Unwelcome Guests, Three Peak Sovereigns Arrive!

This was the first time Lu Changsheng had ever devoured such a formidable immortal soul. From it, he "saw" all the experiences of the other's life. Every single event and detail unfolded as though he had lived it himself. However, the two were originally one, their souls stemming from the exact same source. Because of this, Lu Changsheng did not feel the slightest discordance. After a long period of "digestion," the other's immortal soul was thoroughly integrated into his own. At this moment, Lu Changsheng felt an unprecedented surge of progress. He immediately brought up his attribute panel. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-tier comprehension World Master: Third Realm True Realm Universe: A super universe capable of growth Immortal Soul: 91% (Soul is immortal, qualified to step into the River of Spacetime) On the attribute panel, the immortal soul still had not reached 100%. This was only natural. Yet jumping directly to 91% was a level that Lu Changsheng believed most peak Sovereigns had likely attained for their immortal souls. In fact, many peak Sovereigns probably did not even possess a soul of this caliber; their immortal souls likely hovered around 85%. Reaching above 90% belonged to the absolute extreme among extremes. As for having an immortal soul at 100%, Lu Changsheng had never heard of such a thing. In truth, Lu Changsheng already had a faint inkling. If one merely relied on absorbing souls from other dimensions and timelines, the immortal soul could never reach 100%. The reason was simple. With so many timelines and dimensions, how could one possibly happen upon every single soul one by one, let alone analyze and absorb them all? It was impossible. The probability simply did not exist. Therefore, reaching around 85% or even 90% was already extraordinarily powerful. Take Lu Changsheng, for instance. Had he not encountered this immortal soul within the River of Spacetime, his own immortal soul would have found it exceedingly difficult to surpass 90%. Still, it did not matter. Lu Changsheng had other means. He continued utilizing the waters of the River of Spacetime to expand his True Realm Universe without pause. In his idle moments, he studied the Boundary Suppressing Stele. Regrettably, the stele was merely a supreme treasure forged from immortal substance. It offered little aid to his cultivation. As for its boost to combat strength, it might have been an immense boon to an ordinary peak Sovereign, but for the current Lu Changsheng, did he still need to rely on external items? There was no need at all. Day after day went by. No one could say how much time elapsed. Lu Changsheng's True Realm Universe eventually expanded to the limit his immortal soul could currently sustain. His True Realm Universe was now overwhelmingly powerful—so formidable that if he were to meet that past "self" again, even if the other wielded the Boundary Suppressing Stele and was also a peak Sovereign, Lu Changsheng could execute an instant kill. In the vast River of Spacetime, Lu Changsheng felt it would likely be difficult to find any more worthy rivals. Yet his adversary was no longer other Sovereigns. His rival was himself. He wanted to charge into the Fourth Realm—to charge toward Eternity. Only, he still fell short. His soul had consistently failed to reach 100%. Whether an immortal soul at 100% represented perfection or a further metamorphosis, Lu Changsheng did not know. But he felt a distinct resonance in his instincts: if he wished to charge into the Fourth Realm, he had to bring his immortal soul to 100%. This was the most fundamental prerequisite. Unfortunately, even this basic condition stumped virtually every Sovereign in existence. Currently, not a single Sovereign had managed to bring their immortal soul to 100%. Though Lu Changsheng steered the Spacetime Boat and drifted across the River of Spacetime for countless more years, he never again sensed souls from other timelines or dimensions. Not a single one. However, advancing an immortal soul was not solely reliant on absorbing souls from other dimensions. Lu Changsheng had another method. And that was fortune! As long as he possessed sufficient fortune, pushing his immortal soul to 100% was by no means an impossibility. After all, his soul was already at 91%, hardly far from the complete hundred percent. "Fortune..." Lu Changsheng looked up at the boundless River of Spacetime. One could not acquire fortune while adrift in the River of Spacetime. "Time to head back..." With a thought, Lu Changsheng steered the Spacetime Boat out of the River of Spacetime. He first returned to the Eternal Academy. Sovereign Qianheng sensed Lu Changsheng the instant he arrived. "Sovereign Changsheng, you've finally returned," Sovereign Qianheng remarked with deep emotion. "How long was I cultivating within the River of Spacetime?" Lu Changsheng asked. Inside the river, he had constantly cultivated with its waters, which induced time acceleration. As a result, his perception of time had become somewhat muddled. "Not long. A mere nine thousand-odd years—less than ten thousand." "Less than ten thousand years..." To Lu Changsheng, it felt as though an eternity had passed. In reality, utilizing the river's water for "time acceleration" made it feel as though countless epochs had gone by, far beyond a simple ten thousand years. Had he not possessed an immortal soul, he truly would not have dared to cultivate so recklessly with the river's water. A single misstep could easily leave someone utterly lost in the relentless wash of passing years. "In under ten thousand years—if I may venture to ask, Sovereign Changsheng, to what extent has your soul advanced now?" Sovereign Qianheng asked. He was genuinely curious, though this curiosity was reserved exclusively for Lu Changsheng. After Lu Changsheng had departed, Sovereign Qianheng had carefully investigated his past. He discovered that while Lu Changsheng's cultivation speed was not absurdly fast at the start, his journey had been remarkably smooth, advancing by leaps and bounds. Whenever a period of time elapsed, he was certain to make tremendous strides. Normally, no matter how brilliantly talented a person had been before—even the numerous past First Supremes on the Hundred Supremes Ranking—once they advanced to Sovereign, their momentum leveled out. They could no longer display such mind-boggling brilliance. As for becoming a peak Sovereign? Even among those First Supremes, those who managed to become peak Sovereigns were few and far between, countable on one's fingers. No matter how dazzling one was, one inevitably drifted toward mediocrity upon reaching the Sovereign realm. After all, which Sovereign was not an extraordinary genius in their own right? Yet Lu Changsheng was different. Even after becoming a Sovereign, his pace of cultivation had not slowed in the slightest. In fact, it had grown faster! How long had it been since his advancement? Yet his combat power had already leaped to rival a peak Sovereign. It was utterly unfathomable. Which peak Sovereign had not accumulated power over countless years, or even countless epochs, before finally reaching that pinnacle? Lu Changsheng was the sole exception. Naturally, Sovereign Qianheng was deeply intrigued to know just how much Lu Changsheng had improved after nearly ten thousand years in the River of Spacetime. "My immortal soul..." Lu Changsheng did not bother with an explanation. He directly manifested his immortal soul. Boom! A terrifying immortal true intent burst forth. Immortal true intent was derived directly from the immortal soul; unleashing the immortal soul was, in effect, unleashing the immortal true intent. Every Sovereign possessed immortal true intent, which could be regarded as a Sovereign's aura. In the past, Lu Changsheng's immortal true intent merely rivaled that of a peak Sovereign. But now, things were entirely different. When his immortal true intent swept out, even Sovereign Qianheng felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down upon him. This clearly stood superior to his own. Yet how was that possible? One had to realize that Sovereign Qianheng had cultivated for an unknown number of epochs. He had founded the Eternal Academy, and was even one of the founders of the Universe Alliance. That alone demonstrated how ancient he was. The more ancient a Sovereign, the deeper their accumulation. Yet now, Sovereign Qianheng, with such profound foundation and ancient heritage, was actually inferior to Lu Changsheng in terms of immortal soul? It defied belief. It had been less than ten thousand years! The last time Lu Changsheng fought that peak Devourer, his immortal true intent was noticeably weaker than Sovereign Qianheng's. But now, he looked down upon him from above. Lu Changsheng also sensed Sovereign Qianheng's immortal soul. Going by his panel's scale, he estimated that Qianheng's immortal soul hovered around 85%. That was already formidable, yet still somewhat lacking compared to Lu Changsheng's 91%. At the level of a peak Sovereign, even a single percent difference created a distinct gap. "Sovereign Changsheng, how on earth do you cultivate? For your immortal soul to advance so rapidly..." Even with the aid of the Spacetime Boat, such speed should have been impossible. Sovereign Qianheng was acutely aware of this; after all, he was the one who had built the vessel. How could he not know? Yet Sovereign Qianheng did not know that Lu Changsheng possessed top-tier comprehension. With the Spacetime Boat, it was like adding wings to a tiger. Furthermore, by encountering another immortal soul, defeating it, and devouring it, his progress had naturally soared. Even so, it was not enough. Far from enough. At the very least, it did not satisfy Lu Changsheng. He still needed fortune. In truth, the fortune he had accumulated was already immense, but far from sufficient. He needed Sovereigns to supply him with fortune. The more powerful a cultivator was, the greater the fortune they could provide. If Sovereigns and peak Sovereigns across countless universes could supply him with fortune, his fortune would surely experience explosive growth. With that fortune, pushing his immortal soul to 100% would become feasible. When that time came, whether it meant the perfection or the metamorphosis of his soul, he would find out. Yet how could he trigger a massive surge in his fortune? Or rather, how could he seize the attention of the Sovereigns? What did Sovereigns care about most? A flash of inspiration struck Lu Changsheng's mind. Eternity! Right now, what Sovereigns cared about above all else was Eternity. But what was Eternity, and how did one ascend to it? They did not even have a direction for cultivation. Lu Changsheng sorted through his thoughts. For him, this journey through the River of Spacetime had yielded immense benefits. At the very least, he had worked out the concept of "Eternity"—or rather, the path of cultivation toward it. That alone was more than enough! "Sovereign Qianheng, I may require your assistance with a certain matter," Lu Changsheng suddenly said. "What matter? Feel free to speak, Sovereign Changsheng." Lu Changsheng continued, "During this journey into the River of Spacetime, I obtained a supreme treasure suspected to have been left by a powerhouse of the Eternal Realm—the Boundary Suppressing Stele! Furthermore, I have gained some insight into the direction of cultivating toward the Eternal Realm. "Therefore, I wish to invite Sovereigns from across every universe, whether ordinary Sovereigns or peak Sovereigns, to pay a visit to the Eternal Academy. At that time, I will present the Boundary Suppressing Stele and deliver a lecture detailing my insights into the cultivation direction for the Eternal Realm. "I wonder if Sovereign Qianheng and the Eternal Academy would be willing to assist me in spreading this news?" Lu Changsheng's words sent a tremor through Sovereign Qianheng's heart. "A treasure suspected to be left by an Eternal Realm powerhouse? "And you already have a direction for cultivating toward the Eternal Realm?" Sovereign Qianheng was once again shaken. It seemed that ever since meeting Lu Changsheng, he had been subjected to shock after shock. Hardly hesitating, Sovereign Qianheng nodded immediately. "No problem! For Sovereign Changsheng to choose the Eternal Academy to display a supreme treasure left by Eternity shows your trust in us! "I will mobilize the influence of the Universe Alliance to spread this news to every major universe to the best of our ability." Sovereign Qianheng offered his full support. A treasure left by the Eternal Realm—who wouldn't want to see it? Even Sovereign Qianheng longed to lay eyes upon it. However, since Lu Changsheng had not brought it out voluntarily, it meant the time was not yet ripe. Having waited all these years, what was a mere thousand years more? The only complication was that once this news leaked, no one could predict what sort of figures it might draw. "Then I shall trouble Sovereign Qianheng." Sovereign Qianheng still harbored concerns. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Sovereign Changsheng, spreading the news is no issue. But this message is far too shocking. A treasure suspected to be left by the Eternal Realm will drive countless Sovereigns, even peak Sovereigns, into a frenzy. "Once the word is out, some Sovereigns will inevitably take reckless gambles. Peak Sovereigns especially have virtually no forces capable of threatening them, making them entirely unbridled. "Even our Universe Alliance likely cannot guarantee absolute safety..." Sovereign Qianheng was actually phrasing it very tactfully. The Universe Alliance enjoyed great renown, but that was only with respect to ordinary Sovereigns. If a peak Sovereign refused to give the alliance face, the alliance could do little about it. Every peak Sovereign stood near the very apex of the countless universes in the River of Spacetime. Almost no force could kill them. It was precisely because of this that a peak Sovereign turning into a Devourer caused so many universes endless grief. Those peak Devourers could only be repelled, never slain. When a treasure left by an Eternal Realm powerhouse was involved, even if Lu Changsheng claimed it was only "suspected" to be one, that did not matter to peak Sovereigns. All they cared about was obtaining the treasure! Why would they obediently wait a thousand years? They would simply seize it directly. Such a thing was not merely possible—it was guaranteed to happen! Yet Lu Changsheng remained thoroughly composed. "No matter. Sovereign Qianheng, you need only spread the news as widely as possible. As for those troubles, leave them all to me to resolve," Lu Changsheng said calmly. Sovereign Qianheng nodded. Lu Changsheng was a peak Sovereign; he would not make empty boasts. Since he claimed he could resolve it, he must possess the means to do so. "Good. I shall see to it at once." Lu Changsheng returned the Spacetime Boat to the Eternal Academy. Afterward, he returned to the Great Universe to visit Lin Qingluan. In the Great Universe, Lin Qingluan had finally become a Second Realm universe mighty figure. However, this was achieved under the influence of the Divine Tree of Fortune and the steady supply of fortune Lu Changsheng occasionally bestowed upon her. Otherwise, Lin Qingluan might never have ascended to the Second Realm in her entire life. Yet this was also her limit. Given her circumstances, reaching the Third Realm was virtually impossible. Still, Lu Changsheng was unconcerned. If he could attain Eternity, he would naturally possess the power to help her. If he failed, he would ultimately sink into the River of Spacetime, rendering her breakthrough to the Third Realm meaningless anyway. He informed Lin Qingluan about matters concerning "Eternity," but she could offer no assistance. In fact, not just Lin Qingluan, but the entire Great Universe could not help in the slightest. Lu Changsheng also met with several other Sovereigns of the Great Universe. During the ten thousand years he had cultivated in the River of Spacetime, news from the Eternal Academy had long since spread: Lu Changsheng had advanced to peak Sovereign! For the Great Universe, this was monumental news. Once, the Great Universe had walked on eggshells, constantly terrified of invasions from alternate universes. But now that it had birthed a peak Sovereign, who would dare invade? Even within the entire Universe Alliance, the status of the Great Universe had risen dramatically. All of this was owed solely to Lu Changsheng. Consequently, upon his return, the Sovereigns of the Great Universe came to pay their respects one after another. But Lu Changsheng could not be bothered to receive them. He merely showed the Boundary Suppressing Stele to his master, Sovereign Feilong. Sovereign Feilong naturally knew what Lu Changsheng intended to do. Lu Changsheng even shared the cultivation direction toward the Eternal Realm without holding anything back, leaving Sovereign Feilong profoundly shaken. "Both soul and body must reach an unfathomable level just to have a sliver of hope to break free from the River of Spacetime and attain Eternity. Changsheng, your master believes your deduction is correct. But this step is extraordinarily difficult; ninety-nine percent of Sovereigns cannot achieve it. Meeting the standard for the immortal soul alone is hard enough, let alone tempering the physical body to an unimaginable degree. "I cannot even conceive of who could possibly ascend to Eternity. Perhaps you are the only one with that sliver of hope..." Sovereign Feilong said wistfully. "Master, I must return to the Eternal Academy. A thousand years from now, you may also come to the academy." Sovereign Feilong nodded. The Great Universe was too small; Lu Changsheng, as a peak Sovereign, could not remain here indefinitely. After giving a few more instructions to Lin Qingluan, Lu Changsheng returned to the Eternal Academy. He had to preside over the academy. After all, he had set a "thousand-year deadline." Before that deadline arrived, there would surely be peak Sovereigns who could not restrain themselves. When that time came, his presence would be indispensable. In fact, Lu Changsheng actively hoped peak Sovereigns would come. He was running low on fortune. Slaying a peak Sovereign should yield an explosive harvest of fortune. His only worry was that they wouldn't show up. Day after day passed. One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years... Several centuries drifted by, and the Eternal Academy remained as tranquil as ever. Or rather, it could not truly be called tranquil. Over the past few centuries, countless Sovereigns had arrived early at the Eternal Academy. The Eternal Universe was now packed with Sovereigns from alternate universes, all eager to behold the supreme treasure left by an "Eternal powerhouse." However, being merely ordinary Sovereigns, none dared stir up trouble. This was the Eternal Academy. Sovereign Qianheng aside—a known peak Sovereign—Sovereign Changsheng was also rumored to be a peak Sovereign. With two peak Sovereigns holding the fort, who would dare act out? "Is what Sovereign Changsheng said about the treasure left by the Eternal Realm true or not?" "No idea. Sovereign Changsheng has never brought it out. Still, making such a massive commotion, he wouldn't dare offend all Sovereigns at once, would he? It's likely genuine." "The Eternal Realm... It has almost become a myth. No one has ever seen an Eternal Realm expert, nor is there so much as a single word recorded about them, let alone treasures left behind." "Do you think Sovereign Changsheng obtained an inheritance left by an Eternal Realm powerhouse, allowing him to advance by leaps and bounds into a peak Sovereign?" "It's possible. His cultivation pace has been ridiculously fast, especially going from an ordinary Sovereign to a peak Sovereign in a mere ten thousand years. It's simply inconceivable. For us, ten thousand years is barely enough to consolidate our foundation, let alone break through to peak Sovereign..." Many Sovereigns conversed and debated, even speculating whether Lu Changsheng had acquired the heritage of an Eternal powerhouse. Otherwise, there was no explaining why his cultivation speed was so swift, leaping straight into becoming a peak Sovereign. Lu Changsheng offered no explanations, leaving them to their speculations and discussions. His ambiguous stance only fueled their curiosity further. Yet no matter how curious they were, anyone below the rank of peak Sovereign lacked even the right to speak before Lu Changsheng. And what had Lu Changsheng been doing during these past few centuries? He was simply waiting. Waiting in silence. Through the extensive promotions by Sovereign Qianheng and the Universe Alliance, Sovereigns and peak Sovereigns across numerous universes had learned of "Sovereign Changsheng." They knew he was a peak Sovereign, and that he supposedly held a treasure left by an Eternal powerhouse. This was fortune! Lu Changsheng quietly waited for this fortune to converge. Events proved that his method was correct. Over the past several centuries, the fortune gathering upon him had indeed condensed into a vast, oceanic deluge. Originally, his immortal soul's progress stood at 91%. Now, it had risen again, reaching 95%. In just a few centuries, it had increased by four percent. This was already a substantial leap. Beyond 91%, advancing even a fraction was as difficult as ascending the heavens. However, he still lacked a turning point. Once that opportunity arrived, his fortune was bound to surge again, potentially driving his immortal soul to climb drastically once more. When that moment would arrive, Lu Changsheng did not know. All he could do was wait. Rumble! Suddenly, faint, terrifying tremors resonated through the void. At the same time, three figures manifested. The moment these three colossal silhouettes appeared, they radiated suffocating auras. Peak Sovereigns! These were three peak Sovereigns! "Sovereign Changsheng, please come forth to speak." One of the peak Sovereigns spoke, his voice booming like thunder, resounding throughout the entire Eternal Academy. "Hm?" Lu Changsheng snapped his head up. He naturally sensed the three figures. Yet the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile. The turning point he had awaited for years had finally arrived. Whoosh! Lu Changsheng stepped out of his cave dwelling and vanished in an instant. At that moment, everyone in the Eternal Academy lifted their heads toward the void. That terrifying pressure struck terror into the hearts of the Sovereigns below. After all, these were peak Sovereigns! "It's them? Sovereign Moye, Sovereign Huanyu, and Sovereign Dongcha—all three are peak Sovereigns!" "Crucially, all three are lone wanderers without factions or entanglements. They usually keep to themselves; why have all three arrived together today?" "Three solitary peak Sovereigns arriving hand in hand—they clearly come with ill intent! Otherwise, they wouldn't make such an ostentatious display." "Indeed. Sovereign Changsheng and Sovereign Qianheng add up to two peak Sovereigns, yet the other side arrived with three, perfectly overshadowing the Eternal Academy. That's hardly a coincidence." "It seems Sovereign Changsheng is in trouble today. They're most likely after the supreme treasure left by the Eternal powerhouse in his hands..." Discussions erupted across the grounds, but without question, the three peak Sovereigns brought heavy pressure upon everyone in the Eternal Academy. That included Sovereign Qianheng. He flew into the void to confront the three. "Gentlemen, arriving from afar makes you guests. Please enter the Eternal Academy for a discussion," Sovereign Qianheng offered. Sovereign Huanyu shook his head and said indifferently, "We three have not come to play guests. We come solely for Sovereign Changsheng." Sovereign Qianheng's heart sank at his words. As expected, the scenario he feared had come to pass. What was meant to come had arrived. These three were here specifically for Sovereign Changsheng—or rather, for the treasure left by the Eternal Realm powerhouse in his hands. They truly came with ill intent! "What, does Sovereign Changsheng not dare show his face?" Sovereign Huanyu sneered. Just as Sovereign Qianheng was about to speak, a tranquil voice rang out: "Who says Lu does not dare show his face?" Whoosh! Every pair of eyes followed the sound. They saw a silhouette striding across the empty sky, arriving in the void in the blink of an eye. Sovereign Changsheng! This was Sovereign Changsheng! Many onlookers' eyes brightened. Even as Sovereigns, they had spent many days at the Eternal Academy without ever glimpsing Lu Changsheng. This was their very first time seeing the renowned Sovereign Changsheng! However, Sovereign Huanyu and the other two peak Sovereigns fixed their gazes firmly on Lu Changsheng, a burning greed flickering in their eyes. "Sovereign Changsheng, we hear you hold a supreme treasure left by an Eternal Realm powerhouse?" "It is merely suspected to be from the Eternal Realm. I intended to invite our fellow Daoists to the Eternal Academy to comprehend it together. What, do you three wish to comprehend it as well? Then you need only wait a little longer." "No, Sovereign Changsheng misunderstands. We certainly wish to comprehend it, but we have no desire to wait several centuries. We wish to comprehend it right now. How about Sovereign Changsheng lends this supreme treasure to the three of us? Once we have studied it for a time, we will return it to you. How does that sound?" Sure enough, their objective was the Eternal treasure in his possession! Lu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, no longer in the mood for pleasantries. His gaze turned frigid as he spoke slowly, "If you three came to study the treasure together, you would be guests, and I would treat you with courtesy. But if you refuse to abide by my rules, you are enemies. "And if you are enemies, I shall execute you!" Lu Changsheng's voice rang with resolute authority, reverberating across the void. He gave them no face whatsoever. The three were so infuriated that they laughed. "Sovereign Changsheng, Sovereign Qianheng, you think you can stop us with just the two of you? "Especially you, Sovereign Qianheng—you know the three of us have no ties or attachments. If a real fight breaks out, we might not be able to do anything to you two, but the Eternal Universe will likely be torn to pieces! "Can you bear such a price?" The three Sovereigns' auras surged relentlessly, their words dripping with hostility. They were openly threatening them with the destruction of the Eternal Universe!