarch Lieyang relied solely on his own strength. But the latter was a Heavenly Immortal. It was a confrontation between a Heavenly Immortal and the Changsheng Dao Field. Naturally, this was not an all-out battle, but merely an exchange of pressure. Neither side exerted their full might. Lu Changsheng felt the combined might of his entire Dao field, yet it seemed unable to completely suppress Immortal Monarch Lieyang. At the same time, Lieyang felt waves of power crashing over him like an unrelenting sea. Even as a Heavenly Immortal, he found it somewhat strenuous to endure. Lieyang was filled with inward astonishment. Was this truly the Dao field of a True Immortal? His earlier premonition had been correct: this Dao field was terrifying. In a true life-and-death struggle within the Dao field, he might genuinely risk falling. "Fellow Daoist Lu, this monarch has come with sincere intentions of paying a visit," Immortal Monarch Lieyang spoke, instantly easing the tension. Lu Changsheng knew that fighting within the Dao field offered no guarantee of victory, while the Dao field itself would be ruined. Thus, he drew back his power. Still, had Immortal Monarch Lieyang truly come just to visit? Lu Changsheng found that hard to believe. How exalted was the status of a Heavenly Immortal? To visit a mere True Immortal? No one would believe such a claim. Yet Lu Changsheng did not pursue the matter, asking placidly, "May I ask what brings Immortal Monarch Lieyang here?" Immortal Monarch Lieyang smiled. "It is nothing major. I heard that Fellow Daoist rescued a True Immortal and obtained various treasures belonging to Eight Treasures Great Immortal. This monarch has come solely to request Eight Treasures Great Immortal's blood of the You clan. For this matter alone, I ask that Fellow Daoist part with it." Lu Changsheng's eyes contracted sharply. The other party actually knew about the blood of the You clan? Considering his identity, however, it seemed only natural. He was a Heavenly Immortal, after all. Would it be difficult for such a figure to know that Eight Treasures Great Immortal possessed the blood of the You clan? Lieyang must certainly know its effects as well; otherwise, he would not have made a dedicated trip to demand it. Yet a Heavenly Immortal had already achieved physical immortality. What use did he have for the blood of the You clan? Lu Changsheng did not answer directly, inquiring instead, "Surely the blood of the You clan is of no use to the Immortal Monarch?" Immortal Monarch Lieyang made no attempt to conceal it and nodded. "The blood of the You clan is indeed useless to this monarch, but there are True Immortals beneath my banner who cannot become Heavenly Immortals yet wish to survive. For them, it is of great use. Since Fellow Daoist asks, you must already know its effects. How much of Eight Treasures Great Immortal's blood of the You clan remains?" Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes. "One drop!" Without wasting words, Lu Changsheng summoned the Giant Axe Immortal and had him produce the porcelain bottle containing the blood of the You clan before them. There was truly only a single drop left. A single drop was practically useless. As for whether Lu Changsheng was lying, that was impossible. Immortal Monarch Lieyang was naturally capable of discerning the truth. Precisely because he knew Lu Changsheng was not lying, Lieyang felt deep regret. This trip had been in vain. "Immortal Monarch, have you been to the battlefield beyond the heavens?" Lu Changsheng suddenly asked. "Hmm? You actually know of the battlefield beyond the heavens? Well, since you obtained Eight Treasures Great Immortal's blood of the You clan, it is hardly surprising. Yes, this monarch has been there." Immortal Monarch Lieyang nodded, candidly admitting it. "Since the Immortal Monarch has been to the battlefield beyond the heavens, where the You clan abounds, is it truly so difficult to obtain their blood?" Lu Changsheng asked. This genuinely puzzled him. The blood came from the You clan, and Heavenly Immortals battled them on that distant battlefield. Obtaining their blood ought to be simple. Why go out of his way to travel all the way to this Dao field just to demand it? Immortal Monarch Lieyang glanced at him. It appeared Lu Changsheng truly was unaware. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you are not a Heavenly Immortal and have never been to the battlefield beyond the heavens, so it is only natural you know little of the You clan. They are formidable—stronger even than our Immortal clan. Their numbers are not particularly large, but they command many strange life-forms, each serving different functions. "We speak of fighting the You clan on the battlefield beyond the heavens, but in truth, we are battling the life-forms under their command. The true You clan members rarely enter the fray themselves, to say nothing of slaying them to harvest their blood." Hearing this, Lu Changsheng came to a sudden realization. The blood of the You clan was exceedingly rare and difficult to acquire. On second thought, it made sense. If the blood were easy to obtain, wouldn't every True Immortal in the Heaven Realm be able to survive their physical tribulations? There would have been no need for them to vie tirelessly over the blood in Eight Treasures Great Immortal's possession. It was precisely because of its rarity that they competed so fiercely for it—so much so that an Immortal Monarch had come in person. However, with only one drop remaining, Lu Changsheng had no intention of giving it away. A heavy silence settled between them, though the earlier tension had dissipated. A single drop of blood was virtually equivalent to having none at all. With nothing left to contend over, the atmosphere naturally relaxed. "Since there is no blood of the You clan, this monarch shall take his leave." Immortal Monarch Lieyang rose and departed. *Whoosh.* The two soon exited the Changsheng Dao Field. "Phew..." Only after fully leaving the Changsheng Dao Field did Immortal Monarch Lieyang let out a breath of relief. Inside, he had felt stifled and distinctly uncomfortable. "Monarch, why were you so courteous to a mere True Immortal? Even with a Dao field, a mere True Immortal's Dao field..." the True Immortal beside him could not help asking. He knew his master's temperament well; when had he ever treated a True Immortal with such deference? It was abnormal! "Hmph, do you think Lu Changsheng is an ordinary True Immortal? In that Changsheng Dao Field of his, even if a Heavenly Immortal entered and fought to the death, they would lose a layer of skin even if they survived. He has established his Dao field, his momentum is fully realized, and he has condensed three Dao Fruits. Ascending to Heavenly Immortal is only a matter of time. In the future, never make an enemy of him. Remember this well." Immortal Monarch Lieyang issued a somber warning. The True Immortal's heart chilled. If even an Immortal Monarch warned against antagonizing him, it was certainly no exaggeration. For Lu Changsheng to evoke such wariness from his master was truly astonishing. Without further delay, the two streaked into the horizon, vanishing from sight. Within the grand hall of the Changsheng Dao Field, Lu Changsheng's gaze was profound. "Immortal Monarch..." he murmured softly. This had been his first time meeting a Heavenly Immortal. Even on his absolute home ground, the Changsheng Dao Field, he had lacked absolute confidence in detaining Immortal Monarch Lieyang. It had to be said that Heavenly Immortals truly stood above True Immortals. Even a Great Immortal entering his Dao field would be at his mercy, but a Heavenly Immortal was different. The reason Immortal Monarch Lieyang had dared enter was his confidence that he could break through the Dao field by his own power. Yet Lieyang had likely been unaware of just how extraordinary the Dao field was, bolstered by an exceptional immortal treasure and three Dao Fruits. Seeing that he held no certain advantage, Lieyang had chosen to leave. That had been only one Immortal Monarch. What if there were two, or even three? Of course, Heavenly Immortals had no reason to fixate on Lu Changsheng, especially with only a single drop of the blood of the You clan left. That blood was the only thing capable of drawing their interest. "Blood of the You clan..." Lu Changsheng had spent time analyzing the blood recently. It was indeed marvelous, yet even after deciphering it completely, it offered him no real aid. Nevertheless, Immortal Monarch Lieyang's visit had not been entirely without benefit. At least Lu Changsheng had gained a deeper understanding of the battlefield beyond the heavens. It truly existed, and it was indeed pitched against the You clan. Yet it differed from what Lu Changsheng had imagined: the immortals did not clash directly with the You clan, but with the various life-forms under their control, while the You clan remained behind the lines like commanders. Moreover, judging from Lieyang's tone, the Immortal clan appeared to be at a disadvantage, and the situation was far from optimistic. Of course, that had nothing to do with Lu Changsheng for now. Dao Ancestors presided over that distant battlefield; there was no need for others to worry. Lu Changsheng continued refining crystal stones to cultivate, steadily enhancing his body's immortal characteristics. As the days slipped by, he settled back into tranquil practice. No one came to disturb him during the time that followed. He delegated all mundane affairs to the Giant Axe Immortal, True Immortal Canglan, and the others, allowing himself rare, uninterrupted seclusion. One year, three years, five years, eight years, ten years... Cultivation knew no passage of time, and in the blink of an eye, twenty years slipped by. Lu Changsheng had never remained in seclusion for so long. Yet twenty years was utterly negligible to True Immortals who lived for hundreds of thousands of years, whose casual seclusions often spanned centuries or millennia. But Lu Changsheng required no such length of time. Twenty years of unbroken cultivation had already brought his physical immortal characteristics to full fruition. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. He immediately brought up his attribute panel to inspect his status: **Host:** Lu Changsheng **Comprehension:** 53,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) **Mortal Dao Fruit:** 36% (Illusory Realm divine ability) **Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit:** 42% (Devour Spirit divine ability) **Flesh and Blood Dao Fruit:** 6% (Mighty Power divine ability) **Physical Immortal Characteristic:** 99% **Annihilation Divine Eye:** True Immortal level **Slaughter Dao:** Ninth Revolution **Comprehension Deduction:** Can consume large amounts of comprehension to deduce On the attribute panel, his comprehension had grown steadily, now surpassing fifty-three million points and drawing closer to the hundred-million mark. Then there was the Mortal Dao Fruit. Refining crystal stones did not occupy all his time; during the remainder, he cultivated the Illusory Realm divine ability. Day after day, year after year, advancing by one percent each year, twenty years had yielded a twenty-percent gain, bringing it to thirty-six percent. The power of the Illusory Realm divine ability had soared, giving him the distinct sensation that he could now contest with a Heavenly Immortal—though whether that sensation was an illusion remained to be seen. The most dramatic change lay in his physical immortal characteristic, which had reached ninety-nine percent progress. In truth, it had arrived at ninety-nine percent some time ago, seemingly pausing there. Yet Lu Changsheng knew this was no stagnation, but the calm before a metamorphosis. Once the progress reached one hundred percent, his body would attain physical immortality—granting him life as long as the heavens and elevating him to Heavenly Immortal! He could feel that this moment was close at hand. Lu Changsheng resumed refining crystal stones, one after another, without pause. After an unknown span of time, as he finished refining another crystal stone, a sudden roar echoed within his body. A wondrous sensation welled up from deep within. His physical form seemed to be undergoing a transformation. Yes, a metamorphosis! His flesh was undergoing a violent transformation, evolving wildly from the inside out. His body had already possessed abundant immortal characteristics, but now they were fusing with his flesh in an extraordinary manner. It was an indescribably miraculous feeling. Lu Changsheng ceased refining stones and quietly observed the changes within his flesh. *Boom!* After who knew how long, he felt the final trace of metamorphosis complete. *Boom!* Tremors rocked his body violently. Simultaneously, the three Dao Fruits within him began to tremble with intense fervor, with the Flesh and Blood Dao Fruit and the Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit shaking the most vigorously. The three Dao Fruits even manifested outwardly, causing the entire Dao field to quake in resonance. Yet Lu Changsheng felt no panic. A stroke of divine insight told him exactly what was occurring. Transformation! He was metamorphosing from a True Immortal into a Heavenly Immortal! Ascending to Heavenly Immortal was simply this natural and inevitable: once the physical body became immortal, one became a Heavenly Immortal. A vast sea of immortal spirit qi surged furiously into his body, while the three Dao Fruits underwent subtle, profound alterations. The commotion was immense, clearly felt throughout the entire Dao field. True Immortal Canglan, the Giant Axe Immortal, and the other True Immortals sensed it even more keenly than the rest. In particular, the pressure exerted by the Dao field surged exponentially, striking profound awe into their hearts despite their immortal status. "What is happening? The pressure of the Dao field suddenly multiplied manifold... I can even feel a tremor of dread deep within my heart." "This aura... It is terrifying. Just like when Immortal Monarch Lieyang visited the Dao field that day. No, it is even more terrifying than Immortal Monarch Lieyang's aura!" "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Lu has ascended to Heavenly Immortal?" "How many years has it been..." Several immortals widened their eyes in realization. They had guessed it. A Heavenly Immortal! Only an ascension to Heavenly Immortal could cause such monumental upheaval across the Dao field. That was a Heavenly Immortal—a legendary existence! Many had only heard tales of them without ever seeing one in person, let alone witnessing a True Immortal ascend to Heavenly Immortal with their own eyes. Yet everyone knew that if anyone stood the greatest chance of becoming a Heavenly Immortal, it was unquestionably Lu Changsheng. If someone who had condensed three Dao Fruits could not ascend, who else could? Everyone across the Dao field beheld three massive Dao Fruits hanging in the void. Those were Lu Changsheng's Dao Fruits, each exuding a terrifying aura. The Flesh and Blood Dao Fruit in particular seemed to be undergoing an extraordinary shift. The immortal spirit qi of the entire Dao field poured incessantly into Lu Changsheng's body. This phenomenon persisted for roughly a month. A month later, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, feeling better than he ever had before, brimming with boundless vitality. **Host:** Lu Changsheng **Comprehension:** 53,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) **Mortal Dao Fruit:** 36% (Illusory Realm divine ability) **Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit:** 52% (Devour Spirit divine ability) **Flesh and Blood Dao Fruit:** 26% (Mighty Power divine ability) **Physical Immortal Characteristic:** Physical Immortality **Annihilation Divine Eye:** True Immortal level **Slaughter Dao:** Ninth Revolution **Comprehension Deduction:** Can consume large amounts of comprehension to deduce On the panel, the Flesh and Blood Dao Fruit's progress had surged by twenty percent, while the Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit had jumped by ten percent. The Mortal Dao Fruit had not spiked, likely due to its unique nature. Most crucial of all was the physical immortal characteristic: it was no longer a mere "characteristic," but true physical immortality! Lu Changsheng immersed his consciousness into his physical form. Nearly every inch of his body was translucent and pristine, suffused with the aura of immortality. This was true immortality! A flash of clarity struck him. Only such a body truly possessed life as long as the heavens. So long as heaven and earth endured, his physical form could theoretically exist forever. Even if his consciousness were to perish one day, his body would never rot, enduring until heaven and earth themselves crumbled. "Life as long as the heavens..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. At this moment, he understood the true meaning of the phrase far more clearly. Yet he also recognized that this was merely physical immortality. Physical immortality was not absolute immortality. There was also immortality of dharmic power, immortality of the Dao Fruit, immortality of the mind, and ultimately, the immortality of one's Dao. Only when all of these achieved immortality could one be truly eternal—remaining indestructible even if heaven and earth were obliterated, one's Dao lasting forever! It was said that Dao Ancestors inhabited such a realm. Of course, such a state was unfathomably grand, far beyond Lu Changsheng's current imagination. For now, he had merely achieved physical immortality, taking the very first step toward eternity. Even so, this initial step was an insurmountable gulf for countless beings. "Heavenly Immortal!" Lu Changsheng flew out of his cave dwelling, his form hovering high above the Dao field. By now, countless people within the Dao field understood that he had broken through. Overwhelmed with excitement and joy, they dropped to their knees and cried out in unison, "Congratulations to the Immortal Monarch on ascending to Heavenly Immortal, attaining physical immortality and life as long as the heavens!" The mighty chorus echoed throughout the Dao field. Everyone was enraptured with wild joy, hearts surging with fervor. A Heavenly Immortal! This was a Heavenly Immortal! From this day forth, the Changsheng Dao Field was no longer a True Immortal Dao field, but a Heavenly Immortal Dao field. Forget ten thousand li—across a hundred thousand li, a million li, or even ten million li, the Changsheng Dao Field was now the undisputed sovereign. Countless True Immortal Dao fields would have to bow in submissive allegiance. All because of two words: Heavenly Immortal! And Lu Changsheng had become an Immortal Monarch whose life was as long as the heavens! On this day, brilliant light radiated from the Changsheng Dao Field, followed by a terrifying, majestic pressure that swept outward across the four directions in vast, rolling waves.