Invincible Among Peers! Call Reinforcements If All Else Fails! Lu Changsheng Strikes, Suppressing Prodigies!

A Realm Lord meant fusing one's physical body with a world, attaining power rivaling a chaos lifeform or a Saint. Only then could one truly be called a Realm Lord. If a Realm Lord wished to continue cultivating further, their world had to undergo a metamorphosis. Simply put, they had to make the world collapse and explode, thereby restarting and recreating it anew. Reopening the world once was equivalent to a single life leap, or becoming a one-Dao Great Saint. Each time the world was recreated, it would expand on a massive scale, and its world might would undergo an earth-shattering transformation. This continued until one day the world expanded to a certain threshold and reached a state of perfection. At that point, one could attempt to evolve it once more. As for what it would evolve into, that remained unknown. The world of every Realm Lord was different, and what kind of world it ultimately evolved into depended on the specific world the Realm Lord cultivated. Yet once it achieved that ultimate evolution, it could rival a source lifeform or an Emperor of the Dark Domain. In short, all different paths led to the same destination. This was the Realm Lord cultivation path, standing alongside the chaos lifeform system and the Dark Domain system as one of the three great cultivation systems. However, the Realm Lord system relied far too heavily on origin power. It required the origin power of chaos or the Dark Domain to advance and repeatedly recreate the world. That was simply too difficult. Lu Changsheng glanced at the Dark Domain origin power within the Black Light Pagoda. Previously, there had been twenty-eight wisps in total. After consuming twelve, sixteen wisps remained. He did not know to what extent these sixteen wisps of Dark Domain origin power could elevate his physical body. Thus, Lu Changsheng continued refining the Dark Domain origin power. One wisp, two wisps, three wisps… Soon enough, Lu Changsheng refined all sixteen wisps of Dark Domain origin power. It took him only a year and four months. Refining a single wisp of Dark Domain origin power took barely a month. His refining efficiency had improved tremendously. Before, refining twelve wisps had taken Lu Changsheng ten full years, which showed just how much his efficiency had risen. Lu Changsheng immediately called up his attribute panel. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension World Master: 17% (Initial Success) Chaos Lifeform: 76% (Initial Success) Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. His World Master progress had increased by sixteen percent—roughly one wisp of Dark Domain origin power per one percent of progress. In other words, to reach the stage where he could recreate the world, he needed only a hundred wisps of Dark Domain origin power. Thinking about it this way, it did not seem like much, did it? Yet on closer thought, while it seemed modest, it was actually extraordinarily difficult. Every single wisp of Dark Domain origin power required slaying one of the top prodigies of the Dark Domain. Was that really easy? If any top prodigy of the Dark Domain died outside, the faction behind them would investigate thoroughly. Nurturing a top prodigy was by no means an easy feat. Slaying a hundred top prodigies? It was hard to imagine the sheer madness that would erupt from the factions backing them. Therefore, the difficulty was actually immense—not nearly as simple as it seemed. Even so, this ultimately gave Lu Changsheng hope. At the very least, he no longer had to worry about his cultivation stagnating within the Dark Domain. He could still walk very far along the path of a Realm Lord. "Return." With a thought from Lu Changsheng, his flesh particles instantly returned and merged back into his body. On the surface, nothing seemed different from before. Yet Lu Changsheng knew that everything had changed. That single flesh particle had already become a world. If he engaged in battle now, with the Realm Lord's world complementing his physical body, just how much combat prowess could he unleash? Lu Changsheng considered it. Against an opponent with a single life leap, he could definitely kill them; with an element of surprise, even an instant kill would be no problem. Then there was a second life leap, which corresponded to a two-Dao Great Saint. That was another matter entirely. Lu Changsheng felt a strong urge to test it. He believed he might rival or even kill a two-Dao Great Saint, though without testing it in practice, he could not guarantee it with absolute certainty. Nevertheless, his actual combat strength had unquestionably surged. And this was before he had recreated the world even once. What if he recreated the world once? His strength would likely skyrocket further. For a time, Lu Changsheng felt a surge of fervent excitement. He truly wanted to return to the Blood Gourd Forbidden Zone. Unfortunately, even if he went there now, he could no longer hunt those top prodigies. After all, the top prodigies had already withdrawn. How could he hunt them? Going back to the Blood Gourd Forbidden Zone would yield nothing. If Lu Changsheng wished to advance his Realm Lord cultivation, he still had to find a way to slay top prodigies. Yet where could he find more of them? Openly slaying them in broad daylight was out of the question. He needed to find a place similar to the Blood Gourd Forbidden Zone, where the death of a top prodigy would not prompt their backing factions to intervene directly. Only then would he be safe. Lu Changsheng settled down in Tianyu City without rushing. If no opportunity presented itself in the short term, he would simply wait. One day, while wandering through Tianyu City, he caught wind of a piece of news—news that had spread across the entire city. "Have you heard? They say the Undying Great Emperor obtained an Undying Herb deep within the Sunset Forbidden Zone! Relying on that Undying Herb, the Undying Great Emperor actually lived out a third life!" "Indeed, the Undying Great Emperor is truly formidable! Long ago, he seized a grand medicine from among numerous Great Emperors to live out a second life. Who would have thought he could actually live out a third?" "Many Great Emperors knew of the Undying Herb in the depths of the Sunset Forbidden Zone, but in the end, it was claimed by the Undying Great Emperor. Rumor has it that a terrifying clash of Great Emperors erupted in the depths, and some Great Emperors even perished!" "*Tsk, tsk.* Great Emperors differ in strength, and the Undying Great Emperor is considered top-tier even among them. Now that he has lived out a third life, his power must have reached earth-shaking heights." "Now that the Undying Herb in the Sunset Forbidden Zone has matured and the Great Emperors have departed, many factions have entered the zone. They say that in the vicinity of where an Undying Herb is born, other lesser grand medicines often appear. Many Great Saints and prodigies have already rushed in to search for them." "Ah, the Sunset Forbidden Zone… Even under normal circumstances, it is exceptionally perilous. Only those prodigies or Great Saints dare step foot inside." "We best not join in the commotion, or we might end up dead without ever knowing why…" Upon hearing this news, Lu Changsheng felt a jolt in his heart. The Undying Great Emperor had lived out a third life? A Great Emperor could live for one epoch in a single life. Living out a third life meant being able to live for three epochs. In truth, three epochs were hardly worth mentioning to a chaos lifeform. Yet Great Emperors were different; each additional life multiplied their strength. Just how terrifyingly powerful would the Undying Great Emperor be after living out a third life? It defied imagination. If a passageway between the Dark Domain and the chaos world opened next time, the Undying Great Emperor would likely give many source lifeforms a massive headache. Of course, whether the Undying Great Emperor could live until the next opening was hard to say. Besides, that had nothing to do with Lu Changsheng. What Lu Changsheng cared about was the other piece of news: prodigies were entering the Sunset Forbidden Zone. This was directly relevant to him. Just when he was fretting over where to find top prodigies, hadn't the opportunity arrived? As for the Sunset Forbidden Zone being dangerous and full of Great Saints, Lu Changsheng was well aware. When was a forbidden zone ever safe? If he wanted to obtain Dark Domain origin power, taking risks was unavoidable. Fortunately, he possessed the Black Light Pagoda, so there was no need to worry excessively. If he truly encountered mortal danger, he could simply expose the Black Light Pagoda and tear through space to escape. After all, had few chaos lifeforms infiltrated the Dark Domain over the years? As long as he could flee, there would be no cause for concern. Lu Changsheng proceeded to gather detailed information about the Sunset Forbidden Zone. Once he had learned enough, he made up his mind to set out. He flew continuously for several months before finally arriving at the Sunset Forbidden Zone. He refrained from using the Black Light Pagoda lightly; otherwise, he would have arrived long ago. Upon arriving, Lu Changsheng found the Sunset Forbidden Zone bustling with activity. Cultivators who were not even quasi-saints dared to venture inside, all drawn by the appearance of grand medicines. Even though the Undying Great Emperor had claimed the Undying Herb, other grand medicines remained, and many cultivators hoped to try their luck. *Boom! Boom! Boom!* At that moment, a terrifying aura surged through the void outside the Sunset Forbidden Zone. "Look! That's… the Tianhe Saint Son!" "It truly is the Tianhe Saint Son. Rumor has it he possesses the Dragon-Tiger Saint Body, born with the strength of dragons and tigers. After cultivating, he even manifested the Dragon-Tiger Dharma Idol, always accompanied by dragons and tigers. Now a quasi-saint, he can easily suppress and slay Saint realm experts using his Dragon-Tiger Dharma Idol!" "Easily slaying Saints is an understatement! It's said the Tianhe Saint Son can even cross two ranks to slay a one-Dao Great Saint!" "Can he really slay a one-Dao Great Saint? Saints are one thing; falling to the Dragon-Tiger Dharma Idol is understandable. But once someone becomes a Great Saint, they command the power of the Great Dao. Can the Dragon-Tiger Dharma Idol truly contend against the power of the Great Dao?" "Who knows? That's just the rumor. Perhaps the Tianhe Saint Son simply fears no Great Saint." "With even the Tianhe Saint Son here, this Sunset Forbidden Zone is becoming livelier by the minute." "Can the Tianhe Sacred Ground really rest easy letting such a prodigy come to the Sunset Forbidden Zone? What if something happens to him…?" "Nothing will happen to him. It's said he carries protective methods left behind by Great Saint experts of the Tianhe Sacred Ground. Even if he cannot win, he won't perish." Lu Changsheng followed the crowd's gaze and looked up into the void. Sure enough, a handsome young man in flowing white robes was treading across the empty air, arriving above the Sunset Forbidden Zone. Phantom silhouettes of a dragon and a tiger coiled around his figure, exuding a fearsome aura so potent that even many Great Saints lacked such an imposing presence. That was the Tianhe Saint Son! Becoming the Saint Son of a sacred ground was extraordinarily difficult. One had to crush countless prodigies to ascend to such a throne. "A Saint Son…" Lu Changsheng murmured softly, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. He was gradually coming to understand the Dark Domain, particularly its cultivation system. Many top prodigies were capable of advancing to the Saint realm, yet they chose not to do so lightly. The Dark Domain's cultivation system placed immense emphasis on foundation and accumulated depth. The firmer and deeper the foundation laid beneath the Saint realm, the more invincible one would be among peers upon reaching it. Moreover, comprehending the Great Dao and becoming a Great Saint later on would become much easier. Consequently, many top prodigies lingered in the quasi-saint realm for a prolonged period, only choosing to break through once they could advance no further. Yet this circumstance presented Lu Changsheng with an ideal opportunity. These prodigies remained at the quasi-saint level. No matter what means they possessed, how could they compare to Lu Changsheng? He was a genuine chaos lifeform, rivaling a Saint. His foundation was inferior to none, and he, too, was capable of fighting above his realm. Even so, there was no rush. Lu Changsheng continued to wait. He needed to understand the Sunset Forbidden Zone thoroughly before venturing inside; entering rashly would only invite needless danger. Over the subsequent period, Lu Changsheng saw not only the Tianhe Saint Son, but also Saint Sons and Saint Daughters from numerous sacred grounds. There were also formidable itinerant cultivators bearing terrifying physiques, each blessed with astonishing fortune. Even Emperor scions made appearances. Emperor scions were the descendants of Great Emperors, carrying their bloodline. Naturally, distinctions existed among them—such as the lineage of a fallen Great Emperor versus that of a living one, which were completely different matters. *The grand medicines in the Sunset Forbidden Zone must be extraordinary, and likely present in substantial numbers. Otherwise, they wouldn't attract so many top prodigies—even Emperor scions have shown up…* Lu Changsheng was inwardly astounded, but simultaneously overjoyed. With so many top prodigies gathered, he would surely find opportunities to slay some and harvest Dark Domain origin power. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. Still, Lu Changsheng understood that these top prodigies carried life-saving measures to varying degrees. It all came down to whether he could withstand those measures. When he encountered top prodigies in the Blood Gourd Forbidden Zone, they also had methods, yet he had withstood them all. If he truly could not break through someone's defenses, he would not force the matter; prodigies were plentiful, and there was no need to fixate on a single one. Day after day passed. Lu Changsheng waited outside the Sunset Forbidden Zone for three months. "It's time." Lu Changsheng finally decided to enter. *Whoosh!* Concealing his aura, he cautiously slipped into the Sunset Forbidden Zone. The moment he entered, Lu Changsheng encountered a ferocious beast. It was exceptionally fearsome, emanating an ancient and savage aura. Lu Changsheng immediately understood that this beast likely possessed a primordial bloodline; only a primordial bloodline could be so powerful. However, it was merely at the quasi-saint level. Relying on its primordial bloodline, it might have fought above its realm, but confronting Lu Changsheng was nothing short of courting death. *Buzz.* The next moment, a single flesh particle within Lu Changsheng's body vibrated faintly, and the Illusory Realm descended. The ferocious beast was instantly isolated and suppressed within the Illusory Realm, struggling violently to no avail. Lu Changsheng did not expend any physical strength, merely watching as the Illusory Realm suppressed and ground it down. In the end, the beast's body was eradicated bit by bit, leaving no possibility of escape. Such was the power of the Illusory Realm—or rather, the power of a Realm Lord! Yet after the Illusory Realm slew the beast, an unexpected harvest appeared. "Eh?" "This is… Dark Domain origin power?" "How can a ferocious beast contain Dark Domain origin power?" "Could this beast have an extraordinary background?" Lu Changsheng's eyes snapped wide. Within the Illusory Realm, where the beast's body had been eradicated, a dark-red wisp of Dark Domain origin power remained. This was an unexpected delight. Yet how could a ferocious beast harbor Dark Domain origin power? Lu Changsheng fell into thought. *The environment of the Dark Domain is different from chaos. Top prodigies blessed with immense fortune receive Dark Domain origin power into their bodies to aid their cultivation. But top prodigies aren't limited to the human race; ferocious beasts are no exception.* *If a beast possesses a formidable lineage—such as being the descendant of a primordial beast—or is exceptionally rare under heaven and earth, functioning as a top prodigy among beasts, it could likewise contain Dark Domain origin power.* *In that case, my sights don't need to be limited to cultivators alone; ferocious beasts can contain Dark Domain origin power as well…* The more Lu Changsheng thought, the clearer it became. He had gained an additional path to obtaining Dark Domain origin power: ferocious beasts. Moreover, ferocious beasts had one major advantage—they rarely belonged to organized factions. Unlike top human prodigies who had powerful sects behind them, where hitting the young brought out the old, beasts were far simpler. As long as he acted prudently and swiftly killed them, there would generally be no subsequent trouble, unless their parents were nearby. Furthermore, ferocious beasts typically gave birth without raising their young extensively; at most, once the offspring grew enough to possess some self-preservation ability, they were driven away to fend for themselves. In this regard, they were far easier to handle than human cultivators. The only drawback was their numbers—the number of beasts containing Dark Domain origin power was bound to be scarce, as the human race remained the dominant force of the Dark Domain. Having collected the wisp of Dark Domain origin power, Lu Changsheng put it away. He would refine it once he accumulated more. Right now, accumulating as much origin power as possible was the priority. Lu Changsheng traversed the Sunset Forbidden Zone, clashing with beasts along the way. In truth, this was normal throughout the zone; ferocious beasts and human cultivators were both numerous, locked in fierce combat everywhere. The Sunset Forbidden Zone was nothing like the Blood Gourd Forbidden Zone—its beasts were far more abundant and formidable, capable of slaying not only quasi-saints, but even Great Saints. Lu Changsheng encountered many beasts along the way. He barely utilized his physical strength, relying instead on the power of the Illusory Realm. Fusing the Illusory Realm into his flesh particles offered another benefit: even if the Illusory Realm were shattered, he would lose only a single flesh particle, suffering no lasting harm. Meanwhile, the might of his Illusory Realm matched that of any other Realm Lord. Lu Changsheng had also conducted tests. If he enveloped an area with the Illusory Realm and then deployed the Black Light Pagoda within it, so long as the Illusory Realm was not instantly torn apart, the pagoda's aura would not leak outward. In other words, within the Illusory Realm, he could use the Black Light Pagoda freely without fearing detection of its chaotic aura. This delighted Lu Changsheng immensely. The Black Light Pagoda could suppress all cultivators below four life leaps. In the Dark Domain, this meant it was invincible against anyone beneath a Four-Dao Great Saint! Of course, if an opponent was alert enough to tear the Illusory Realm apart, Lu Changsheng would not dare deploy the pagoda recklessly, as doing so would easily expose him. If an Emperor intervened personally, even with the Black Light Pagoda, only death would await him. Lu Changsheng encountered many beasts and swept through them almost effortlessly. Even when facing Saint realm beasts, it was the same; none could hold out for long. Regrettably, after sweeping through so many beasts, he obtained only two additional wisps of Dark Domain origin power. Combined with the first, that made a mere three wisps. Far too few! Lu Changsheng pondered. Evidently, beasts possessing Dark Domain origin power were extremely rare. He still had to seek out top prodigies. With the Illusory Realm allowing him to deploy the Black Light Pagoda, he had the confidence to handle any life-saving measures those prodigies might hold. Lu Changsheng set off in the direction of fluctuating cultivator auras. Soon, he spotted several human cultivators, among whom were the top prodigies he so deeply desired—more than one, in fact. They appeared to be vying for a grand medicine. Following their gazes, Lu Changsheng saw a small valley where a blood-colored flower bloomed, radiating an extraordinary aura. This had to be the grand medicine that drove these top prodigies into a frenzy. Among the cultivators competing for the medicine, three top prodigies took center stage: the Yuanfeng Saint Son, the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed, and the Haotian Dao Child. Each was accompanied by towering phenomena. Though merely quasi-saints, even Saint realm cultivators dared not approach them. Indeed, Saints were present among the onlookers, and even a Great Saint—seemingly a one-Dao Great Saint. Yet even that one-Dao Great Saint displayed immense wariness toward the three prodigies. The Heavenly Sword Sword Seed stood with hands clasped behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping across the crowd. "There is only one grand medicine here, yet so many people. Yuanfeng Saint Son, Haotian Dao Child, how about we clear the field first?" Clearly, in the eyes of the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed, only the other two were his equals. As for the rest—even that one-Dao Great Saint—none had the right to compete with them for the medicine. The Haotian Dao Child, arrogant and proud by nature, naturally nodded. "Agreed." The Yuanfeng Saint Son nodded as well. In an instant, the three top prodigies reached a consensus: clear the field first, then compete for the prize. The Heavenly Sword Sword Seed swept his gaze across the crowd, his voice chilling. "What, still not leaving? Anyone who hasn't left within three breaths need not leave at all!" *Buzz!* Above the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed's head, countless sword shadows abruptly materialized, exuding sharp, terrifying sword qi. Merely glancing at them conveyed a stinging sharpness. If those dense sword shadows descended, quasi-saints would certainly die, and Saints would be unable to withstand them. Perhaps only a Great Saint could hold out. The onlookers' expressions changed drastically. What was this? Hoarding everything for themselves? Or sheer arrogance? Yet what could they do? Could they really clash head-on with the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed? Still, there were stubborn figures among them. The Heavenly Sword Sword Seed alone was not enough to frighten everyone away. But when a scorching sun manifested behind the Haotian Dao Child, radiating immense pressure and causing the temperature in the void to soar, those who had stood firm felt their faces pale. Against the combined might of the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed and the Haotian Dao Child, they truly stood no chance. Thus, after the first group departed, a second followed suit, leaving only a handful of cultivators behind. Without exception, all of them were one-Dao Great Saints! "Hmph," the Yuanfeng Saint Son sneered. Behind him, an ancient mountain manifested, radiating terrifying pressure the moment it appeared. The oppressive weight bore down directly upon the one-Dao Great Saints, forcing them to activate the power of their Great Daos in order to resist. Yet even so, facing the combined pressure of three top prodigies, the Great Saints struggled immensely. Such was the prowess of top prodigies. What of being Great Saints? United, the three prodigies were enough to suppress several Great Saints! The remaining one-Dao Great Saints were consumed by bitter reluctance. They were Great Saints! Yet the factions backing them were vastly inferior to those behind these prodigies; relying on background was out of the question. As for truly fighting? They might very well be beaten to death, reduced to stepping stones for these prodigies. How many Great Saints had fancied themselves extraordinary, confident in their Great Dao power, only to attempt slaying top prodigies and end up as stepping stones that propelled those prodigies to greater heights? Furthermore, these top prodigies seemed faintly aware that if prodigies fought and triumphed over one another, they could subtly absorb fortune. The concept of fortune had existed since ancient times; though invisible and intangible, many prodigies firmly believed in its reality. Defeating or slaying a Great Saint likewise bestowed substantial fortune, for anyone capable of mastering the Great Dao was no weakling in the Dark Domain, but part of the upper echelons. Yet looking at the grand medicine, the Great Saints truly found it hard to let go. "Still not leaving? Do you Great Saints wish to test the divine sword of my Heavenly Sword Sacred Ground?" The Heavenly Sword Sword Seed furrowed his brows. Amidst the sea of sword shadows, a terrifying, preeminent sword shadow faintly emerged, causing the countless other sword shadows to tremble as if in the presence of a king among swords. "Let's go!" No matter how unwilling the Great Saints were, they understood the grim reality of contesting the medicine against these three prodigies. Circumstances were stronger than men; they had no choice but to retreat! *Whoosh!* Several Great Saints transformed into streaks of light, rapidly withdrawing from the valley. Soon, quiet settled over the valley, leaving only the three top prodigies behind. No—not just the three. A figure remained concealed in the shadows: Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng was currently hiding in the dark. Although his aura-concealment techniques were profound, they likely could not have eluded all three top prodigies on their own. Yet with the Illusory Realm, everything was different. Lu Changsheng concealed himself within the Illusory Realm, which emitted virtually no aura. Let alone top prodigies, even a top Great Saint would fail to detect him unless he exposed himself voluntarily. Looking at the three prodigies in the distance, Lu Changsheng felt a faint surge of excitement. With the other cultivators gone, only the three prodigies and the grand medicine remained. If he acted swiftly enough, he might be able to suppress all three with the Black Light Pagoda and obtain three wisps of Dark Domain origin power, provided they could not immediately tear his Illusory Realm apart. Nevertheless, Lu Changsheng did not act recklessly. He waited for the optimal moment. With everyone else gone, the three prodigies would inevitably fight amongst themselves. When their battle reached a critical juncture, that would be his cue to strike. So Lu Changsheng waited patiently. "The others have left. Gentlemen, let us rely on our own capabilities," the Heavenly Sword Sword Seed said coldly. He was determined to claim the grand medicine, and with a wisp of divine sword intent at his disposal, he harbored no fear. "Agreed," the other two prodigies nodded in assent. "Kill!" Instantly, the three top prodigies clashed. Fearsome sword shadows descended as if tearing the firmament asunder. A colossal sacred mountain straddled the void, obstructing countless sword shadows. A blazing sun burned with heat capable of boiling the seas and scorching the heavens. Terrifying phenomena shook the void, visible across the entire Sunset Forbidden Zone. The three fought with mounting fury, unleashing secret methods and treasures without reservation. Their might was truly no weaker than a one-Dao Great Saint—if anything, it was greater! Had the three truly joined forces earlier, those one-Dao Great Saints might indeed have ended up as stepping stones. The battle raged fiercely for several hours, ending in a stalemate. Just as the three had exhausted over half their strength and prepared to catch their breath, Lu Changsheng struck—and from the very start, he went all out. *Buzz!* The Illusory Realm descended. The three top prodigies reacted instantly. "Not good, an ambush—" Rich in combat experience, they immediately attempted to tear through the Illusory Realm to escape. Yet how could the Illusory Realm be torn apart so easily? In that briefest delay, Lu Changsheng unleashed the Black Light Pagoda. *Rumble!* The Black Light Pagoda crashed down, directly suppressing all three prodigies. No matter what secret methods or treasures they possessed, none held any meaning before the Black Light Pagoda. All were suppressed unconditionally. "Insolent! You—" The three prodigies were filled with shock and fury, attempting almost instantly to send distress transmissions to their backing factions. Calling reinforcements! This was the standard practice of top prodigies: invincible among peers, but calling in reinforcements if all else failed. Unfortunately, Lu Changsheng gave them no opportunity to summon aid, directly subduing all three. The moment they were suppressed, he reached out with a giant hand and snatched the grand medicine into his grasp. "Go!" Without a moment's hesitation, Lu Changsheng transformed into a streak of light and vanished without a trace.