A Shift in the River of Spacetime: 'Lu Changsheng' Leaps into the River?

Ten years, twenty years, thirty years, forty years, fifty years... *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. His True Realm had expanded five more times. The number of expansions of his True Realm had reached as high as one hundred and forty-nine! However, there was still some distance before a Divine Realm would be born. Yet Lu Changsheng was filled with anticipation. Because over these fifty years, he had continually obtained fortune here and there. And that fortune was bit by bit strengthening his soul. 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 99%... Now, Lu Changsheng's soul strength had stayed at 99% for a long time. Just a tiny sliver away from 100%. It should happen in the next few days. Lu Changsheng waited quietly. He did not know how long he waited. Perhaps three days, perhaps two, or perhaps just a few hours. The fortune flowing from the unseen fully propelled his soul to 100%. At that moment, Lu Changsheng's soul underwent a "metamorphosis." *Boom.* Lu Changsheng's mind roared. He was still him. Yet it seemed he was no longer him. Lu Changsheng clearly sensed a qualitative change within himself. Yet where exactly that change lay, he could not clearly explain. He could only follow an unseen sensation. Faintly, he "saw" a colossal river winding through countless spacetimes. The River of Spacetime! This was the vast River of Spacetime! The River of Spacetime and the River of Time differed by merely a single word, yet they represented two entirely different concepts. The River of Spacetime contained countless timelines, countless dimensions. If there was anything across countless timelines and dimensions that remained forever unchanging, there was only one thing: the River of Spacetime! The River of Spacetime was eternal and immutable. It was the source of all things, and seemingly the end of all things as well. Lu Changsheng could faintly make out branches within the River of Spacetime. Among the countless branching "tributaries," there appeared figures that felt incomparably familiar to him. Those were Lu Changsheng as well. Yet they were Lu Changshengs of other timelines, other dimensions. Some of these Lu Changshengs were still utterly bewildered, unable to see the River of Spacetime at all. Others had already caught sight of the River of Spacetime. Yet not one dared leap into it. Lu Changsheng saw countless figures within the River of Spacetime, struggling amidst its currents. Regrettably, none could "leap" from the River of Spacetime back onto the shore; they could only gradually sink, be obliterated, and eventually become a part of the river itself. Lu Changsheng's mind was profoundly shaken. However, upon seeing the River of Spacetime, an epiphany dawned upon him. If one could leap into the River of Spacetime and then leap back out—unimpeded even by the river itself—that would represent a supreme realm. Eternal! To be completely unfettered by the River of Spacetime—that was the Eternal Realm! Yet the Eternal Realm did not seem to be the end... After all, no matter how great the Eternal Realm was, could it surpass the River of Spacetime itself? Still, that involved far too much, and lay far beyond Lu Changsheng's current reach. "Hm?" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng caught sight of a massive dark silhouette within the River of Spacetime. No, that was not a shadow. It was a colossal figure, more than half of whose body had already submerged beneath the waters of the River of Spacetime. Only a massive head remained floating above the surface. "Have faith in me, offer up your everything, and you shall obtain infinite power and infinite lifespan..." Lu Changsheng stared at that colossal head. At the same time, a voice seemed to rise within his mind. As the voice echoed relentlessly in his thoughts, Lu Changsheng's entire body went taut. His whole consciousness grew somewhat dazed. Almost involuntarily, he was about to walk toward the River of Spacetime. Moreover, that massive head was slowly drifting toward Lu Changsheng. "Hmph." "You dare try to bewitch my disciple?" Suddenly, a familiar voice boomed like thunder in Lu Changsheng's mind. Immediately afterward, a towering figure appeared beside Lu Changsheng. At the same time, that immense figure waved a hand violently, kicking up spray in the River of Spacetime that struck the colossal head in an instant, immediately driving it back. "Heh heh, another old fossil about to be dragged into the River of Spacetime." "Don't worry, you'll be just like me soon enough, hahaha..." The massive head glared fixatedly at the giant figure beside Lu Changsheng, bursting into shrill laughter instead. Lu Changsheng came back to his senses and glanced to his side. The giant figure beside him was so familiar. "Master! Why are you here?" Lu Changsheng blurted out. This towering figure was none other than Lu Changsheng's master, a Third Realm Sovereign of the Great Universe—Sovereign Feilong! Sovereign Feilong looked at Lu Changsheng with seeming marvel. "In such a short time, you've managed to mend your soul and even see the River of Spacetime..." "In truth, only those with a complete soul can behold the River of Spacetime. And the core of all cultivation lies within this very river." "The Fourth Realm, the Eternal Realm, which I mentioned before, is in fact the ability to enter and leave the River of Spacetime at will, and even fish out certain individuals who have sunk into its depths. That means those people had died, yet great beings of the Eternal Realm can fish them directly out of the River of Spacetime." Lu Changsheng's heart jolted. Wouldn't that be equivalent to resurrection? Those who were already dead could be resurrected by the Eternal Realm. What kind of terrifying ability was that? It surpassed all divine abilities and all treasures. No wonder the Fourth Realm was said to be an existence invisible and unheard. "Then what was with that massive head in the River of Spacetime just now?" Lu Changsheng asked again. "Those are all Third Realm existences." "In the boundless spacetime, ours is not the only Great Universe. There are all kinds of universes, all kinds of cultivation paths. But no matter the system of cultivation, if one cannot reach the Fourth Realm, the Eternal Realm, one will step by step sink into the River of Spacetime." "Why do we Third Realm beings of the Great Universe relentlessly pursue the Fourth Realm to achieve eternity? If lifespan were truly endless, why must we pursue the Fourth Realm?" "This is the actual reason. Even Third Realm Sovereigns, as time passes, will for various reasons sink step by step into the River of Spacetime. The stronger the Third Realm cultivator, even if they sink into the River of Spacetime, the more they can keep their head above water and continue to live." "Yet if one never reaches the Fourth Realm, the day will eventually come when they sink entirely into the River of Spacetime. When that happens, it is the moment of death..." Lu Changsheng's heart trembled. He understood. He finally understood why even Third Realm Sovereigns possessed the drive to pursue the Fourth Realm. To him previously, the Fourth Realm had seemed ethereal and intangible. After all, no one had ever seen an existence of the Fourth Realm. Who could truly say for sure that the Fourth Realm existed? Yet even so, Third Realm Sovereigns pursued it tirelessly, which meant there had to be a reason. And this was the reason. Even Third Realm Sovereigns would gradually sink into the River of Spacetime. "Are those trapped in the River of Spacetime actually souls?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Indeed, they are souls. Once a soul sinks completely into the River of Spacetime, the physical body will also die without illness, passing away inexplicably." "In the Great Universe, quite a few Third Realm Sovereigns have passed away inexplicably; in truth, it was because their souls sank in the River of Spacetime." "The owner of that massive head just now possessed an incomparably formidable aura and such an immense scale. He is undoubtedly an elite among the Third Realm, likely one of the very top existences of some universe." "However, you need not fear. Across the River of Spacetime, no one knows which universe you hail from. Even if they knew, crossing between universes is extraordinarily difficult. But when encountering such powerful beings, their souls could drag you down into the River of Spacetime to serve as a bolster for their own souls, allowing them to survive much longer. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, whenever you encounter such powerful Third Realm existences, leave the River of Spacetime immediately and do not attempt contact." Lu Changsheng nodded. He understood completely now. Only today, now that his soul was no longer a remnant and had been restored to completion, did he truly grasp the essence of cultivation. The River of Spacetime! The essence of cultivation was transcendence beyond the River of Spacetime. Only by transcending the River of Spacetime could one attain true, great liberation and freedom. And the stronger one's soul, the greater the hope of transcending the River of Spacetime. This was why the soul was the fundamental root of cultivation for all Third Realm Sovereigns. "Very well. It is not wise for you to linger in the River of Spacetime. Return..." As Sovereign Feilong's words fell, Lu Changsheng felt his consciousness blur. Soon after, Lu Changsheng regained awareness. He was still seated in the quiet room of his cave dwelling. There were no changes around him; it seemed as if everything just now had merely been an illusion. Yet was it truly an illusion? *Ding.* Lu Changsheng's message transmission stone rang. "Changsheng, do not enter the River of Spacetime lightly. Keep this in mind! If you must enter, wait until your soul is stronger..." Lu Changsheng saw that the message came from his master, Sovereign Feilong. And it had just been sent. This proved that the River of Spacetime he had seen and everything that had occurred were real, not an illusion at all. "It was all real..." "The essence of cultivation is to transcend the River of Spacetime." "The soul is the true essence of cultivation..." Lu Changsheng muttered under his breath. His eyes shone brighter and brighter. At this moment, Lu Changsheng harbored no further confusion. He immediately called up his attribute panel to inspect his condition. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension Realm Lord: First Realm True Realm: 100% (149 Expansions) Ordinary Soul: 0 (Sinks upon touching water; will not survive a second in the River of Spacetime) The "Soul" column on the attribute panel had changed. It had become "Ordinary Soul." There was even a note following it: Will not survive a second upon entering the River of Spacetime. In other words, if Lu Changsheng were to enter the River of Spacetime, he would likely submerge in an instant. There was no way he could float on the surface like that colossal head. This could only mean one thing: Lu Changsheng's soul was fragile in the extreme. Still, the matter of the soul could wait. For now, it was his turn to defend the arena. Fifty years had passed, and Lu Changsheng had to defend his title. Thus, Lu Changsheng emerged from his cave dwelling. "Changsheng, you've come out of seclusion." Outside the quiet room was still Lin Qingluan. However, Fang Chuan was uncharacteristically absent. "Where is Senior Brother Fang?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Senior Brother Fang went to handle the arrangements for your title defense. Someone has challenged you this time, so you won't get a bye," Lin Qingluan said. "Someone challenged me?" Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised, yet it also felt reasonable. After all, among the defenders at the "Invincible" tier, Lu Changsheng appeared to be the weakest at present. He had merely defeated Yuan Jiuzhen. The crux of the matter was that Yuan Jiuzhen himself was the weakest among the Invincible defenders. By replacing Yuan Jiuzhen, Lu Changsheng had become the weakest among the Invincible defenders. Those aspiring to become Invincible defenders would naturally choose to challenge Lu Changsheng. "Who is challenging me?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Bai Yukun. He's said to carry the bloodline of Sovereign Baidi, being a direct descendant." Lu Changsheng nodded. Bai Yukun—he noted the name. "Do we have information on Bai Yukun?" "Of course. Senior Brother Fang prepared it for you long ago." Lin Qingluan promptly produced the dossier. Lu Changsheng reviewed it carefully. The details on Bai Yukun were neither too sparse nor overly extensive. As a direct descendant of Sovereign Baidi, he could directly challenge chief commanders without having to claw his way up from the bottom preliminary matches. In that regard, he was similar to Lu Changsheng. However, every challenge Bai Yukun had mounted was highly targeted. He would always select opponents whose styles he countered, unlike Lu Changsheng, who had deliberately challenged the absolute top figures of each tier. Consequently, Bai Yukun had smoothly become a King-tier arena defender and successfully defended nine times, earning the right to challenge an Invincible defender. Bai Yukun's reason for challenging Lu Changsheng was equally simple. On the surface, Lu Changsheng indeed seemed to be the weakest among the Invincible defenders. If not Lu Changsheng, whom else would he challenge? Now Lu Changsheng had evidently become the "easy target." Yet Lu Changsheng felt no anger. He did not mind being viewed as an easy target. At least being an easy target had one benefit: he would actually get to fight on the arena stage. As long as he stepped onto the stage, he could acquire a massive amount of fortune and wager source crystals—why not? Of course, in earlier challenges, Lu Changsheng could have repeatedly "feigned" weakness to fight more matches. But there was no need. His mind was pure, and he acted in accordance with his heart. He disdained such petty tricks. If he could do it, he could; if not, he could not. Soon, Fang Chuan returned. Seeing Lu Changsheng out of seclusion, a smile appeared on his face. "Junior Brother Lu, the match with Bai Yukun has been arranged. The fight will take place in three months." "This Bai Yukun is exceptionally cautious, and his strength is quite solid. But whether he truly has Invincible-tier strength is hard to say. In his past few fights, he clearly held back, wanting to keep a hidden card for challenging the Invincible tier. He is a calculating individual." "Therefore, Junior Brother Lu, you must be careful," Fang Chuan said solemnly. "Rest assured, Senior Brother Fang. I know how to handle it." Lu Changsheng nodded. Bai Yukun might have held something back, but what of it? This time, Lu Changsheng had accumulated a full fifty years of destructive power. Compared to fifty years ago, he was far stronger. Especially his offensive power. Even Yuan Jiuzhen, whose physical defense was invincible, had been no match. What could Bai Yukun do? Moreover, over these fifty years, Lu Changsheng had expanded his True Realm five times. The might of the four world layers within him had ascended to another level. Presently, Lu Changsheng feared no cultivator in the first realm of Transcendence. "By the way, your odds this time are a bit low, around 1.5." Lu Changsheng understood. Everyone could see the situation clearly. Generally speaking, Bai Yukun, in the role of the challenger, was actually considered weaker. Challengers rising from the King tier to challenge an Invincible defender rarely succeeded. The probability was exceedingly low. Lu Changsheng was the sole exception. Last time when Lu Changsheng challenged Yuan Jiuzhen, he had also been considered the underdog. Naturally, Lu Changsheng would not let down his guard. Soon, the appointed time for the defense match arrived. Lu Changsheng went directly into the arena and waited quietly. Bai Yukun did not seem to have arrived yet. However, the spectators surrounding the arena were buzzing with excitement. "Even though Lu Changsheng's odds are a bit low this time, it should be a very safe bet." "Indeed. Bai Yukun challenging Lu Changsheng may seem like picking an easy target, but barring any accidents, Bai Yukun won't be Lu Changsheng's match." "Bai Yukun might have concealed a bit of strength, but challenging an Invincible-tier powerhouse is easier said than done. Over all these years, only Lu Changsheng successfully defeated Yuan Jiuzhen and took his place." The crowd debated fervently, few holding high hopes for Bai Yukun. Before long, Bai Yukun appeared. He was an elegant, refined-looking man. Glancing at the arena, he stepped inside. The combat environment remained the Great Universe. Bai Yukun's expression was grave. "Realm Lord Lu, I know you are very strong. However, I have made thorough preparations and studied your weaknesses. In this battle, you are certain to lose!" Bai Yukun spoke first, his tone full of conviction. Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. Yet that was all; he gave no response. Bai Yukun walked the path of smelting the Great Dao. In this aspect, he differed from Yuan Jiuzhen. "Kill." Bai Yukun made his move. The moment he attacked, countless Daos blazed with light. Immediately after, an enormous golden halberd materialized. "What? The Golden Halberd?" "His Majesty Baidi actually gave the Golden Halberd to Bai Yukun?" "How is that possible? This is the Golden Halberd! Only powerhouses of the Second Realm and above can wield it, and only the Third Realm can bring out its immense might. How can Bai Yukun activate it?" "So this is Bai Yukun's trump card! But I truly didn't expect His Majesty Baidi to be so generous as to bestow the Golden Halberd upon Bai Yukun, a mere first-realm Transcendent..." Many who saw the golden halberd turned pale with shock. They clearly recognized its origins. This was a supreme treasure of Sovereign Baidi's. It had accompanied Sovereign Baidi throughout his rise, and upon reaching the Third Realm, Sovereign Baidi had refined and reforged it into this Golden Halberd, possessing astonishing might. If one could truly unleash the power of the Golden Halberd, one would be genuinely invincible among first-realm Transcendents! Lu Changsheng knew nothing of this Golden Halberd. However, the instant Bai Yukun unleashed it, Lu Changsheng felt a sense of danger. Extreme danger! Therefore, without a second thought, Lu Changsheng directly released fifty years' worth of accumulated destructive power. *Boom.* The destructive power erupted in full. The terrifying accumulation of fifty years transformed in an instant into a colossal cloud that blotted out the sky and veiled the sun, directly enveloping this region of void. Even the dazzling golden glow was eclipsed by the destructive power. As far as the eye could see, there was no gold—only boundless black. "Ah..." "What kind of power is this?" Bai Yukun let out a wretched scream. With that cry, everything quickly went quiet. The surroundings remained pitch-black as ink. Time ticked by. Lu Changsheng's brow furrowed. That was it? He could no longer sense any trace of Bai Yukun's aura. Lu Changsheng was still on high alert against Bai Yukun, wary of any deception. Yet the moment the destructive power engulfed him, Bai Yukun had screamed repeatedly, his aura plummeting rapidly. He had failed to hold out for even three breaths. Lu Changsheng found it somewhat unbelievable. This seemed rather abnormal. Thus, Lu Changsheng waited a while longer. Still, there was no sign of Bai Yukun's aura. Even if he was feigning, he could not maintain it for so long. After all, Lu Changsheng's destructive power was terrifyingly potent. With a wave of his hand, Lu Changsheng swiftly gathered the unexhausted destructive power back into his True Realm. Looking at the spot where Bai Yukun had stood, where was there any trace of him? Only the Golden Halberd remained, gleaming brightly and radiating brilliant golden light. Just now, even the destructive power had been unable to damage this Golden Halberd. A truly extraordinary treasure! Lu Changsheng reached out and grabbed it firmly in his hand. *Buzz.* The Golden Halberd trembled violently, attempting to wrench itself free from Lu Changsheng's grip. A terrifying will seemed faintly embedded within it. However, this was an arena established by the Summit of the Universe. It suppressed all external power, never permitting any outside force to intervene. This will counted as an external force. "Suppress!" The next moment, a faint face materialized on the Golden Halberd. But as that cold voice rang out, the face instantly shattered. The Golden Halberd returned to tranquility, held firmly in Lu Changsheng's hand. Lu Changsheng frowned. He did not know the master of the Golden Halberd. He had not even recognized the halberd itself. Yet that did not prevent him from knowing it was a formidable treasure. No matter what had happened, the Golden Halberd had fallen into his hands, and that was enough. Lu Changsheng stowed the Golden Halberd away and walked directly out of the arena. *Boom.* Instantly, countless spectators felt their minds thunder. A victory. Lu Changsheng had won again. In truth, Lu Changsheng's victory was not surprising. Many had believed he could defeat Bai Yukun. But the Golden Halberd in Bai Yukun's hands made all the difference! That was Sovereign Baidi's supreme treasure! Lu Changsheng had not recognized the face from earlier, but many spectators had. That was Sovereign Baidi! Had Lu Changsheng actually "snatched" the Golden Halberd? Would this not enrage Sovereign Baidi? "Incredible! Lu Changsheng is truly brazen—he even dared seize the Golden Halberd?" "Bai Yukun used the Golden Halberd, and since Bai Yukun is dead, the Golden Halberd is Lu Changsheng's spoils of war. Why wouldn't he dare? Besides, Lu Changsheng has Mount Feilong behind him; he has no reason to fear Sovereign Baidi." "Regardless, this is Sovereign Baidi's supreme treasure after all. Heh, Sovereign Baidi is probably furious right now. Bai Yukun, whom he held high hopes for, couldn't even last a single exchange before dying. The gap between him and an 'Invincible' defender is just too vast." "I don't think Bai Yukun was too weak—Lu Changsheng is simply too strong. Compared to fifty years ago, Lu Changsheng's strength seems to have grown considerably. In particular, his offensive might—that sky-blotting destructive power—was far stronger than when he fought Yuan Jiuzhen fifty years ago." "Who told Bai Yukun to challenge Lu Changsheng? Out of all the choices, he thought Lu Changsheng was an easy target, yet even with the Golden Halberd in hand, he couldn't survive a single strike..." Many spectators paid little attention to Bai Yukun. In their eyes, Bai Yukun had become synonymous with "useless." What drew their attention was the aftermath. Especially the Golden Halberd. How could Sovereign Baidi possibly let Lu Changsheng keep the Golden Halberd? Lu Changsheng met up with Fang Chuan and Lin Qingluan. Fang Chuan's gaze was solemn as he said, "Changsheng, let's go. We must return to the cave dwelling immediately to contact Master." Thus, the three collected their source crystals and hurried back to the cave dwelling. "Senior Brother Fang, what is going on?" Lu Changsheng asked. Fang Chuan looked at Lu Changsheng and sighed deeply. "It's about the Golden Halberd, of course. The Golden Halberd is a supreme treasure of His Majesty Baidi. It was likely bestowed upon his direct descendant, Bai Yukun, for this fight. Who could have known Bai Yukun would be so useless that he was slain by you before even unleashing its power?" "Bai Yukun can die, but to Sovereign Baidi, the Golden Halberd must never be lost." "Earlier on the arena, the rules of the Summit of the Universe held sway, and a Third Realm mighty figure personally intervened to suppress Sovereign Baidi's will on the halberd. But if Sovereign Baidi makes trouble again, things will get difficult." "So we must notify Master immediately and let Master decide everything." Lu Changsheng understood. Since this involved a Third Realm Sovereign, he naturally would not act recklessly. Promptly, Lu Changsheng and Fang Chuan sent messages to their master, Sovereign Feilong, explaining the full situation. Soon, Sovereign Feilong replied: "I am coming immediately. Stay at the Summit of the Universe; Baidi can do nothing to you there." Seeing Sovereign Feilong's message, both Fang Chuan and Lu Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief. "Junior Brother Lu, rest easy. With Master personally coming to resolve this, there won't be any problem." "This time, you've gained quite a harvest—even managing to obtain a supreme treasure like the Golden Halberd." "In truth, I was quite worried about you just now. When Bai Yukun brought out the Golden Halberd, its potential might was earth-shattering. That halberd has slain who knows how many Second Realm mighty figures; back when Sovereign Baidi rose to power, he carved his way to the top with it." "Who would have thought Bai Yukun was so useless that, with the Golden Halberd in hand, he died before even unleashing its power..." Fang Chuan looked Lu Changsheng up and down. In fact, he also knew that Bai Yukun was not truly useless—Lu Changsheng was simply too powerful. His strength grew almost by the moment. Such a rate of progress was truly startling. Ordinary cultivators, upon reaching the peak of their tier, found further progress nearly impossible. Even over vast eons of thousands or tens of thousands of years, making the slightest advancement was remarkable. Yet Lu Changsheng was different. Every ten or several tens of years, his strength would take a massive leap. It was nothing short of miraculous. Back in his cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng began tallying his gains from this battle. Between the wagers and the reward money, it totaled nearly twenty-seven million source crystals. This was actually secondary. The key was the fortune. A vast torrent of fortune surged in. In his quiet room, Lu Changsheng focused intently on the effect of the fortune upon his soul. With absolute concentration, he saw the River of Spacetime once again. Although his master had warned him that the River of Spacetime was perilous, Lu Changsheng could not help drawing closer to it. He saw a familiar figure standing by the shore of the River of Spacetime. Wasn't that himself from another timeline? "Wait, what is he doing?" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng's eyes went wide. What was he seeing? The self from another timeline had actually leaped into the air, plunging straight toward the River of Spacetime. *Plop.* That figure had leaped into the River of Spacetime.