Battle of Overlords! Three Thousand Smelted Daos and Four Worlds!

Day after day went by. In truth, Lu Changsheng could not think of an immediate solution. He had already optimized the time required for his True Realm to expand as much as possible, yet ten years was the absolute minimum. It could not be shortened any further. After all, the True Realm's expansion was a gradual process; much like the evolution of a world, this stage was indispensable. However, a Vanguard-tier ring defender was only allotted an interval of one year between matches. There was no way he would be granted ten years. Even so, an opportunity remained. Lu Changsheng had inquired and learned that once one ascended to become an "Overlord" tier ring defender, the interval between matches became ten years. At that point, he would be able to utilize the downtime between defenses to let his True Realm expand. To become an Overlord, however, he had to complete ten Vanguard-tier defense matches. Counting the battle where he had challenged Mo Wen, Lu Changsheng had fought only two matches so far, leaving eight more to go. Eight matches meant eight years, which was not terribly long. Yet when it came time for his third match, Lu Changsheng discovered that no one had challenged him. He was effectively granted a bye, though it still counted toward his tally of matches. Then came the fourth match, the fifth, the sixth... all the way to the tenth. Not a single person challenged Lu Changsheng. Clearly, the prospective challengers were not fools. Lu Changsheng's duel against Leng Jiankong had indisputably demonstrated King-tier strength. Who in their right mind would challenge him? Would that not be suicidal? This was somewhat unexpected for Lu Changsheng. Because the remaining eight matches were all byes without actual combat, he naturally earned no prize money. As for his fortune, it did not increase significantly either. After the eight rounds, thanks to the fame he had accumulated previously and the steady trickle of fortune he received, his soul strength grew by another 1%, bringing it to 13%. "Changsheng, you must have been bored out of your mind these past eight years, right?" "Still, you won't have to sit through byes anymore. You've had eight byes plus your two earlier matches, making ten in total. You are now eligible to challenge an Overlord-tier ring defender." "Who do you plan to challenge this time?" Fang Chuan asked. "Among the Overlord-tier defenders currently available, who is the strongest?" Lu Changsheng inquired. As if anticipating the question, Fang Chuan answered immediately, "That would certainly be Zi Qianying!" "Zi Qianying... quite the famous name," Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath. He had also been paying attention to the Overlord-tier defenders, and Zi Qianying was the most dazzling among them. Zi Qianying was a special lifeform born with three thousand sub-bodies. These three thousand sub-bodies were extraordinarily unique; they belonged to him, yet did not entirely belong to him. Each sub-body possessed its own independent mind, yet all were tethered to Zi Qianying. Furthermore, all three thousand could share their cultivation insights. Consequently, Zi Qianying had embarked on the path of smelting Great Daos. He had each of the three thousand sub-bodies comprehend a different Dao, continuously smelting them using one primary Dao as the core. Because their insights were interconnected, whenever one sub-body gained an understanding of a Dao, the others could comprehend it just as easily. This was equivalent to having three thousand streams of enlightenment simultaneously, making his cultivation speed unprecedentedly swift. Even if it was not three thousand times faster than an ordinary cultivator's, it was easily a hundred times faster. Thus, in a very short span of time, he had attained Transcendence and even reached its pinnacle. His combat prowess was even more terrifying. Every single sub-body could rival an Overlord-tier expert. With three thousand such bodies combined, just how horrifying was his total might? Moreover, since all three thousand bodies shared a single mind, they could form powerful battle formations. Among the Overlord tier, he had virtually no rivals. He was an exceptionally formidable and troublesome opponent. "Changsheng, are you confident in taking on Zi Qianying?" Fang Chuan asked. Lu Changsheng shook his head. "Before we clash, I have no certainty." "No certainty... Could you pick someone else instead? This Zi Qianying is truly difficult to deal with and definitely possesses King-tier combat strength. If you're not careful, you might..." Fang Chuan did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was plain: with a single slip, Lu Changsheng would lose. Lu Changsheng shook his head. "Zi Qianying is immensely popular and possesses staggering fortune, rivaling that of ten ordinary Overlord-tier defenders combined. Only by defeating him can I obtain a vast sea of fortune." "Did I not come to the Summit of the Universe precisely for fortune? Now that the opportunity is right before my eyes, I naturally won't let it slip by." "As for losing..." Lu Changsheng fell silent. Having stepped onto the Summit of the Universe, he was prepared for defeat. Besides, up until now, no one had been able to force out his full strength. Seeing Lu Changsheng's resolute expression, Fang Chuan nodded. "Very well. I will go arrange the challenge against Zi Qianying for you!" With that, Fang Chuan turned and left the cave dwelling to set things in motion. Following Fang Chuan's arrangements, word of Lu Changsheng's impending challenge against Zi Qianying spread like wildfire. Fang Chuan made no attempt to conceal it, nor was there any need to. The Summit of the Universe certainly had no intention of hiding it either; every battle here required advance hype. Why hide what would build anticipation? They wanted the news to spread as far and wide as possible. Naturally, the information circulated at tremendous speed, given the enormous attention Zi Qianying commanded. "Lu Changsheng is challenging Zi Qianying? Who is this Lu Changsheng?" "You don't even know Lu Changsheng? He's the rising star of the Summit of the Universe, a real powerhouse who appeared recently..." "Lu Changsheng actually dares to challenge Zi Qianying? Isn't he just like Leng Jiankong—another seeker of the Dao?" "Who cares if he's a seeker of the Dao or not? Either way, this match is bound to be spectacular. In his last fight against Leng Jiankong, Lu Changsheng unleashed King-tier power. He certainly has the credentials to challenge Zi Qianying." "Zi Qianying is no ordinary Overlord-tier defender. His strength surpassed the Overlord tier long ago and reached King tier; he's even a top-tier figure among Kings. If Lu Changsheng only has the strength he displayed against Leng Jiankong, he will surely lose." "Who said that was Lu Changsheng's full strength? He's a World Master! If he intentionally concealed an inner world, who could tell? If he dares challenge Zi Qianying, he must have a card up his sleeve." "I have to see this fight in person..." The news had long since spread, and countless people were discussing Lu Changsheng's challenge. Over the following days, it was officially confirmed: Lu Changsheng was challenging Zi Qianying, and Zi Qianying could not refuse! *** Meanwhile, inside Zi Qianying's cave dwelling. Many might not know it, but Zi Qianying was a woman. For a woman to reach this height was no small feat. Yet Zi Qianying was different. She had possessed unmatched talent from childhood and enjoyed smooth sailing throughout her journey, meeting virtually no setbacks. Having three thousand avatars was simply too terrifying. It was equivalent to three thousand people cultivating simultaneously; even if the true body did nothing, the three thousand avatars would cultivate on her behalf. "Qianying, Lu Changsheng has challenged you. I just looked into him, and he is far from simple," softly said Xing Can, Zi Qianying's right-hand aide and a physical cultivator in the first realm of Transcendence. "How so?" "Lu Changsheng is a World Master. At first, he only revealed two inner worlds, but during his duel against Leng Jiankong, he revealed a third. Now that he has taken the initiative to challenge you, does that not suggest he possesses certain confidence and assurance? Therefore, I suspect he very likely possesses a fourth inner world!" Xing Can said solemnly. This was her deduction, and her deductions were almost always accurate. "Four inner worlds..." Zi Qianying closed her eyes. She knew how difficult World Masters could be. Three inner worlds had granted Lu Changsheng King-tier strength, so what about four? That would surely place him at the pinnacle of the King tier. Lu Changsheng was clearly a formidable foe. Even Zi Qianying had to proceed with caution. "Even if he possesses four inner worlds, I can still slay him!" Zi Qianying declared coldly. She possessed absolute confidence. Ever since she began cultivating, she had never lost—not even once. Her sole purpose in coming to the Summit of the Universe was to ascend to the Second Realm. As her accumulated fortune grew increasingly dense, Zi Qianying could already sense that her breakthrough opportunity was drawing near, and that intuition was growing stronger by the day. Perhaps defeating Lu Changsheng would trigger the emergence of her breakthrough. Once that happened, she would no longer need to waste time at the Summit of the Universe; she could directly ascend to the Second Realm! "Right, there is one more thing I need to tell you," Xing Can said. "Recently, someone from the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce approached me—a Second Realm Vice President, no less. He requested an audience with you. What do you think?" "A Vice President of the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce wants to see me? I recall never having any dealings with them. What could he want?" Zi Qianying was puzzled. She had never interacted with the chamber before. For a dignified Second Realm Vice President to seek her out, it had to be a matter of great importance. After a moment's hesitation, Xing Can said, "The Vice President mentioned Lu Changsheng. Supposedly, Lu Changsheng took a treasure belonging to the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce. As long as you can defeat him, tear open his world, and retrieve the treasure from his inner world, you will be permitted to join the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce and enjoy their various privileges. That includes, but is not limited to, cultivation methods and cultivation resources—they will support you fully." Zi Qianying's eyes narrowed slightly. She understood. There was bad blood between the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce and Lu Changsheng. It seemed Lu Changsheng had taken something of theirs, but out of fear of the Sovereign of Mount Feilong, the chamber dared not strike at him directly. Therefore, facing Lu Changsheng openly on the arena at the Summit of the Universe was their only opportunity. "It seems that item is extremely important to them..." "The Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce boasts an ancient heritage and profound foundation, ranking among the top chambers of commerce in the Great Universe. If I ascend to the Second Realm and wish to acquire detailed knowledge regarding the Third Realm, it will be immensely difficult without the backing of a Sovereign-tier force. But if I join the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce, that will cease to be an issue." "Besides, I intend to defeat Lu Changsheng on the ring anyway. When the time comes, whatever treasure is inside his inner world, I can simply hand it over to them." "There is no need for a meeting. We can talk after I defeat Lu Changsheng and obtain the treasure." Zi Qianying agreed. She was aloof, but she was no fool. Since this was something she could accomplish in passing, why refuse? As for the treasure inside Lu Changsheng's inner world, it might be precious, but it would never end up in her hands anyway. Even if she took it, she would not be able to keep it. Giving it to the chamber in exchange for their promises was the optimal choice. "Very well, I will inform the Vice President of your decision at once." Zi Qianying nodded. She knew full well that everything hinged on defeating Lu Changsheng. Yet her confidence remained unshakeable. With her three thousand avatars, she feared no one in the same realm! *** Time trickled away. Before long, the day of the battle between Lu Changsheng and Zi Qianying arrived. Departing from his cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng soon reached the arena. This time, the stage was different once again—it was an "Overlord" tier ring. Compared to Vanguard-tier rings, the Overlord-tier match drew more than ten times the attention. Even before the fight began, Lu Changsheng could already feel a dense mass of fortune converging toward him. Naturally, this fortune was divided between Lu Changsheng and Zi Qianying, and because Zi Qianying enjoyed far greater popularity, the fortune gathering around her was considerably larger. *My odds are very high this time, reaching four to one once again. That means the major factions favor Zi Qianying...* Thoughts flashed through Lu Changsheng's mind. With odds of four to one, he had long since wagered all 520,000 source crystals on himself. Should he win, that would yield 2,080,000 source crystals—a staggering figure, to say nothing of the prize money. In short, victory would bring him immense rewards. At that moment, in the VIP seats, Tong Tianlin was seated alongside Fang Chuan, having taken the initiative to invite him over. "Fellow Daoist Fang, Zi Qianying has already agreed to the Myriad Ancients Chamber of Commerce's terms. Once she wins this battle, she will join us. When that happens, the Azure Lotus Treasure Lamp will be returned to its rightful owner. I presume Fellow Daoist Fang will be able to accept that outcome?" Tong Tianlin appeared to be asking politely, but he was effectively putting Fang Chuan on notice. After all, both sides represented Sovereign-tier forces, and many things could not be kept secret. Fang Chuan glanced at Tong Tianlin and replied calmly, "The Summit of the Universe is fair and just. If Zi Qianying can defeat Junior Brother Lu, whatever she takes will be her legitimate spoils of war. There would be nothing to fault." "However, is Vice President Tong truly so certain that Zi Qianying will win?" "Zi Qianying's strength is plain for all to see. A World Master... will find it exceedingly difficult to defeat her. Fellow Daoist Fang surely knows that while World Masters possess myriad methods, their actual combat strength is usually mediocre, no? Even if Fellow Daoist Lu is an exception, he stands little chance against Zi Qianying..." Tong Tianlin spoke with absolute conviction, brimming with confidence. Otherwise, he would not have approached Zi Qianying and offered such extensive promises. Those commitments were of the highest caliber within the chamber, not something an ordinary person could ever obtain. "Vice President Tong, let us wait and see, then," Fang Chuan said with a cool sneer. Though he sounded confident, Fang Chuan was privately uneasy. To his discerning eyes, Zi Qianying was exceptionally formidable! He had considered the possibility that Lu Changsheng possessed a fourth inner world, but even with four, could he defeat her? Difficult! Exceedingly difficult! Nevertheless, since Lu Changsheng had made his decision, Fang Chuan would offer nothing less than full support. Tong Tianlin was confident, while Fang Chuan harbored worry. If even Second Realm mighty figures could not see through the outcome, what about the First Realm Transcendents? In fact, contrary to many expectations, a great number of spectators favored Lu Changsheng. This was entirely different from his previous matches; many had even placed bets on him and were now shouting at the top of their lungs in support. "Hahaha, you've all been fooled by Lu Changsheng! I watched both of his previous fights—he's a master of concealing his strength! He definitely has cards he hasn't played yet, and in all likelihood, it's a fourth inner world!" "Exactly! I lost a fortune on his first two fights, but I've figured out his temperament now. He never does anything without certainty and always holds a trump card in reserve. He almost certainly has a fourth inner world!" "Even if he has a fourth inner world, could he really defeat Zi Qianying? Don't forget, Zi Qianying has three thousand avatars that share a single mind!" "What use are numbers against a World Master? Numbers are the last thing a World Master fears! Let alone three thousand avatars, even thirty thousand would be pulverized the moment a world sweeps over them!" "Are Zi Qianying's three thousand avatars ordinary clones? Every single one is comparable to the true body, and they can even form a grand array! That combat power sits at the very apex of King-tier defenders. Lu Changsheng is doomed to fail!" The crowd was split into two sharply divided camps. Lu Changsheng walked into the arena. He noticed that many people were actually cheering for him, which genuinely surprised him. Some were even locked in heated arguments with Zi Qianying's supporters. None of that concerned him, however. Stepping onto the arena floor, he laid eyes on Zi Qianying. Although he had already viewed recordings of her, facing her as an opponent at such close range felt completely different. Zi Qianying was a woman of peerless elegance. In truth, among cultivators who reached the realm of Transcendence, none were unsightly; paired with their refined dispositions, every one of them appeared extraordinary. Yet Zi Qianying's aura was remarkably distinct, possessing a strange, contradictory quality. Her presence seemed to shift from one moment to the next, presenting an entirely different disposition every second. This reminded Lu Changsheng of a possibility: her three thousand avatars. Those avatars barely differed from her true body. If she could alternate between her true body and avatars at any given instant, it was only natural for her aura to change continuously. Lu Changsheng had once possessed flesh avatars as well, but they were fundamentally different from Zi Qianying's three thousand avatars. His flesh avatars were all Lu Changsheng himself, whereas each of Zi Qianying's avatars had its own distinct thoughts and personality, merely tethered to her existence. Calling them three thousand separate Transcendents was hardly an exaggeration. In a sense, Lu Changsheng was about to face three thousand Transcendents. *Buzz.* The arena sealed, and the surrounding environment shifted rapidly until both figures stood amidst the void of the Great Universe. Indeed, this battlefield had materialized directly into the environment of the Great Universe. Zi Qianying looked at Lu Changsheng and said impassively, "Fellow Daoist Lu, everyone knows you conceal your methods. Do not hold back this time. If you still hope to catch me off guard, you might not even get the chance to use them." Her words were cold, but they spoke the plain truth. "I shall go all out!" Lu Changsheng replied. Against Zi Qianying, he naturally intended to fight with everything he had, with no intention of holding back. *Boom!* The next instant, Zi Qianying moved. Her figure instantly split into three thousand bodies, every single one radiating a terrifying aura that reached the King tier. She, too, afforded Lu Changsheng full respect, unleashing her full power from the very first strike. In an instant, countless Great Daos erupted with a thunderous roar, immediately submerging Lu Changsheng's form. "True Realm!" Lu Changsheng expanded his True Realm. Simultaneously, inner worlds manifested within it one after another. The Mortal Realm, the Spirit Realm, the Lesser Thousand Realm... Each world emerged, each more powerful than the last. Yet it was not over. These three worlds alone were not enough to halt Zi Qianying. *Boom!* A fourth world appeared. The Great Thousand Realm! The terrifying Great Thousand Realm manifested. As its name implied, the Great Thousand Realm encompassed myriad phenomena, containing everything within the boundless cosmos. With the birth of the Great Thousand Realm, the True Realm seemed to acquire an unyielding backbone, growing incomparably resilient. *Rumble!* The Great Dao attacks unleashed by the three thousand avatars crashed against the True Realm, instantly submerging it. The onslaught was ferocious beyond precedent. Compared to this tempest, Leng Jiankong's sword qi from before seemed utterly insignificant. Yet Lu Changsheng held firm. Reinforced by four inner worlds, the True Realm stood solid and seemingly indestructible. This sight sent a wave of wild excitement through the spectators surrounding the arena. "Hahaha, do you see that? That's a fourth world! Lu Changsheng really does have a fourth inner world!" "This fourth inner world seems extraordinary! That's Zi Qianying—a full three thousand avatars and three thousand smelted Great Daos! How terrifying is that? Her might rivals the very top of the King tier, yet Lu Changsheng's world remains completely stable, unshakeable!" "Once you fail to shake a World Master's world, that World Master is practically invincible! Zi Qianying is in trouble now—big trouble!" "Lu Changsheng hides his strength so deeply. If he didn't have confidence, how would he dare challenge Zi Qianying?" Many supporters were beside themselves with joy. Seeing that Lu Changsheng truly possessed a fourth world, they burst into hearty laughter. On the ring, however, the situation was far less optimistic than the audience imagined. Lu Changsheng's expression remained grave. He knew that the previous strike had merely been a probing attack by Zi Qianying. For a mere test to carry such terrifying might meant she surely held even more dreadful techniques in reserve. Their battle had only just begun. "Four inner worlds—truly remarkable," Zi Qianying said. "Especially that fourth world; it actually gives me a faint sense of danger. In that case, I will hold nothing back!" Her aura surged higher and higher—the collective auras of three thousand avatars climbing in unison. The light of Great Daos flickered across all three thousand bodies, faintly assembling into a grand array. "Three Thousand Great Daos: Extinction of All Things!" As the words left her mouth, an aura of pure destruction rose from Zi Qianying. Each of her three thousand avatars primarily smelted a single Great Dao, forming the Three Thousand Great Daos! Three thousand Daos were even capable of evolving a world. And whatever could evolve a world could just as easily destroy one. What Zi Qianying was unleashing now was precisely the world-destroying might of the Three Thousand Great Daos. *Rippp!* As the Three Thousand Great Daos detonated, making contact with Lu Changsheng's True Realm, the True Realm was torn open. Inside, the Mortal Realm, Spirit Realm, and Lesser Thousand Realm appeared to be annihilating bit by bit, seeming entirely unstoppable. Lu Changsheng could only watch as the scene unfolded before him. The power of destruction was irresistible; it was the exact counter to a world, and by extension, the exact counter to a World Master. After all, a World Master's greatest weapon was their internal worlds. Lu Changsheng had known Zi Qianying was strong, but now that she fought with everything she had, the destructive power unleashed by three thousand smelted Great Daos was causing his True Realm to collapse piecemeal. Though it did not shatter in an instant, it was steadily crumbling. Even so, Lu Changsheng's Great Thousand Realm was extraordinary. Confronting such terrifying destructive power and the Three Thousand Great Daos, the Great Thousand Realm remained as immovable as Mount Tai. Even as its surface slowly disintegrated, the rate of annihilation grew progressively slower. One breath, three breaths, five breaths, ten breaths... Everyone stared fixedly at Lu Changsheng's True Realm—or more accurately, at the Great Thousand Realm within it. While the other three inner worlds collapsed rapidly and the True Realm shook violently, the Great Thousand Realm's collapse was remarkably sluggish. Slowly, as if reaching its threshold, the disintegration began to grind to a halt. Finally, after thirteen breaths, the Great Thousand Realm ceased annihilating altogether. The stability of the Great Thousand Realm anchored the True Realm as well. Even if the Mortal Realm, Spirit Realm, and Lesser Thousand Realm were collapsing drastically, as long as the Great Thousand Realm did not fall, the True Realm would not break. Likewise, once the True Realm stabilized, the collapse of the other three worlds began to slow, and their eventual stabilization was merely a matter of time. "He blocked it?" Zi Qianying's pupils contracted sharply in disbelief. This was a destructive force forged from the Three Thousand Great Daos! She rarely resorted to this power; it was her ultimate trump card. Once deployed, it had proved invincible without exception. She had never encountered anyone capable of withstanding the destructive force born of her combined Three Thousand Great Daos. Was this pure destructive power not the natural bane of worlds? It should have countered a world completely! Why, then, had Lu Changsheng's inner world held? There was only one explanation: Lu Changsheng's inner world was exceedingly strong—so strong that even pure world-destroying power could not obliterate it. That meant his world was remarkably sturdy and nearly impossible to destroy. Yet how could a First Realm World Master possess such a stable world? "An impressive destructive power," Lu Changsheng remarked, shaking his head. "Using the Three Thousand Great Daos as a foundation and fusing them into pure destruction capable of annihilating all tangible matter and energy makes you practically the natural nemesis of a World Master." "Unfortunately, your destructive power is still too weak to completely destroy my Great Thousand Realm in an instant." "The Great Thousand Realm encompasses myriad phenomena, containing countless Lesser Thousand Realms, Spirit Realms, and Mortal Realms within it. To destroy it, your destructive power would need to be multiplied several times over, or even tenfold." Unfortunately, Zi Qianying would not have another chance. Facing an opponent like this, Lu Changsheng would not show the slightest mercy. *Rumble!* The next moment, Lu Changsheng's Great Thousand Realm erupted. Simultaneously, all four inner worlds within him burst forth. The power of the Mortal Realm. The power of the Spirit Realm. The power of the Lesser Thousand Realm. Even the power of the Great Thousand Realm. Every ounce of power surged forth. The True Realm swept across the void with majestic force, crashing violently over Zi Qianying's three thousand avatars. *Bang!* All three thousand avatars burst apart in an instant. The renowned Zi Qianying could not mount even a shred of resistance before she was pulverized into dust. The entire audience stared dumbstruck at the arena. Zi Qianying... was dead?