"Becoming a Golden Immortal in a century..."
Lu Changsheng murmured softly to himself.
He was thoroughly satisfied.
Such a pace was remarkably fast. What was more, it offered absolute certainty.
Of course, this was achieved only after spending six thousand points of immortal merit to exchange for two superior cultivation methods.
Had it been any other Heavenly Immortal, even if they obtained both methods, they likely would never possess the same confidence in ascending to Golden Immortal as Lu Changsheng.
The reason was simple.
Lu Changsheng could cultivate a method to Perfection in a mere half-year.
Could other Heavenly Immortals do the same?
Without top-tier comprehension, mastering two superior cultivation methods to Perfection in such a brief window of time was nothing more than an idiot's pipe dream.
Never mind half a year; even ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even an epoch or ten epochs would not suffice.
If one could not comprehend a method, then one truly could not comprehend it. Painstaking cultivation was futile.
Therefore, everyone knew superior methods were exceptional, yet few Heavenly Immortals chose them. The reason lay entirely in the impossibility of comprehending them to Perfection.
With top-tier comprehension, progressing through any method was swift, and grasping it to Perfection was effortless.
Taking advantage of the remaining time, Lu Changsheng continued to cultivate.
One year, two years, three years...
Over the course of three years, three strands of immortal dharmic power were indeed born within Lu Changsheng's body.
These three strands differed from his ordinary dharmic power. They served as Lu Changsheng's "seeds." Under no circumstances could they be expended; once used, they would vanish, and he would have to refine them anew.
Lu Changsheng calculated the time. Barely five months remained before the century agreement. Even if he continued cultivating, it would yield little meaningful difference.
"Everything is in order."
"I have the cultivation methods. Following them step by step, I can achieve Golden Immortal in a century."
"Next are the immortal treasures. I possess a Golden Immortal-grade treasure as well, such as the Kongxiang Bead."
"Once I arrive at the battlefield beyond the heavens, there is only one goal: to survive!"
Lu Changsheng understood the purpose of his journey clearly. He was forced to go to the battlefield beyond the heavens, just like every other Heavenly Immortal. Everyone wished to cultivate in peace, but it was impossible. As long as the battlefield beyond the heavens existed, peaceful cultivation remained out of reach.
Since he could not cultivate in tranquility and had no choice but to go, Lu Changsheng would do everything in his power to ensure his survival!
He decided to enter the battlefield beyond the heavens ahead of schedule.
Although five months remained until the century deadline, any Immortal Monarch was permitted to enter early. Most simply chose not to. Given time to prepare, who would willingly head to a battlefield?
With only a few months left, departing early or on time made little difference.
Lu Changsheng promptly headed to the Heavenly Court and submitted his request directly: "I wish to enter the battlefield beyond the heavens ahead of schedule."
The Heavenly Court elder looked at him in surprise. "You want to enter the battlefield beyond the heavens early? Let me check... Indeed, you have about five months remaining. Yes, you may proceed."
After verifying Lu Changsheng's records, the elder nodded. "In that case, go and prepare."
Lu Changsheng nodded and walked over to a massive teleportation array within the Heavenly Court.
This teleportation formation could transport him directly to the battlefield beyond the heavens.
A number of Immortal Monarchs were already gathered before the array. A single activation could transport up to a hundred at once. With several dozen currently present, there were more than enough to justify an activation.
However, Lu Changsheng's arrival stirred a wave of astonishment. He was no longer an unknown figure; among the Heavenly Court's Immortal Monarchs, his reputation had grown immense.
"So it is Immortal Monarch Changsheng! Are you heading to the battlefield beyond the heavens as well?" As Lu Changsheng stepped into the array, an Immortal Monarch beside him took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
Lu Changsheng glanced at him. A stranger. Nevertheless, he replied, "Yes."
Seeing Lu Changsheng's aloof demeanor, the Immortal Monarch was not deterred. He continued, "It is exceptionally perilous for Immortal Monarchs like us on the battlefield beyond the heavens. Every year, many of us perish there..."
Though Lu Changsheng had no desire to chat, he committed every word to memory. The man spoke at length, but it all boiled down to one point: the battlefield was dangerous, so shouldn't they band together for warmth?
Naturally, Lu Changsheng did not agree. Even if he intended to seek safety in numbers, he would decide only after arriving and assessing the actual circumstances, rather than committing beforehand.
Lu Changsheng did not have to wait long. Roughly two shichen later, a few more Immortal Monarchs arrived, and the formation was initiated.
*Buzz.*
The array activated. Lu Changsheng felt a potent force envelop his body.
It was spatial power.
Lu Changsheng had a profound understanding of spatial power. He had even mastered the spatial power of the Boundary Sea, enabling him to perform spatial shuttles there. But upon arriving in the Heaven Realm, his attempts had failed. The spatial power of the Heaven Realm and that of the Boundary Sea could not be treated as identical; while they shared common foundations, the differences were far greater. Mastering the Heaven Realm's spatial power would take an unknowable amount of time.
Once the formation's spatial energy enveloped all the Immortal Monarchs, a flash of light swept through.
*Whoosh.*
The assembly of figures vanished without a trace.
Lu Changsheng distinctly felt himself traversing through space across an immense distance. The farther the transit, the heavier the spatial pressure. The current strain was something no one beneath an immortal could withstand. Even True Immortals would find it grueling. Only Heavenly Immortals with physical immortality could comfortably endure the pressure of such deep spatial traversal.
After an indeterminate stretch of time, light finally burst before his eyes. The transit had ended.
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.
Everyone stood upon an expansive plaza. Bordering the plaza were grand, palace-like structures. Yet farther out, beyond these celestial halls, lay vast, unbroken chaos.
Indeed, it was chaos, not empty void.
A boundless expanse of primordial chaos.
A phrase suddenly crossed Lu Changsheng's mind: *Chaos resembled a chicken's egg.*
Even his divine consciousness could not penetrate far into that swirling murk.
At that moment, a formidable immortal appeared. The terrifying pressure radiating from his body unmistakably proclaimed his standing.
A Golden Immortal!
This was a Golden Immortal, also revered as an Immortal Venerable, holding an exalted status.
As the Immortal Venerable appeared, the dozens of Immortal Monarchs fell silent.
"Welcome to the battlefield beyond the heavens. You should already possess some understanding of this place."
"Each of you will now be assigned a cave dwelling."
"Return to your quarters immediately. Inside, you will find general knowledge regarding the battlefield. Familiarize yourselves with the situation first."
"Remember: the single most important task on the battlefield beyond the heavens is to survive."
With a wave of the Immortal Venerable's sleeve, the formation subsided. The Immortal Monarchs offered slight bows before dispersing in various directions.
Lu Changsheng received a token inscribed with the words: *Cave Dwelling Yimu No. 360.*
He quickly made his way to the Yimu sector and located the corresponding dwelling. Using the token, he opened the entrance and flew inside.
The cave dwelling housed dust-avoiding pearls, keeping it spotless. It was far from luxurious—rather Spartan, in fact—serving as a modest, ordinary dwelling. Yet it had all the necessary amenities. While it could not compare to a Dao field, it was quite decent, featuring a quiet cultivation chamber, a nursery for cultivating precious herbs, a martial arts field, and more. All the essential functions were complete.
Lu Changsheng noticed a jade slip resting on a table. He immediately sent his consciousness into it.
*Buzz.*
The contents unfolded in his mind. The jade slip held a wealth of information, covering basic common knowledge regarding the battlefield beyond the heavens. For instance, it contained an illustrated compendium detailing the alien races, the immortal merit bounties corresponding to each alien foe, the methods for departing, and much more.
Lu Changsheng quickly grasped the core principles.
As it turned out, the battlefield beyond the heavens was not waged like mortal warfare; there was no need to march in rigid battle arrays. Cultivators enjoyed vast autonomy, and virtually all immortals acted independently. Only under rare, specific circumstances would an Immortal Venerable summon masses of immortals for coordinated operations. Such conscriptions required absolute obedience, but during all other times, movement was entirely free.
While there was no direct compulsion, an indirect mandate existed. For example, remaining on the battlefield for one year deducted one hundred points of immortal merit from a Heavenly Immortal, and one thousand from a Golden Immortal Venerable. If a cultivator's merit fell into the negative, they would be forcibly conscripted to fight in the most perilous sectors, where mortality rates were astronomical. Anyone wishing to avoid forced conscription had to fight on the front lines to earn merit.
As for returning to the Heaven Realm, it was permitted—one could even turn back right now. However, once a cultivator arrived at the battlefield beyond the heavens, they were officially registered in the battle roster. To reside in the Heaven Realm after enlistment, a Heavenly Immortal had to pay five hundred immortal merit per year—five times the annual cost of staying on the battlefield!
After exchanging for two superior Heavenly Immortal methods, Lu Changsheng still had seven thousand three hundred points of immortal merit remaining. That was a substantial sum. If he did nothing at all and remained stationed here, he could sit peacefully for seventy-three years! Even if he chose to return to the Heaven Realm, he could comfortably remain there for over a decade.
Consequently, Lu Changsheng felt no rush whatsoever.
He also noticed another issue: the matter of immortal spirit qi.
Inside the Immortal Palace, abundant immortal spirit qi was provided, likely sustained by immortal crystals and other supplies transported from the Heaven Realm to support daily cultivation. But what about beyond the palace walls?
Outside lay the chaos. According to the jade slip, the chaos was inundated with chaotic, impure energies. Once a cultivator stepped into it, even a Heavenly Immortal would find their movements constrained and difficult, to say nothing of cultivating.
Intrigued by the chaos, Lu Changsheng rose, left his cave dwelling, and exited the Immortal Palace to step into the murky expanse. Naturally, he stayed close to the palace perimeter.
*Whoosh.*
The moment Lu Changsheng entered the chaos, a strange sensation washed over him. It felt as though he had submerged into deep water. Invisible forces squeezed his body from all directions, and moving forward felt like wading through a thick swamp. Such imperceptible pressure would render a True Immortal utterly immobile. Only Heavenly Immortals, possessing physical immortality, could withstand the crushing weight and move with relative freedom. Though his movements were somewhat impeded, walking remained manageable.
"Replenishing energy is a problem, and cultivation is virtually impossible," Lu Changsheng muttered, his brow furrowing.
He had just attempted to absorb the chaos qi to refine his dharmic power. The moment it entered his body, it threw his internal circulation into turmoil. He had to meticulously refine it, expelling the vast majority from his flesh. Only a minuscule sliver could be used to replenish a fraction of his energy.
Relying on chaos qi for actual cultivation, however, was pure delusion. It would waste an immense amount of time and result in far more loss than gain. Only a negligible fraction of the energy in the chaos was suitable for immortals.
To cultivate smoothly, one had to rely on the immortal spirit qi within the Immortal Palace. The ambient energy of the chaos could only ever serve to stave off exhaustion; relying on it for breakthrough was impossible. If he stayed in the chaos, Lu Changsheng might never attain the Golden Immortal realm in his lifetime.
"No wonder everyone says the chaos is harsh."
"Cultivation is simply out of the question here. Neither immortals nor extraterrestrial entities like the You clan can cultivate in it."
"Yet there are worlds within the chaos akin to the Heaven Realm, which the You clan refers to as chaos worlds. Supposedly, only a select few chaos worlds contain pure energies and treasures suitable for cultivation."
"The You clan roams the chaos precisely to conquer such chaos worlds, which eventually led them to invade the Heaven Realm..."
Thoughts flashed rapidly through Lu Changsheng's mind. He had now pieced together a clear picture of both the You clan and the Heaven Realm.
With that, he returned to his cave dwelling inside the palace.
Lu Changsheng had no intention of venturing into the chaos to battle the You clan right away. There was no need. He was no battle maniac; why seek combat needlessly? From start to finish, his sole objective was cultivation, and remaining inside the palace was the ideal path. Provided with ample immortal spirit qi, he could refine a strand of pure immortal dharmic power every year. In a century, he would amass a hundred strands, opening the way to the Golden Immortal realm.
Moreover, his ample reserve of immortal merit allowed him to remain here peacefully for over seventy years. Why court mortal danger against the You clan?
Furthermore, Lu Changsheng had an urgent priority: advancing his Flesh Dao Fruit. Among his three Dao Fruits, the Flesh Dao Fruit was currently the weakest. Even the divine ability Mighty Power was beginning to lag behind the other two, demanding reinforcement.
To enhance his Flesh Dao Fruit, based on the foundation of his Flesh Martial Dao, he needed to refine formidable physical bodies. And at this moment, he happened to possess an exceptionally mighty one: the body of the You clan giant!
Lu Changsheng attempted to refine it. Yet the You clan's flesh was remarkably wondrous; even the tiniest fragment proved almost impossible to break down directly. But that did not matter. If he could not refine it immediately, he could analyze and deconstruct it. Time was the one thing Lu Changsheng had in abundance. Deconstructing the You clan's flesh would not interfere with his accumulation of dharmic power.
Little did Lu Changsheng know that the moment he arrived at the battlefield beyond the heavens, eyes had already turned toward him.
And it was no ordinary immortal watching him, but a Taiyi Immortal Venerable!
This Taiyi Immortal Venerable was known as Immortal Venerable Kuhai, a figure of tremendous power currently overseeing the sector Lu Changsheng had been assigned to. As soon as Lu Changsheng stepped onto the battlefield, his complete records had reached Kuhai's hands.
"Ascended to Heavenly Immortal in just a few centuries?"
"He even conquered the tenth tier of the Heavenly Immortal Steps?"
"This Lu Changsheng possesses limitless prospects! With such strength, his presence on the battlefield will alleviate immense pressure across our front lines."
"Immortal Venerable Kuhai, you truly struck gold. How did Lu Changsheng end up in your sector?"
"We waited so long without ever seeing such a brilliant genius assigned to us, yet he fell right into your lap."
"With Lu Changsheng under your command, your days should be far easier now..."
Those speaking so casually with Kuhai were fellow Taiyi Immortal Venerables. Exalted figures though they were, each in charge of an entire battle zone, they carried immense pressure. Should the You clan breach their lines and infiltrate the Heaven Realm, the blame would fall squarely on their shoulders.
In reality, the war on the battlefield beyond the heavens was fought predominantly among Immortal Monarchs. While Immortal Venerables and Taiyi Immortal Venerables engaged in combat, such clashes were rare. The You clan's leadership acted similarly, directing expendable forces while true supreme experts rarely took the field, as no one wished to gamble their lives unnecessarily. Thus, having an invincible Immortal Monarch like Lu Changsheng provided colossal support to their front lines.
Immortal Venerable Kuhai had beamed with pride, his delight plain for all to see.
Yet as time marched on, the smile on Kuhai's face slowly froze.
Days turned into weeks.
For an entire month, Lu Changsheng remained locked within his cave dwelling.
Immortal Venerable Kuhai paid it no mind. Experts often planned thoroughly before making their move. What was wrong with first mastering the battlefield's conditions and sizing up the enemy? It was perfectly reasonable.
Half a year passed, and Lu Changsheng still had not left his cave dwelling.
Kuhai's brow twitched slightly. Not setting foot outside for six months—was he still studying battlefield intel? Could six months truly be insufficient? Perhaps he was merely exceptionally cautious.
A full year passed, and the other Taiyi Immortal Venerables came to tease him: "Immortal Venerable Kuhai, has that Lu Changsheng still made no move? A whole year has gone by. Surely any preparation should be complete by now, especially when staying costs a hundred merit a year."
"Could it be that he has no intention of ever leaving? I recall he earned thirteen thousand three hundred merit by clearing the tenth tier. Even after purchasing two superior methods, he still has over seven thousand points left. At that rate, he could stay holed up in his cave dwelling for over seventy years! Does he actually plan to hide for seven decades?"
"Could he be... terrified? Preferring to squat in a cave dwelling for seventy years rather than fight? Many of the Immortal Monarchs who arrived in his cohort have already achieved notable merits and accumulated handsome rewards."
"Indeed, Immortal Venerable Kuhai, shouldn't you summon him for questioning?"
The other Taiyi Immortal Venerables were clearly bantering. They remembered Kuhai's smugness all too well. Was he still proud now?
Kuhai's face darkened, and he retorted coldly, "It has been a mere year. True geniuses formulate their strategy before moving; they stay dormant until ready, and when they strike, they shatter heaven and earth! Lu Changsheng will certainly not hide forever. Let us wait."
And so, Immortal Venerable Kuhai continued to wait.
Yet this wait stretched on and on.
Three years, five years, eight years, ten years...
In the blink of an eye, a whole decade elapsed.
Lu Changsheng showed not the slightest sign of movement.
At long last, Kuhai understood Lu Changsheng's true intentions. The man truly planned to sit in his dwelling for seventy years!
Was this caution?
No, this was cowardice! Sheer terror!
An ostensibly invincible Immortal Monarch who lacked the courage to set foot on the battlefield!
However proud Kuhai had been at the start, he was now equally enraged.
Even without stepping past his threshold, Lu Changsheng's fame grew by leaps and bounds. Word of his behavior spread across the entire battlefield beyond the heavens.
An invincible monarch who had conquered the tenth tier of the Heavenly Immortal Steps had arrived at the front lines, retreated into his cave dwelling, and stayed put for ten solid years!
Unyielding as a mountain!
Rumors claimed that even a Taiyi Immortal Venerable had flown into a rage, yet remained powerless to do anything about it. It had become one of the premier curiosities of the battlefield.
"They say Immortal Monarch Changsheng still hasn't stepped out of his cave dwelling. Hasn't it been ten years already?"
"Ten years on the dot. Hiding inside all this time... isn't that a bit too cowardly?"
"It's hardly just cowardice. Immortal Monarch Changsheng cleared the tenth tier and amassed a mountain of immortal merit. He can afford to stay inside without worrying about the deductions. He has the luxury, but what about us? We lack that kind of merit, so we have no choice but to risk our lives."
"Indeed. While we might have earned a bit of merit and made a small name for ourselves, plenty of our fellow monarchs have already perished out there. If I had the choice, I'd gladly hide in a cave dwelling for decades or even a century..."
"Which Immortal Monarch wouldn't envy him?"
Among the ordinary Immortal Monarchs, envy was the prevailing sentiment. Conversely, several Immortal Venerables were seething with irritation. Some of their defensive zones faced acute pressure; had Lu Changsheng been deployed, the strain would have lessened considerably. Instead, he stubbornly refused to step outside, forcing them to shoulder the burden alone.
Yet there was nothing they could do. Such were the rules of the battlefield. Lu Changsheng possessed the requisite merit, and residing within his dwelling was entirely within regulations. No one could force his hand.
Meanwhile, within the cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng was pouring his full effort into deconstructing the You clan corpse. He was utterly oblivious to the rumors swirling outside—and even had he known, he would not have cared.
Over the span of ten years, he had still failed to unravel the You clan's flesh. Its composition proved far more profound than he had anticipated, existing as something entirely alien to the physical bodies of the immortal race.
Nevertheless, he remained unperturbed.
Lu Changsheng was thoroughly committed to deciphering it. Spared of distractions, he devoted his undivided attention to the task.
Ten years, twenty years, thirty years, forty years, fifty years...
In the blink of an eye, fifty years swept past.
This was the first time Lu Changsheng had ever spent fifty continuous years deconstructing a single subject. In the past, what could ever have taken him half a century? Moreover, his comprehension had already ascended to top-tier. For a being of top-tier comprehension to require fifty years spoke volumes about the terrifying depth of the You clan's physical constitution.
Of course, much of the difficulty stemmed from the fundamental disparity between the You clan and the immortals. Their structures were diametrically opposed at the most elemental level, presenting concepts Lu Changsheng had never encountered before.
Yet no matter how difficult or profound it was, fifty years of dedicated effort ultimately bore fruit: Lu Changsheng completely deconstructed the You clan's flesh.
Before his eyes, the physical secrets of the You clan held no more mysteries.
Theoretically, Lu Changsheng could now even condense a physical body identical to that of the You clan!
However, the two types of bodies were entirely distinct, rooted in separate cultivation systems. Formidable as the You clan's physique was, Lu Changsheng understood that his foundation remained anchored in the immortal race and the Immortal Dao. Therefore, he chose to refine the You clan's flesh into his existing foundation to elevate his Flesh Dao Fruit, rather than cultivate an alien body.
With his path set, Lu Changsheng formally began refining the flesh of the You clan.
And at long last, his Flesh Dao Fruit began its ascent.
Chapter 415