A Hundred-Year Pact, Return to the Boundary Sea!

Lu City was as prosperous as ever. Although the Changsheng Dao Field had risen, it had not diminished Lu City's standing. After all, the Changsheng Dao Field remained relatively reclusive. Yet on this day, a terrifying aura swept forth from the void, felt throughout the entirety of Lu City. "What is this aura?" "What is happening?" "Why do I sense an immortal presence?" "Immortality... physical immortality? Has someone attained physical immortality and ascended to Heavenly Immortal?" "What, a Heavenly Immortal?" "Look quickly, there is a figure in the void... coming from the direction of the Changsheng Dao Field." "Could it be that the Changsheng True Immortal has ascended to Heavenly Immortal?" There were many True Immortals within Lu City. Possessing considerable insight, they naturally knew at once what such an aura signified. Only an ascent to Heavenly Immortal could produce such presence. This immortal aura fascinated them all the more; countless True Immortals had pressed forward one after another merely hoping to obtain this immortal trait. Alas, for a True Immortal to give birth to physical immortality within their flesh was simply too difficult. Great Immortal Lu sensed the aura as well. His gaze turned instantly toward the Changsheng Dao Field. Unlike the others, Great Immortal Lu controlled Lu City, so he knew full well where this aura came from and what it meant. What was more, with his control over his Dao field, he could detect a deeply familiar quality within it. Lu Changsheng! Yes, this was Lu Changsheng's aura, laden with a rich, immortal presence. Great Immortal Lu knew better than anyone what that implied. A Heavenly Immortal! This was the aura of a Heavenly Immortal! Great Immortal Lu could scarcely believe his eyes. He could not bring himself to believe it no matter what. How much time had passed? Even granting that Lu Changsheng possessed talent—unparalleled talent, even—how could he possibly have forged physical immortality and ascended to Heavenly Immortal in so little time? It was nothing short of an Arabian Nights tale! *Whoosh.* Almost immediately, Great Immortal Lu flew out of Lu City. He soared swiftly into the void, drawing close to the Changsheng Dao Field. The closer he got, the more distinctly he felt that dense, immortal presence. Without a doubt, his conjecture had been correct. Lu Changsheng had already ascended to Heavenly Immortal. For a time, Great Immortal Lu stood dumbfounded like a wooden chicken, utterly dispirited. He truly regretted his past decision back in Chiyue City. Many immortals shared his sentiments. As time went on, the news gradually spread. Countless people came to know that Lu Changsheng had achieved the realm of Heavenly Immortal. The Changsheng True Immortal had now become the Changsheng Immortal Monarch! Yet within the Changsheng Dao Field, all remained calm. Lu Changsheng had thoroughly stabilized his realm. Now, he was a Heavenly Immortal. The Changsheng Dao Field had likewise transformed from a True Immortal Dao field into a Heavenly Immortal Dao field. A Dao field required its own metamorphosis as well, the most obvious difference being the area it encompassed. A Heavenly Immortal Dao field typically covered an immense expanse. However, Lu Changsheng had planned the expansion of his Dao field long ago. When he first established it, he had already mapped out its subsequent enlargement. Now, it was time for the Changsheng Dao Field to expand. As for the direction, it would naturally be toward the Blood Marsh Mountain Range! Lu Changsheng's ultimate goal was to encompass the entire Blood Marsh Mountain Range into the Changsheng Dao Field, making it a part of his domain. Lu Changsheng's gaze now turned toward the mountain range. With a thought, a resonant *hum* sounded, and the Changsheng Dao Field began to expand toward the Blood Marsh Mountain Range. Ten li, a hundred li, a thousand li... This time, the Changsheng Dao Field swept decisively into the Blood Marsh Mountain Range. Naturally, it was only the outer reaches, but even the periphery constituted a vast territory. "*Roar...*" Immortal beasts roared at once. While immortal beasts generally did not dwell in the outer region, there were exceptions, and some strayed into the periphery from time to time. As Lu Changsheng's Dao field expanded, these immortal beasts were swept up within it. "Suppress!" Lu Changsheng thought. Every living thing swept into the Changsheng Dao Field, even the immortal beasts, was instantly suppressed by the Dao field's power. It was now a Heavenly Immortal Dao field; what did mere immortal beasts amount to? A single thought was enough to suppress them effortlessly. The immortal beasts were terrified, this power striking fear into the depths of their hearts until they could only bow in submission. Finally, Lu Changsheng's Changsheng Dao Field came to a halt. It expanded no further, stopping right at the boundary between the outer reaches and the core region of the Blood Marsh Mountain Range. He did not press any deeper. Lu Changsheng vaguely sensed a tremendous presence within the core region locking onto his Dao field. Even within the Changsheng Dao Field, Lu Changsheng felt a trace of pressure. Of course, it was merely pressure; within his Dao field, he could effortlessly suppress even a Heavenly Immortal. *A Golden Immortal?* *No, it shouldn't be a Golden Immortal. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel just a tiny bit of pressure.* *A Heavenly Immortal? Or perhaps someone rivaling a Great Immortal Monarch?* Lu Changsheng considered the possibility. A Great Immortal Monarch was essentially a Heavenly Immortal who had survived at least one dharmic power tribulation. The dharmic power tribulation was the second of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, one that most Heavenly Immortals could not withstand. Once a Heavenly Immortal's lifespan reached twelve epochs, they would encounter the dharmic power tribulation; those who survived became Great Immortal Monarchs. Lu Changsheng estimated that his current Dao field could suppress even a Great Immortal Monarch. But there was no need. The Dao field had reached its current limit and could expand no further. From the start, he had planned the development of his Dao field in three steps: First, a True Immortal Dao field. Second, having the Dao field sweep across part of the Blood Marsh Mountain Range. Third, becoming a Golden Immortal Dao field, and then incorporating the entire Blood Marsh Mountain Range as part of the Changsheng Dao Field. Of these three steps, two had been accomplished, both progressing smoothly. As for the third step, there was no hurry. Having just ascended to Heavenly Immortal, to already contemplate a Golden Immortal Dao field would be aiming too high too soon, which was never wise. Besides, a domain this vast was already larger than many Heavenly Immortal Dao fields. It was enough! There was another crucial factor: the immortal treasure within his Dao field, the Dragon-Suppressing Pillar, was indeed a treasure capable of growth, but reaching the level of a Heavenly Immortal seemed to be its limit. To transform the domain into a Golden Immortal Dao field would require an immortal treasure of the Golden Immortal grade. Lu Changsheng had never even heard of such treasures. *After Heavenly Immortal comes Golden Immortal.* *Ascending to Heavenly Immortal requires physical immortality, whereas ascending to Golden Immortal requires immortal dharmic power.* *Yet I have no cultivation methods for a Heavenly Immortal at all...* Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Changsheng's mind. While knowing the general direction of cultivation was vital, having only a broad direction without concrete techniques was exceedingly difficult. Even if Lu Changsheng wanted to create his own method, he would need reference materials. Otherwise, relying on pure imagination would be chasing flowers in a mirror or the moon on the water. Lu Changsheng needed Heavenly Immortal cultivation methods. His thoughts turned immediately to Immortal Monarch Lieyang, the only Heavenly Immortal he knew. Lieyang certainly knew the cultivation methods of a Heavenly Immortal. However, their relationship was hardly friendly; even if Lu Changsheng came knocking at his door, would Lieyang really impart a method to him? Highly unlikely. Still, Lu Changsheng knew of one other place that would certainly possess Heavenly Immortal cultivation techniques. It was just that the place was fraught with danger. "The battlefield beyond the heavens..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. Now that he had become a Heavenly Immortal, it probably would not be long before someone came seeking him out to head there. Lu Changsheng's guess was right. Only several months after he became a Heavenly Immortal, three Heavenly Immortal Monarchs descended. The three monarchs stood outside the Changsheng Dao Field, their entire bodies radiating terrifying auras. However, they observed the rules and waited quietly outside. Lu Changsheng welcomed the three into the Changsheng Dao Field. Soon, they arrived at the grand hall. Upon seeing Lu Changsheng, they stated their identities without delay. "We are immortal monarchs of the Heavenly Court." "We have come here to deliver a conscription order to Fellow Daoist Lu." "Please accept the order, Fellow Daoist Lu." One of the monarchs tossed a medallion straight toward him. Lu Changsheng caught it in his hand; engraved upon it were the words "Heavenly Court." "The Heavenly Court?" Lu Changsheng's heart sank. Naturally, he had heard of the Heavenly Court. It was said to be an ancient organization within the Heaven Realm, yet it almost never interfered in internal Heaven Realm affairs and maintained a negligible presence, resembling a loose, idle faction. But now, it seemed those past rumors were only half right. The Heavenly Court did not lack presence, nor was it loose; rather, its focus was simply not directed at the internal affairs of the Heaven Realm. The Heavenly Court dealt with matters outside the Heaven Realm—specifically, the battlefield beyond the heavens. Anyone conscripted to go beyond the heavens belonged under its jurisdiction. "Fellow Daoist Lu, the specific details are contained within the conscription order; you will know them once you inspect it with your senses. Having delivered the order, we shall take our leave. One final reminder: you must arrive at the Heavenly Court headquarters by the deadline. If you do not arrive on time, regardless of the reason, headquarters will dispatch Golden Immortal enforcers to seize you by force or even execute you!" With that, the three turned and departed, conversing no further with Lu Changsheng. They had truly come solely to deliver the conscription order. "A conscription order..." Lu Changsheng knew the terms lay within the medallion. He focused his consciousness and entered it. With a roar in his mind, abundant information unfolded, all pertaining to the conscription: where the Heavenly Court headquarters was located, as well as the deadline. The deadline granted an extraordinarily generous amount of time—an entire century! Yes, a hundred years. A century for Heavenly Immortals to settle all their worldly affairs. Offering so much time to wrap up one's personal matters could only mean one thing: once one departed for the battlefield beyond the heavens, returning would be exceptionally difficult. "A hundred years..." To many True Immortals, such a period was negligible, passing almost in the blink of an eye. But to Lu Changsheng, it was very long indeed. He was currently only two hundred-odd years old, not yet three hundred. A century was ample time for him to handle anything. "The Boundary Sea..." Lu Changsheng thought of the Boundary Sea. He wanted to return there. He even wished to contest the "fortunes" within it. Yet descending to the Boundary Sea was no simple task. The descent passages were controlled by several major factions, all of which were Heavenly Immortal factions. But wasn't Lu Changsheng a Heavenly Immortal now as well? He alone could contend against those factions. *Wait. Other lower realms might require a descent passage, but I ascended from the Boundary Sea myself; I am a native lifeform of the Boundary Sea.* *Furthermore, I still have an avatar in the Boundary Sea, which can serve as a coordinate to help me pinpoint its location.* *I can attempt to descend directly into the Boundary Sea!* A sharp gleam flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes. Generally speaking, immortals could not simply descend to lower realms because they lacked coordinates. If coordinates were not required, descending would be trivial, as a Heavenly Immortal could open a Road to Ascending Heaven—a descent passage—on their own. That posed no great difficulty for a Heavenly Immortal. The location coordinates were the crucial element. The very first Road to Ascending Heaven in the Boundary Sea had essentially served as a spatial coordinate. Only with that road could immortals continuously descend, using it to lock onto coordinates and open passage after passage. But Lu Changsheng did not need that; he already had an avatar in the Boundary Sea, which was the finest coordinate possible. Presently, Lu Changsheng could not sense his avatar in the Boundary Sea, but that was no insurmountable hurdle. With a thought, Lu Changsheng called out, "Open!" The void shattered instantly. Once Lu Changsheng exerted the might of a Heavenly Immortal combined with the power of his Dao field, shattering space was effortless. He could even use the power of the Dao field to sustain the spatial tunnel continuously. As he tore open space and forcefully carved out a tunnel, he could feel a powerful resistance attempting to restore the void. But this was the Changsheng Dao Field, which could ceaselessly supply the power to maintain the passage. "Hmm?" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng sensed something. The moment the spatial passage formed, Lu Changsheng, through the perception of a Heavenly Immortal, sensed something intimately connected to him far away. His avatar! Without question, it was the avatar he had left behind in the Boundary Sea. He had truly made contact with it. Even so, Lu Changsheng did not rush. He summoned the Giant Axe Immortal and informed him of the descent passage. "I plan to descend to the Boundary Sea. Do you wish to return and take a look?" Lu Changsheng asked. The Giant Axe Immortal shook his head. "I no longer have any attachments in the Boundary Sea." The Giant Axe Immortal did not want to go back, which was only natural. He was different from Lu Changsheng; Lu Changsheng had cultivated for a very short time and still held ties in the Boundary Sea, whereas the Giant Axe Immortal had been in the Immortal Realm for ages. His friends and family had long since passed away, leaving him virtually unattached. As for contesting opportunities, he was even less interested; having already gained the chance to survive his physical tribulation, he was thoroughly content. Why return to the Boundary Sea? Even if opportunities existed there, they could not grant him physical immortality to become a Heavenly Immortal. "Very well. With you watching over the Dao field, I can be at ease. Go ahead and announce to the outside that I am entering secluded cultivation for a period." Lu Changsheng waved his hand, and the Giant Axe Immortal turned to leave. Watching the Giant Axe Immortal's departing figure, Lu Changsheng sealed the secret chamber. He had a century left, an expansive window of time sufficient for him to descend to the Boundary Sea and search for its hidden opportunities. Indeed, Lu Changsheng knew fortunes lay there: an ancient Golden Immortal had once perished in the Boundary Sea due to the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, likely leaving behind numerous treasures and legacies. That was a Golden Immortal! The descent of so many immortals to the Boundary Sea was not the first occurrence, but the second or even third. During the Archaic Era and Ancient Era, immortals had descended to vie for the Golden Immortal's legacy. Unfortunately, after several great battles, the immortal factions established agreements stipulating that Heavenly Immortals were forbidden from descending to the Boundary Sea. However, Lu Changsheng was different. He did not belong to those immortal factions; he represented only himself. Thus, he could not care less about their agreements. When he descended to the Boundary Sea as a Heavenly Immortal, sweeping all before him invincible, who could possibly stand against him? At worst, once he secured the treasures and opportunities, he would head to the battlefield beyond the heavens. What could those factions do to him then? Besides, Lu Changsheng even doubted whether those factions still had Heavenly Immortals stationed behind; after all, Heavenly Immortals had to go to the battlefield beyond the heavens, and returning was no easy feat. Lu Changsheng reopened the spatial tunnel and, following that unique resonance, bored a targeted passage through. Constructing this path was arduous, requiring constant maintenance lest it collapse at any moment. True Immortals possessed no such power; only a Heavenly Immortal had the strength to sustain such a spatial conduit. Furthermore, Lu Changsheng had prepared a double safeguard: he also had an avatar within his Dao field, which he instructed to channel the Dao field's power to maintain the passage. With this dual insurance, he had no fear of the passage collapsing and complicating his return. Supported by the Dao field, the task proved noticeably lighter. Before long, the spatial passage stabilized. Hesitating no longer, Lu Changsheng flew into the passage in his true body. *Boom.* Pressure—boundless spatial pressure—bore down continuously upon him. This pressure was all too familiar. When Lu Changsheng had "ascended" to the Heaven Realm via the Road to Ascending Heaven, he had faced the very same force. Back then, he had nearly been crushed into powder by the spatial pressure, ultimately relying on the analytical ability of a Mortal Immortal to gradually endure it and ascend. Now, that familiar pressure returned, pressing upon his body once again. Yet times had changed. Lu Changsheng let the pressure weigh upon him without resisting; to an esteemed Heavenly Immortal, it was utterly inconsequential, exerting barely any strain. What had once been terrifying pressure was now akin to an itch. The only slight difficulty was that traveling from the Heaven Realm to the Boundary Sea was like sailing against the current, forcing him to confront a ferocious spatial torrent. Traveling from the Boundary Sea to the Heaven Realm, by contrast, moved along with the flow. The difference between the two was vast, which was precisely why descending to a lower realm was so arduous for immortals—the spatial torrent made it like rowing upstream. Even so, Lu Changsheng remained utterly fearless. Locking onto his avatar in the Boundary Sea, his advance was slow, yet remarkably steady and resolute. Step by step, he continued boring through the spatial passage, confident that it led straight to the Boundary Sea. As the days drifted by, Lu Changsheng waded through the spatial torrent like an unshakeable pillar, letting the rushing flow wash over him. "Hmm? It should be right here!" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng came to a halt. Here, his connection to his Boundary Sea avatar was at its strongest; he could sense that it was right on the other side. "Open!" Lu Changsheng threw a punch. The spatial barrier blasted open instantly. Lu Changsheng immediately perceived a familiar aura. The Boundary Sea! Yes, this was indeed the Boundary Sea! Glancing back, he realized that without even noticing, he had carved out a stable spatial passage behind him. Should he ever return to the Heaven Realm from the Boundary Sea, he would no longer need to toil so hard; he could simply follow this passage straight back. "Boundary Sea, I have returned..." Even Lu Changsheng's usually unflinching heart could not help but ripple with emotion. Then, stepping forward, he emerged directly from the spatial passage. *** Within the cold, pitch-black Boundary Sea, dozens of Ancestor Realm figures and three Heaven Realm Upper Immortals were currently locked in a standoff. In the Boundary Sea of today, Heaven Realm Upper Immortals were the absolute rulers. They mobilized every resource and faction at their disposal to search for the treasures of that ancient Golden Immortal, yet all had yielded nothing. Consequently, some Upper Immortals decided to take another route: driving out or slaying other Upper Immortals to monopolize the entire Boundary Sea, and only then commanding the native factions to conduct a thorough search. When that time came, the harvest would surely be bountiful. At this moment, three Upper Immortals in the Boundary Sea, leading the experts under their commands, were locked in combat. "True Immortal Liuguang, surrender! The True Immortals of your Tianyan Dao Field are nearly all dead! If you persist in this stubborn resistance, you won't escape doom either!" Two of the three Upper Immortals belonged to the same faction and were currently laying siege to True Immortal Liuguang. True Immortal Liuguang's expression was exceedingly grim. The Tianyan Dao Field had indeed lost its momentum. Immortal Monarch Tianyan had gone to the battlefield beyond the heavens and had yet to return, while nearly all the True Immortals from the Dao field had come to the Boundary Sea. And the result? They had suffered near-total casualties. If this continued, every True Immortal from the Tianyan Dao Field would perish. At this juncture, unless Immortal Monarch Tianyan intervened personally, their campaign was as good as defeated. True Immortal Liuguang let out a long sigh. "Your All Immortals Alliance possesses immense wealth and overwhelming strength. So be it. My Tianyan Dao Field cannot contest against you; we withdraw from the struggle for the Boundary Sea..." True Immortal Liuguang made his decision. He was a trusted confidant of Immortal Monarch Tianyan, and in the monarch's absence, the entire Dao field deferred to him. Though he was not a Great Immortal himself, with the aid of various immortal treasures, his prowess rivaled one. Yet against the All Immortals Alliance, even he could only concede defeat. Among the forces currently in the Boundary Sea, the All Immortals Alliance stood at the helm. Those who submitted prospered, while those who resisted perished; they were on the verge of unifying the entire Boundary Sea. Of course, even if they achieved unification, their sole objective remained unearthing the treasures left by the ancient Golden Immortal; right now, they were merely contesting against the myriad factions from the Heaven Realm. The leader of the All Immortals Alliance, a Great Immortal, nodded with satisfaction. True Immortal Liuguang had made the right choice; otherwise, attempting to surround and slay him would have been no easy feat. Even though two of them were Great Immortals, they likely would have paid a price. Having him withdraw voluntarily was naturally the ideal outcome. *Buzz.* Right at that moment, the void twisted violently, sending ripples across space. Immediately afterward, a descent passage manifested out of thin air, appearing not far from the three immortals. They could see the spatial tunnel clear as day. "That is... a descent passage!" "An immortal is descending to the Boundary Sea?" The expressions of the two Great Immortals from the All Immortals Alliance changed drastically. The descent passages were almost entirely controlled by the various Heavenly Immortal factions, and there was no known passage here. Where had this newly emerged descent passage come from? Could it be a hidden one? For a moment, the two immortals of the All Immortals Alliance stood on high alert, eager to see just who had descended to the Boundary Sea. *Whoosh.* At last, a figure stepped forth from the spatial passage. "I have returned, Boundary Sea..." A faint sigh echoed through the void.