Whoosh.
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
"Changsheng, are you confident?"
Seeing Changsheng "wake," Lin Qingluan could not help asking with some concern.
In truth, she had immense confidence in him. Yet the number of cultivators pouring into Mount Feilong from the outside world lately had simply been staggering—even Sovereigns were among them. The attention on this duel surpassed even the time Lu Changsheng had battled for the Summit of the Universe.
Much of the chatter had indeed gotten into Lin Qingluan's head. The discussions surrounding Nan Yun in particular made her feel a twinge of nervousness. Nan Yun seemed even stronger than she had imagined.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Never mind a mere Nan Yun—even ten or a hundred Nan Yuns would be no match for me."
Lu Changsheng spoke in a very calm tone, yet the confidence he projected brought a profound sense of reassurance.
Lu Changsheng was truly confident!
Lin Qingluan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
"Then let's go. The time has come. Countless people are watching your battle with Nan Yun right now, including Sovereigns."
"I can already feel it..."
Lu Changsheng could indeed feel it. From the shifts in fortune, he knew just how much attention this battle with Nan Yun commanded. With so many eyes fixed on this fight, fortune was pouring steadily into his body.
Of course, because the duel had not yet been decided, the fortune gathered so far was not overly vast. Once victory was declared, all of it would belong to the winner.
Winner takes all—this was a very common principle among cultivators.
Lu Changsheng rose and stepped out of his cave dwelling.
Meanwhile, though Mount Feilong could not be described as a sea of people, a vast number of visitors had indeed arrived, watching Mount Feilong intently.
This battle drew far too much attention.
Many people knew of Lu Changsheng, but their knowledge was largely limited to his time as a First Realm Transcendent—especially his dazzling performance at the Summit of the Universe. Ever since his breakthrough to the Second Realm, he had spent nearly all his time in alternate universes. Others knew very little about his strength as a Second Realm mighty figure.
Nan Yun, on the other hand, was different. No matter how low a profile he kept, he was ultimately a Second Realm mighty figure and a direct disciple of Sovereign Tianfeng. Having spent so many years in the Great Universe, many cultivators had some grasp of his power. He was far stronger than ordinary cultivators could fathom.
"Look, is that Lu Changsheng?"
"Yes, that's Lu Changsheng! The former hegemon of the Summit of the Universe who dominated the summit. Had he not broken through to the Second Realm and automatically lost his title as a result, he would probably still hold the Summit of the Universe title today."
"Among First Realm Transcendents, Lu Changsheng stood at virtually the pinnacle in the entire history of the Summit of the Universe! But now that he's reached the Second Realm, it's hard to say how strong he really is."
"The disparity between Second Realm cultivators is far too great. A truly powerful Second Realm mighty figure can crush countless ordinary ones. In particular, those top cosmic mighty figures venturing through alternate universes are powerhouses who suppress countless cosmoses and dominate entire eras!"
"Our Great Universe hasn't produced a top Second Realm mighty figure capable of dominating an era yet. But in the Great Universe, Nan Yun definitely counts as a top cosmic mighty figure."
"Indeed, Nan Yun's chances of winning this battle are quite high. Lu Changsheng is still too proud, too conceited. Does he think the Second Realm is like the First Realm, and that he can just continue standing at the peak? That's impossible. After all, he broke through to the Second Realm far too recently, and accumulation is a critical factor for a Second Realm cosmic mighty figure."
"Regardless, a winner will be decided today. In fact, this clash is merely the beginning of the contest for the Eternal Academy quota..."
Many of the onlookers were aware of the inside story, including the matter of the Eternal Academy. For the sake of that single quota, this battle was destined to be only the prelude.
Lu Changsheng took a step forward.
He emerged into the void above Mount Feilong.
At the same time, another figure slowly walked into the void, confronting Lu Changsheng from a distance.
It was none other than Nan Yun!
Nan Yun wore a stern expression, his aura held tightly in check. He was indeed a top cosmic mighty figure, barely shy of a half-step Sovereign.
Half-step Sovereigns could not obtain the Eternal Academy quota, having forfeited their chance to advance to the Third Realm. Within the Great Universe, top cosmic mighty figures were generally acknowledged to be inferior to half-step Sovereigns. But the River of Spacetime was different. In the River of Spacetime, whether one was a half-step Sovereign or a top cosmic mighty figure, combat prowess was measured on a unified scale—and many top cosmic mighty figures were vastly stronger than half-step Sovereigns.
As for Nan Yun, he could rival half-step Sovereigns and possessed combat strength infinitely close to theirs. He certainly seemed like a pinnacle existence in the Great Universe.
Yet in Lu Changsheng's eyes, he was not worth mentioning.
In the Moke and Mingluo Universes, Lu Changsheng had lost count of how many half-step Sovereigns he had killed with casual ease. What was Nan Yun compared to them?
"Lu Changsheng, the quota for the Eternal Academy can only be mine. Today, I..."
Nan Yun's voice was cold. But before he could finish, Lu Changsheng couldn't be bothered to listen to any more idle chatter.
Drawing upon just a fraction of his True Realm's volume, he instantly manifested a gigantic hand that swiped toward Nan Yun.
Rumble!
The massive hand seemed to blot out the sky, instantly enveloping Nan Yun within its reach.
More critically, a faint sense of futility welled up in Nan Yun. Before this palm, even the thought of struggling felt like wishful thinking.
'An illusion! This is a mental illusion! To think you are versed in mental attacks. But illusions can be broken by pure force...'
Nan Yun's expression turned resolute, and he threw a fierce punch.
The punch shook heaven and earth, carrying virtually all of his power combined with his sheer will. Though far inferior to immortal true intent, the impact of his will was enough to overpower most powerful cosmic mighty figures and even affect top cosmic mighty figures.
In his eyes, so-called illusions meant nothing before absolute strength.
Boom!
The two forces collided.
Nan Yun, who had been brimming with confidence as if everything were under his control, underwent an instant and drastic change of expression the moment his power met Lu Changsheng's.
'What? This power... it isn't an illusion?'
'How is this possible?!'
Nan Yun's mind shook violently. But this was a head-on clash; being weaker meant defeat. Failing to block it could lead to only one outcome.
Like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, Lu Changsheng's giant hand shattered every ounce of Nan Yun's offensive. Then, the sky-blotting hand gently closed.
Whoosh.
Nan Yun was seized in Lu Changsheng's grasp.
A terrifying force instantly sealed Nan Yun's entire body. In the blink of an eye, he had become a prisoner in Lu Changsheng's hand.
This sight sent an uproar through the surrounding spectators, who could hardly believe their eyes.
"What? Nan Yun lost? And he couldn't even take a single strike?!"
"Isn't Nan Yun a top cosmic mighty figure? How could he fail to block even one attack?"
"This... the disparity in strength is too massive! It's a complete thrashing!"
"We all underestimated Lu Changsheng. His strength... is beyond imagination. Even a half-step Sovereign might not be his match."
"He broke through to the Second Realm so quickly, became a top cosmic mighty figure in such a short time, and even defeated Nan Yun. Incredible."
"Lu Changsheng is a World Master. Since when were World Masters so strong?"
Countless people were shaken to their core, including the Sovereigns. This completely upended their understanding.
Nan Yun's prowess was widely known. Yet Lu Changsheng had dispatched him in a single move. Moreover, Lu Changsheng had done so with utter ease, without even employing his full might—he had merely utilized a fraction of his power. Yet that fraction was enough to crush Nan Yun.
Others might not have seen it clearly, but the Sovereigns saw right through it. Sovereign Tianfeng's pupils contracted sharply.
"Lu Changsheng... such power far exceeds that of a top cosmic mighty figure, even far exceeding a half-step Sovereign. Feilong, this disciple of yours truly has remarkable fortune!"
Sovereign Tianfeng could perceive the Divine Tree of Fortune inside Lu Changsheng, and could also tell that he had not used his full power. But that was all. He could deduce that Lu Changsheng was immensely strong, yet he had no idea just how high that strength reached.
Sovereign Feilong smiled faintly. Lu Changsheng's victory was well within his expectations. Without such overwhelming strength, how would Lu Changsheng have dared to challenge all the cosmic mighty figures?
"Tianfeng, a good match."
"Humph, I can afford to lose!" Tianfeng snorted coldly.
He immediately sent a voice transmission to Nan Yun. Nan Yun nodded and had no choice but to admit defeat.
Lu Changsheng had never intended to kill Nan Yun. After all, almost every top Second Realm mighty figure had a Sovereign backing them, and this opponent was not a lifeform from an alternate universe. There was no need to slaughter ruthlessly.
With Nan Yun's concession, Sovereign Tianfeng quickly departed with him. Their chances of obtaining the Eternal Academy quota were now practically gone. After such a crushing defeat, what credibility did Nan Yun have left?
Beneath the calm exteriors of the remaining Sovereigns lay deep suspicion and unease. The power Lu Changsheng displayed far exceeded their expectations. Against such overwhelming might, could any of their disciples or descendants guarantee a hundred percent chance of victory? Probably not a single one.
That left only one final option: joining forces.
They would gather a larger number of top cosmic mighty figures to gang up on Lu Changsheng. In any case, word from Mount Feilong had already stated that ten or even a hundred joining hands was fair game. Lu Changsheng would accept challenges in any format, so long as Third Realm Sovereigns did not step into the ring themselves.
Of course, this was merely a plan held in their minds. Before proper preparations were made, these Sovereigns would not breathe a word of it. They even offered congratulations to Sovereign Feilong.
Were their congratulations sincere? It did not matter. What mattered was that the goal had been achieved.
Along with this, Lu Changsheng gained even greater renown. A portion of the converging fortune even settled upon the entirety of Mount Feilong. After all, Lu Changsheng was a disciple of Mount Feilong. Using its name to elevate his influence meant that part of the fortune naturally had to be shared with the mountain. Even so, the remaining fortune was still immensely vast, showing just how much effort Mount Feilong had put into spreading the news of this duel.
'Too weak...'
Lu Changsheng shook his head. When he was sweeping through alternate universes, what did a mere Nan Yun count for? Returning abruptly to the Great Universe and facing Second Realm cosmic mighty figures like Nan Yun felt terribly underwhelming. Figures like Demon Venerable Resentment and the Nine-Headed Supreme—which among them had not been illustrious powerhouses across countless universes? Even half-step Sovereigns fell short before them. Lu Changsheng estimated that using just a hundredfold volume of his True Realm would be enough to sweep through the entire Great Universe.
Still, there was no rush. His objective for this duel had been fulfilled. Defeating Nan Yun in a single move was practically an instant kill, which was bound to shake the entire Great Universe. His previous challenge would no longer be seen as mere empty talk, and no one would dare look down on him again. After this, underhanded private maneuvers would lose all meaning. To claim the Eternal Academy quota, one had to defeat Lu Changsheng.
Of course, reaching his ultimate goal would still take time. He had not yet reached the point of dominating an entire era. But it would not be long. Lu Changsheng only hoped the news would ferment faster and spread wider.
The crowds at Mount Feilong dispersed, and even the Sovereigns left. Yet many cultivators still stood in disbelief. Nan Yun had been defeated in an instant. Could such methods really belong to an ordinary Second Realm mighty figure?
"Now that Lu Changsheng has crushed Nan Yun in one blow, who else will dare challenge him?"
"Only now do I realize that Lu Changsheng is playing an open game. He intends to take the Eternal Academy quota fair and square. If anyone objects, they must defeat him."
"Indeed. After today, anyone who wants that quota cannot bypass Lu Changsheng, or their claim will hold no weight. But under these circumstances, who would dare say they have the confidence to beat him? If they lose, their chance will be gone completely."
"How long has it been since Lu Changsheng advanced to the Second Realm? A few thousand years at most. To reach such a level in just a few millennia... just how does he cultivate?"
"Word has it that Lu Changsheng spent the past few thousand years venturing through alternate universes."
"I've ventured through alternate universes too, yet my strength hardly grew at all."
"In the First Realm, Lu Changsheng created miracle after miracle. In the Second Realm, he still shines just as brightly. With his current strength, the Eternal Academy quota might truly fall into his hands..."
Many eyes flickered with contemplative looks. By now, quite a few had sensed that something was amiss. How could Lu Changsheng grow so fast? Even in the Second Realm, his strength continued to advance by leaps and bounds. This was abnormal! Moreover, Lu Changsheng was a World Master, yet his combat prowess allowed him to easily crush a top cosmic mighty figure like Nan Yun. That was even more abnormal. Everyone knew that World Masters were merely slippery and fast; in terms of direct combat strength, the pinnacle figures of the Great Universe had never been World Masters.
Yet now, one had appeared: the pinnacle of Second Realm mighty figures, World Master Lu Changsheng!
Lu Changsheng returned to his cave dwelling and began organizing his fortune. Massive amounts of fortune converged into his body every second. Naturally, digesting all of it would take time. As time passed, his Purple Zenith Soul rose steadily: 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%...
In the blink of an eye, the Purple Zenith Soul reached 65%, leaping a full twelve percent. Such an increase was massive.
Lu Changsheng estimated that this was not just from the Great Universe's fortune, but was also tied to his fame as a "World Master" resounding across countless universes. Fortune was miraculous. No matter where it originated, as long as it existed, it could penetrate across myriad universes to take effect upon a cultivator. Not even the River of Spacetime could sever fortune.
Immortal substance and fortune—these two things struck Lu Changsheng as the most miraculous in existence. Even the River of Spacetime was helpless against them.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, boom! Something unexpected occurred—an anomaly Lu Changsheng had never anticipated.
Lu Changsheng clearly sensed his true body—the True Realm Plane beside the Boundary Sea that had undergone dimension ascension. Even though it held only a tiny volume, it was his true body nonetheless. His true body had continually been testing various unique frequencies, hoping to harmonize with soul frequencies from other dimensions so that it could absorb souls across other dimensions and timelines. Yet over thousands of years, there had been virtually no harvest. It seemed entirely down to luck.
Just now, however, his true body detected a special frequency that resonated with a soul from another dimension. A familiar feeling rose unbidden.
Whoosh.
Lu Changsheng's Purple Zenith Soul seemed to "see" another version of himself in a different dimension. His gaze traversed countless spaces, countless timelines, and countless universes, falling upon another "Lu Changsheng."
Without any exchange of words, their eyes met. In an instant, Lu Changsheng seemed to learn everything about the other party.
The other was also named Lu Changsheng. He had also originated in an extraordinary world, rising from mortal origins in a small mountain village. However, that version had displayed cultivation talent right from the start and had been taken into a major sect. Following that came a series of tragedies: the sect was destroyed, close friends were killed, and even the village was massacred in chaotic times. That "Lu Changsheng" underwent a drastic shift in temperament, becoming an itinerant cultivator walking the line between good and evil, eventually achieving transcendence.
Yes, merely a First Realm Transcendent. He had not even reached the Second Realm.
Upon becoming a First Realm Transcendent, his soul had transformed as well, allowing him to perceive the River of Spacetime and understand the truth of everything. Sadly, he was likely one of the weaker souls across the infinite timelines and dimensions. When his soul frequency aligned with Lu Changsheng's on this day, that "Lu Changsheng" knew doom was inescapable. His soul would involuntarily be devoured by the soul from the Great Universe.
In principle, soul frequencies should not align. Once they did, the weaker soul was destined to be devoured by the stronger one. Lu Changsheng's soul was a Purple Zenith Soul, exceptionally formidable even among the infinite timelines. Naturally, the other party had no means of resistance.
Perhaps a long time passed, or perhaps it took only an instant, before that "Lu Changsheng's" soul was devoured entirely. Then, the unique soul frequency vanished.
A flash of insight struck Lu Changsheng. He suddenly lowered his head and instantly sensed his soul.
'This is... a soul transformation?'
Lu Changsheng's mind shook. He knew well that his soul had previously been a Purple Zenith Soul, already extraordinarily powerful, yet still some distance away from another transformation. He had not expected that devouring a version of himself from another timeline would instantly push his soul across the threshold of metamorphosis.
Rumble!
A roaring sound echoed through Lu Changsheng's mind. The transformation of a soul was extraordinary, but fortunately, having gone through it before, he did not panic.
As time passed, a faint trace of golden light emerged upon his Purple Zenith Soul. The golden light was very faint, nearly imperceptible unless one looked closely. But it was undeniably golden light, albeit just a sliver—fewer than ten strands across his entire body. Yet the appearance of golden light represented a qualitative leap.
More importantly, Lu Changsheng sensed a distinct aura of immortality. Yes, those faint wisps of golden radiance carried a subtle scent of immortality. Lu Changsheng immediately thought of immortal true intent. Could the birth of immortal true intent actually be related to the soul?
However, this was merely a conjecture. He immediately called up his status panel to inspect his current condition:
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: Top-tier comprehension
World Master: Second Realm
True Realm Plane: Six hundredfold (growable)
Golden-Nature Soul: 0% (Golden nature is immortal; can endure ten thousand years in the River of Spacetime without perishing)
On the panel, "Purple Zenith Soul" was gone, replaced by "Golden-Nature Soul." It even came with the evaluation "Golden nature is immortal."
'Immortality again...'
A strange glint flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes. Was there truly a connection between the immortality of the soul and immortal true intent?
'This Golden-Nature Soul can remain unextinguished for ten thousand years in the River of Spacetime. It is indeed formidable, but it doesn't seem to have reached the level of a Third Realm Sovereign yet.'
In the River of Spacetime, even the weakest Third Realm Sovereign could endure far longer than ten thousand years, withstanding the scouring of the river's currents for vast stretches of time. Judging by this, the Golden-Nature Soul did not yet correspond to a Third Realm Sovereign, meaning it was not yet equivalent to immortal true intent.
However, Lu Changsheng could sense that if his soul underwent another transformation, the resulting state might truly align with a Third Realm Sovereign. When that time came, it would likely be the moment he birthed immortal true intent.
'So immortal true intent is closely bound to the soul.'
'That makes sense. No wonder Master favors disciples with exceptional souls. Only with an extraordinary soul is there even a glimmer of hope to birth immortal true intent.'
'Other Second Realm cosmic mighty figures probably don't have nearly as clear an understanding of the soul as I do. They can only stumble around searching for opportunities, but if their souls don't transform, no amount of fortuitous encounters will do any good.'
Lu Changsheng understood completely. In this moment, his confusion cleared. Birthed immortal true intent was no longer a matter of pure luck; it had become a clearly visible, grand pathway to the heavens! Lu Changsheng was already walking upon it. This was the correct path!
Still, Lu Changsheng knew that advancing his soul further from here would be extraordinarily difficult. Gaining even a fraction of progress would require immense effort. With each soul transformation, the difficulty multiplied severalfold or tenfold. For instance, even with continuous fortune pouring into him right now, progressing from 0% to 1% would likely take a very long time. Relying solely on the Great Universe's fortune would certainly be far from enough to bring about the Golden-Nature Soul's next transformation.
Even so, Lu Changsheng felt no rush. Having fully comprehended his path and shattered his confusion, he felt as though the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. His mood was thoroughly invigorated.
While Lu Changsheng found clarity and his path grew distinct, many top mighty figures of the Great Universe had gathered together.
Their goal was simple: take down Lu Changsheng first. Otherwise, none of them would stand a chance at obtaining the Eternal Academy quota—not even the slimmest hope.
"Fellow Daoists, does anyone among you have the confidence to defeat Lu Changsheng alone?" one cosmic mighty figure asked.
Many of the surrounding cosmic mighty figures—each a renowned hegemon of the Great Universe backed by formidable backgrounds—shook their heads. When facing Lu Changsheng, none of them felt confident.
"Since none of us have the confidence, are you truly willing to hand the Eternal Academy quota over on a silver platter?"
"This is our only chance to advance to the Third Realm! Without this quota, ascending to the Third Realm will be harder than reaching the heavens."
"Since we cannot handle Lu Changsheng alone, yet refuse to surrender the quota, there is only one way: join forces! All we need to do is band together to defeat Lu Changsheng and kick him out of the contention among Second Realm mighty figures. Afterward, we can slowly decide where the quota goes. What do you say?"
The mighty figures exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Why could they tolerate one another, but not Lu Changsheng? It wasn't personal malice toward him. It was simply that Lu Changsheng posed too great a threat. In a one-on-one contest, none of them had a prayer of securing the quota. They all knew this in their hearts.
A consensus was quickly reached without encountering any real resistance.
Lu Changsheng's overwhelming dominance was something he had brought upon himself. Naturally, this was also the situation he had hoped to see. Therefore, he would have to pay the price of being targeted by all the cosmic mighty figures!
"Good. Then let us issue the proclamation."
"One year from now, at the Summit of the Universe, one hundred and eight of our top cosmic mighty figures will join hands to challenge Lu Changsheng!"
The crowd nodded.
Though this seemed like ganging up on him and was blatantly unfair, when had the Great Universe ever been fair? Besides, their actions fell strictly within the rules Lu Changsheng himself had set. As for dignity? In ordinary times, they might care about saving face. But when their Dao path was at stake, face meant nothing.
Once the news spread, it instantly ignited the entire Great Universe, creating a massive sensation.
"What? One hundred and eight Second Realm mighty figures are challenging Lu Changsheng together?!"
"That's one hundred and eight Second Realm mighty figures, and nearly all of them are top cosmic mighty figures! A lineup like that is enough to sweep through any faction in the Great Universe. As long as Third Realm Sovereigns don't interfere, they're invincible!"
"With the Eternal Academy quota on the line, even Second Realm mighty figures have abandoned all shame. One hundred and eight top cosmic mighty figures challenging Lu Changsheng alone... this is simply unimaginable."
"Lu Changsheng was too high-profile before, practically setting himself against every Second Realm mighty figure in the Great Universe. Besides, this falls within the challenge rules Lu Changsheng laid down himself, so no one can fault them."
"What a pity. In a fair, one-on-one duel for the Eternal Academy quota, it would undoubtedly belong to Lu Changsheng. Unfortunately, he has made himself public enemy number one among the Second Realm mighty figures, and they are teaming up just to kick him out first."
"This time, Lu Changsheng will pay the price for his arrogance..."
Discussions erupted everywhere, though most cultivators understood what was happening. The intentions of those one hundred and eight mighty figures were not concealed in the slightest; they were glaringly obvious.
Yet alongside the sighs of pity, vast throngs of cultivators still flocked toward the Summit of the Universe. Even if none of them believed Lu Changsheng had the strength to defeat one hundred and eight top cosmic mighty figures, a battle involving over a hundred mighty figures—with over a hundred top mighty figures joining forces against a single man—was practically unprecedented in all of history. No one wanted to miss it!
Chapter 535