Lu Changsheng Returns to Mount Feilong, Sovereign Feilong's Shock!

"Changsheng, does this mean I share the same lifespan as your True Realm now?" Lin Qingluan asked with a smile. In truth, she had always harbored a quiet worry. Unforeseen perils lurked everywhere in the vast Great Universe. What if an accident befell her one day? She possessed no means of immortality. Now, however, she no longer had to worry. She had essentially fused into one with Lu Changsheng, residing safely within his True Realm Plane. So long as the True Realm was not destroyed, she would never die, free from all fear of meeting an unexpected demise. Lu Changsheng nodded. "Actually, Transcendents have a lifespan limit as well; it's simply extraordinarily long. On the scale of your lifespan, however, you truly do share the same life as the True Realm." He naturally understood what Lin Qingluan meant. "Changsheng, how will your True Realm Plane expand?" she asked. "Do you plan to have other World Masters merge into it as well? But once they merge, their life and death will rest entirely in your hands. I doubt other World Masters would be willing..." Lin Qingluan was keen enough to discern the drawback of Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane. Attempting to grow it the way the Boundary Sea did—relying on other World Masters to voluntarily integrate their worlds—was virtually impossible. After all, not everyone was like Lin Qingluan, completely unfazed by placing their life and death in Lu Changsheng's hands. "For now, I intend to propagate the World Master cultivation methods within the True Realm Plane," Lu Changsheng replied. "When beings inside cultivate into World Masters, they can integrate their worlds into the plane. That way, my True Realm can expand on its own. But the flaw is obvious: it will take far too much time, and not everyone can become a World Master..." Lu Changsheng was well aware of the limitations of his True Realm Plane. Catching up to the Boundary Sea? Relying solely on such an "internal circulation" would make catching up impossible. Of course, source crystals could also be used to expand the plane, but using that trickle of source crystals to match the sheer scale of the Boundary Sea was utterly out of the question. The number of source crystals required would be unimaginable. Even so, Lu Changsheng believed that the cart would find a way when it reached the mountain. A solution would eventually present itself. He was already a Second Realm World Master, and had even elevated himself to an entity existing on the same tier as the Boundary Sea. That alone was an unexpected windfall. As for catching up to the Boundary Sea, he was in no rush. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng brought Lin Qingluan back to the Summit of the Universe. Over the following period, he felt a colossal surge of fortune. Evidently, Senior Brother Fang Chuan had already spread the news, bringing Lu Changsheng a tremendous wave of fortune. Indeed, Lu Changsheng's conjecture proved correct. The news had spread, immediately causing a massive uproar. Upon hearing it, countless cultivators were utterly flabbergasted, their hearts seized by disbelief. "What? Lu Changsheng has already advanced to the Second Realm, so he no longer holds the title of Summit of the Universe? Even the invincible arena champions can't challenge him anymore, and they have to duel among themselves to determine the new holder of the Summit of the Universe title?" "How long has Lu Changsheng held the title? Barely over a millennium! Even though he would have accumulated immense fortune in that short span, it shouldn't have been enough to push him to the Second Realm, should it?" "Yet facts are facts—Lu Changsheng truly has broken through to the Second Realm! And so quietly, without a sound... It's simply incredible!" "A Second Realm World Master... Even in the Boundary Sea, that is a foremost mighty figure." Whispers and discussions rippled everywhere. Second Realm World Masters were exceedingly rare. Even across the vast Boundary Sea, there were not many. Every single Second Realm World Master was a renowned titan. Now, another name had to be added to their ranks. Second Realm World Master, Lu Changsheng! Or rather, mighty figure of the universe, Lu Changsheng! The wider the news spread, the more fortune Lu Changsheng reaped. Wave after wave of immense fortune converged upon him. Naturally, Lu Changsheng knew full well that this was likely the final surge of fortune he would ever receive from the Summit of the Universe. In the future, acquiring such vast fortune again would be nearly impossible. The Summit of the Universe was established solely for First Realm Transcendents. The Second Realm belonged to mighty figures of the universe, who were barred from competing for the Summit of the Universe. Inside his cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng sat quietly in meditation. He meticulously sensed the gathering torrents of fortune. "Fortune..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. It had been a long time since he had felt such a deluge of fortune. As the fortune gathered upon him, it propelled the growth of his soul. This wave of fortune was completely depleted after about half a year. Though it could not compare to the fortune earned from combat at the Summit of the Universe, it was still remarkably vast. Lu Changsheng summoned his status panel to inspect his progress: Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension World Master: Second Realm True Realm Plane: 1% (expandable) Purple Zenith Soul: 17% (inestimably noble, capable of weathering the surges within the River of Spacetime) On the panel, his Purple Zenith Soul had increased by 6%, climbing from 11% to 17%. This was already quite impressive. At his current level, advancing his Purple Zenith Soul had become exceptionally difficult. To see a sudden leap of 6% was largely thanks to this final blessing of fortune. In the future, if he wished to strengthen his soul further, he would likely have to rely on his special resonance frequency to see if he could harmonize with souls across other timelines or dimensions and absorb them to fortify his Purple Zenith Soul. Yet that relied entirely on sheer luck. Lu Changsheng had no certainty whatsoever. Now that the fortune had run its course, he did not dwell on it any longer. He began organizing his thoughts regarding the growth of the True Realm Plane and reviewing information about the Third Realm. "Third Realm Sovereigns are hailed as omniscient and omnipotent. "Of course, that is an exaggeration. Still, Sovereigns are indeed extraordinarily versatile; almost nothing in the Great Universe can be concealed from them. "Yet how does one advance to a Third Realm Sovereign? "And what is the secret of the Third Realm?" Lu Changsheng fell into deep thought. Many knew of Third Realm Sovereigns. Yet hardly anyone knew how to actually become one. Publicly available information was practically nonexistent. Of course, Lu Changsheng had Sovereign Feilong backing him. If he wanted detailed information regarding the Third Realm, he only needed to return to Mount Feilong and consult Sovereign Feilong in person. Lu Changsheng spent several more years in his cave dwelling. During this time, a new champion of the Summit of the Universe emerged. This cultivator had stood out among numerous invincible-tier arena champions to claim the title. Lu Changsheng, however, could only shake his head. The newly crowned victor could not even match Lord Hengguang, let alone Lord Juling. Compared to Lu Changsheng, the gap was beyond comparison. Though both held the title of Summit of the Universe, the disparity was immense. None of that concerned Lu Changsheng anymore, however. Turning to Lin Qingluan, he said, "Stay at the Summit of the Universe for now. This place is a cultivation sacred ground, far better suited for your cultivation than Mount Feilong. I will make a trip back to Mount Feilong to consult Master on the matters of Third Realm cultivation." Lin Qingluan nodded. At Lu Changsheng's current realm, no one beneath a Third Realm Sovereign could pose any threat to him. She felt completely at ease. Lu Changsheng then coalesced an avatar and descended directly upon Mount Feilong. *Boom!* His avatar arrived. At a glance, Lu Changsheng took in Mount Feilong. Many cultivators on the mountain spotted him as well. In particular, several cultivators residing in Tianlong City gazed up at his silhouette. "Who is that? I don't recall seeing him often. Is he a named disciple?" "He's no named disciple! That's direct disciple Lu Changsheng!" "Lu Changsheng... The one who dominated the Summit of the Universe, the most extraordinary disciple in Mount Feilong's history?" "Who else could it be? Though now we must address him as a mighty figure. Word has already arrived—Mighty Figure Changsheng has advanced to the Second Realm!" "Advanced to the Second Realm..." Many fell silent. The Second Realm! That was a realm they could only dream of, entirely beyond their reach. Even after a lifetime of cultivation, they might never glimpse the faintest hope of reaching it. Yet Lu Changsheng had swept through all opposition at the Summit of the Universe, forging an invincible reputation, and had now broken through to the Second Realm. Those who had arrived at Mount Feilong around the same time as him were filled with boundless envy. Lu Changsheng went straight to the cave dwelling of his master, Sovereign Feilong. "Disciple Lu Changsheng requests an audience with Master!" he said respectfully outside the entrance. "Enter." "Yes, Master." Lu Changsheng stepped into the cave dwelling. Inside, Sovereign Feilong opened his eyes. "Changsheng, I hear you have advanced to the Second Realm?" "Yes, Master. Through sheer fortune, this disciple managed to break through." Sovereign Feilong instantly recognized that the Lu Changsheng before him was an avatar. For a World Master to project an avatar was commonplace, so he paid it no heed. Though Sovereigns were hailed as omniscient and omnipotent, they could not truly pierce through every secret of every person at a single glance. "Changsheng, have you come to inquire about the cultivation of the Third Realm?" "Master possesses discerning sight," Lu Changsheng replied directly. "Indeed, I wish to learn about the cultivation of the Third Realm. Among the public archives at the Summit of the Universe, there is no mention of how to cultivate toward the Third Realm." "Naturally," Sovereign Feilong said. "Third Realm Sovereigns are exceedingly few, and the secrets of their cultivation remain closely guarded. Scattered bits of information might leak out in certain places, but very little; essentially, only Sovereign-level factions know the truth. "Of course, as a Second Realm mighty figure, given enough time, you would gradually learn about Third Realm Sovereigns on your own. "In truth, 'Sovereign' is merely an honorific, signifying one who can sovereign a domain and traverse the Great Universe unchecked. In terms of actual realm, the Third Realm is known as 'Immortality.' "What is Immortality? When the universe perishes, I do not perish; surviving myriad tribulations without harm—this is Immortality! "Aside from the possibility of one's mind collapsing, a Third Realm existence is virtually immortal and indestructible. Of course, this applies relative to other cultivators. Among Third Realm Sovereigns, what they cultivate is immortal substance. The more immortal substance one fuses and tempers, the greater one's strength. Yet to temper immortal substance, one must possess a formidable immortal true intent. "Only immortal substance can harm or slay a Third Realm Sovereign. Beyond that, a Third Realm Sovereign cannot die! Naturally, this still cannot compare to the Eternal Realm—those are entirely different concepts..." As Sovereign Feilong explained in detail, Lu Changsheng gained a much clearer understanding of what a "Sovereign" truly entailed. He was inwardly astonished. He had not expected Sovereigns to be such formidable beings. "Immortal substance..." Lu Changsheng looked toward his master. Sovereign Feilong smiled faintly, naturally understanding his intent. With a wave of his hand, a speck of pale gold grit appeared in Lu Changsheng's palm. "This is a single grain of immortal substance. Your master bestows it upon you to study thoroughly. "Do not look down on this tiny speck. Immortal substance exists only within the River of Spacetime. Even under the scouring currents of the River of Spacetime, immortal substance suffers not the slightest attrition. Most Third Realm Sovereigns will not willingly plunge into the River of Spacetime; instead, they employ various treasures, or simply wait by the banks of the river for immortal substance to surface so they can dredge it up. "For this single grain alone, your master waited vigilantly for a full eighteen hundred years before obtaining it." Lu Changsheng hurriedly examined the grain of immortal substance. He had never imagined immortal substance would be so precious that even Third Realm Sovereigns struggled to acquire it. Yet all he could perceive was how peculiar it was; it seemed completely impossible to grind away, possessing an unyielding hardness. Beyond that, he gained no special insights. "Immortal substance can only be damaged by immortal substance," Sovereign Feilong noted. "In fact, even immortal substance can merely alter the shape of other immortal substance, unable to thoroughly annihilate it. "For a Third Realm Sovereign, aside from the soul, the most vital aspect of cultivation is immortal substance." Lu Changsheng knew he could not comprehend this grain of immortal substance in short order. After all, this was a miraculous material that even Third Realm Sovereigns could do nothing against. "Master, how does immortal true intent come to be? And how does one verify its birth?" "No one knows how immortal true intent is born. There is no set method; it depends entirely on individual comprehension and opportunity. "For instance, cultivators who temper the Great Dao often contemplate the Daos they have refined, eventually birthing immortal true intent from their own Dao. "Others temper their physical bodies to the ultimate peak, naturally giving rise to immortal true intent within their flesh. "As for verifying whether immortal true intent has been born? That is quite simple: one need only test it against the River of Spacetime. If the waters of the River of Spacetime scour you without causing the slightest discomfort, then it is unquestionably immortal true intent! "However, even if immortal true intent is born, and even if one possesses vast amounts of immortal substance ensuring one is not obliterated or dragged under by the River of Spacetime, that does not mean one can leap free from the river. Those are two entirely separate concepts. "Furthermore, as long as one is a living being, one possesses a mind. As the mind is scoured by the River of Spacetime over prolonged periods, it will eventually crumble. When that happens, no matter how powerful the immortal true intent or how abundant the immortal substance, it will all be meaningless." Sovereign Feilong offered many warnings. Lu Changsheng nodded along to every word. The Third Realm was, after all, only the Third Realm. It could not compare to the Fourth Realm, the Eternal Realm. Only the Eternal Realm could break free from the shackles of the River of Spacetime and traverse it at will. The Third Realm could merely keep itself from sinking beneath its waters. Still, such matters remained distant for Lu Changsheng. He stowed away the grain of immortal substance and bowed toward Sovereign Feilong. "Disciple thanks Master!" "Very well. You may go." Lu Changsheng exited the cave dwelling. Mount Feilong was home to many named disciples and direct disciples. However, Lu Changsheng was not close with them. Aside from greeting a few direct disciples who took the initiative to approach him, he paid no attention to the rest. His mind remained entirely absorbed in Sovereign Feilong's earlier description of the Third Realm. "Immortal true intent..." Those who tempered the Great Dao birthed it from their Dao. Physical body cultivators birthed it from their flesh. What about World Masters? For a World Master to birth immortal true intent, it likely had to stem from their internal world. Yet how could an internal world give rise to immortal true intent? Lu Changsheng turned his gaze back to the immortal substance in his hand. It was merely a single grain of grit. He channeled the power of his True Realm, attempting to crush it. Alas, even with his full might unleashed, the grain remained entirely unchanged. He even deployed his destructive power. Yet that destructive power, reputed to be capable of tearing through anything, could not affect this minuscule grain of sand in the slightest. It truly lived up to the name of Immortality. Lu Changsheng remained on Mount Feilong for several years. Yet he made no headway regarding either immortal true intent or immortal substance. This was only natural. If the Third Realm were so easily attained, Third Realm Sovereigns would not be so scarce across the vast Great Universe. *Never mind. I should prioritize expanding the True Realm Plane first.* *Perhaps once the True Realm Plane reaches a certain pinnacle, immortal true intent will emerge naturally.* *Yet even with accelerated time, not a single World Master has been born within the True Realm Plane so far, and that prospect remains distant. Even if one were born, how much could it expand the plane?* *Am I supposed to rely on agonizingly slow accumulation over endless eons? Even accumulating until the day I die wouldn't allow me to match the Boundary Sea.* Lu Changsheng shook his head. He had to find another way to swiftly expand the volume of the True Realm Plane. *Dimension ascension... What is the relationship between the True Realm Plane and the Boundary Sea?* *I must consult Master on this...* He still trusted his master deeply. This concerned his cultivation, after all. His True Realm had inexplicably undergone dimension ascension into an existence akin to the Boundary Sea; he had to understand the mechanics behind it. Otherwise, blindly cultivating forward could lead to catastrophe! Cultivation permitted not the slightest carelessness. Thus, Lu Changsheng sought an audience with Sovereign Feilong once more. Soon, he stood before his master again. "Changsheng, have you encountered another issue in your cultivation?" Sovereign Feilong asked. "Master, a slight issue has indeed arisen regarding this disciple's True Realm..." Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng explained the current state of his True Realm Plane. At first, a faint smile lingered on Sovereign Feilong's face. Yet as he listened, his expression grew increasingly solemn. By the end, monstrous waves churned within his heart. "Changsheng, where is your True Realm Plane? Take me to see it at once!" "Yes, Master." Lu Changsheng led Sovereign Feilong swiftly to the space outside the True Realm Plane. From there, one could clearly behold the True Realm Plane. And beside it lay the Boundary Sea. By comparison, Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane was pitifully small, practically insignificant. Yet Sovereign Feilong's eyes gleamed with boundless delight and wonder. "Hahaha! Truly unbelievable! To think your world could undergo dimension ascension to become an entity akin to the Boundary Sea! "Your True Realm Plane is currently the embryonic form of a Boundary Sea! "Once its volume matches the Boundary Sea—no, it doesn't even need to equal it; if it reaches a mere one percent of the Boundary Sea's volume, you could use your True Realm Plane to tear the Boundary Sea apart! After all, the Boundary Sea possesses no active consciousness, whereas you hold absolute dominion over your True Realm Plane. The might the two can unleash is night and day! "If you truly reach that stage, relying on the True Realm Plane alone, you wouldn't be inferior to a Third Realm Sovereign! "And if you advance to the Third Realm one day, acquiring even more immortal substance and refining it into your True Realm, your True Realm Plane will be peerless, crowning you the foremost among Sovereigns! "Even across countless universes, you would likely stand among the apex Sovereigns..." Sovereign Feilong was exceedingly thrilled. He could immediately discern the staggering potential of Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane. Its potential was boundless, beyond imagination. Lu Changsheng replied helplessly, "Master, everything you speak of is potential. But the current problem is that expanding the volume of my True Realm Plane is exceedingly difficult... Even with a massive quantity of source crystals, doubling, tripling, or multiplying its size several times over is feasible. "Yet even then, it would hardly suffice. Compared to the Boundary Sea, it pales in comparison..." This was the crux of Lu Changsheng's dilemma. He too recognized the immense potential of the True Realm Plane. Yet no matter how vast that potential, it belonged to the distant future. For now, increasing its volume remained a monumental hurdle. "Changsheng, have you ever considered whether devouring other planes could expand the volume of your True Realm Plane?" Sovereign Feilong suddenly asked. "Devouring other planes?" Lu Changsheng froze momentarily. That seemed... not impossible? Thinking carefully, the worlds belonging to the World Masters in the Boundary Sea were originally external additions, not grown naturally by the sea, yet they still became part of it. If Lu Changsheng actively devoured other worlds, it would likely expand the volume of his True Realm Plane. In fact, he wouldn't even need to devour mere worlds. How many individual worlds would he have to devour to catch up with the Boundary Sea? He could simply devour entire planes! A single plane contained countless worlds. Yet Lu Changsheng still harbored reservations. "Master, those World Masters integrated their worlds into the Boundary Sea through their own volition. "If I forcibly devour other worlds or planes, the living beings within them will not consent. That will inevitably provoke violent backlash and resistance from the worlds and planes themselves, making devouring them nearly impossible." Lu Changsheng shook his head. The model of the Boundary Sea was straightforward. World Masters integrated voluntarily. Forced integration was virtually impossible. As the master of the True Realm Plane, Lu Changsheng understood this clearer than anyone. If the lives within a world or plane resisted, his True Realm would be unable to smoothly devour them. "Then it's even simpler: seek out lifeless, utterly dead planes." Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. If such dead worlds or planes truly existed, it might be worth a try. "Does Master know where any dead planes might be?" he asked. "Our universe is vast, but dead planes are rare; most collapse entirely, and I cannot say whether they would be useful to your True Realm Plane. "However, your master does know of a collapsed plane. I have sent the coordinates to your message transmission stone. You can go and experiment first to see if it can expand your True Realm Plane's volume." "Good. This disciple will go right now!" Lu Changsheng immediately checked the contents of his message transmission stone. "Your master will accompany you." Lu Changsheng nodded. Together, Lu Changsheng and Sovereign Feilong descended toward the Moxing Plane. Before long, the two arrived in its vicinity. At a single glance, Lu Changsheng beheld the colossal Moxing Plane. It was impossible to miss. The Moxing Plane had completely collapsed, forming a vast, chaotic nebula-like zone that spanned the void of the Great Universe.