Chapter 206.3: The Vast Immortal Sect's Dao Lords Issue a Challenge, and Lu Changsheng Takes On Eight Dao Lords Alone! (III)
Boom!
Lu Changsheng's Mind Space descended at once. At the same time, the four Principles of Land, Fire, Water, and Wind blazed to life, unleashing his brand new divine technique: the Four Symbols Prison!
It was the first time Lu Changsheng had ever deployed the Four Symbols Prison. It drew on only four Principles, one fewer than the Lesser Five Elements Annihilation, and fell into the category of binding divine techniques.
Even so, the moment he released the Four Symbols Principles and the Four Symbols Prison took shape, it descended like a true prison made manifest, instantly trapping all eight supreme Dao Lords within.
Spells, formations, and enchanted treasures crashed into the walls of the Four Symbols Prison in a relentless barrage, shaking the entire structure violently. However, Lu Changsheng's expression did not change in the slightest. He simply stood in the air with his hands behind his back, completely composed, as though he were out for a leisurely stroll.
The sight of it only stoked the frustration of the eight Dao Lords further. They were all at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Who did Lu Changsheng think he was, looking down on them from such heights?
Boom!
Their attacks grew even more ferocious, yet Lu Changsheng still did not move. He did not use any of his other divine techniques either, holding the Four Symbols Prison alone, curious to test its limits. Under the relentless assault of eight Dao Lords throwing everything they had at it, the Four Symbols Prison held without yielding so much as an inch.
Gradually, genuine astonishment crept on the faces of all eight Dao lords. Even True One Yun Lai and Lu Tong were visibly taken aback.
Lu Tong knew that what Lu Changsheng had condensed was an Immeasurable Divine Ability Dao Fruit, and that the divine techniques behind it had been devised specifically to give rise to that Dao Fruit. Thus, while impressed, he was not entirely shocked by Lu Changsheng's performance. Naturally, if someone managed to condense Immeasurable Divine Ability Dao Fruit, their divine techniques were bound to be extraordinary.
True One Yun Lai was a different matter. He had no idea that Lu Changsheng had condensed an Immeasurable Divine Ability Dao Fruit. All he knew was the reputation Lu Changsheng had earned from cutting down Dao Lord Dongyang and Dao Lord Shou Xu. But now, he had no choice but to believe what was unfolding before his own two eyes.
With a single casually deployed divine technique, Lu Changsheng had held off all eight of the Vast Immortal Sect's top-tier Foundation Establishment Dao Lords without any of them managing to break through. The gap between them was simply staggering, like the difference between a Divine Ability Realm expert and a Foundation Establishment Dao Lord.
Lu Changsheng was not yet a Divine Ability martial artist, but at the Dao Foundation Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm, he stood utterly apart from everyone else, in a class entirely his own.
Half an hour later, all eight Dao Lords had exhausted every technique at their disposal and stood there with defeated looks on their faces.
"Alright, that's enough," True One Yun Lai finally said.
The Dao Lords opened their mouths to speak, but then realized they ought to remain silent. They had lost, and they knew it even in their bones. Lu Changsheng had looked down on them the whole time as his one technique wore them down.
What if this had been a battle to the death and Lu Changsheng had unleashed his entire arsenal. That single thought made them realize that Lu Changsheng could have killed them just like a farmer would wring a chicken's neck.
Lu Changsheng extended a hand and dismissed the Four Symbols Prison. This was the first time he had ever deployed it in a real combat situation, and the results had far exceeded his expectations. He found it hard to imagine that someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm or Dao Foundation Realm could possibly break out of the Four Symbols Prison.
This one divine technique was enough to make him invincible at this tier. Even if someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm or Dao Foundation Realm did possess the means to break it, such people could probably be counted on one hand.
"We concede..." All eight Dao Lords offered Lu Changsheng a slight bow.
A concession, freely given. These eight were among the proudest figures in the Vast Immortal Sect, yet here they stood, acknowledging defeat without a trace of reluctance. Now, they finally understood that no matter how far one advanced, there was always someone stronger out there.
Back in the Vast Immortal Sect, they never could have imagined losing to a Dao Foundation martial artist. But now, they had to make peace with that fact. They finally understood just how terrifyingly powerful a Dao Foundation martial artist could become, and how fearsome their divine techniques could be.
"Fellow Daoist Changsheng is truly not to be underestimated," Yun Lai remarked. "Now I understand why someone who manages to condense a Dao Fruit stands in a league of their own. Here's the drop of Heavenly Spirit Water."
True One Yun Lai was as good as his word. Without hesitation, he produced a porcelain vial containing a single drop of Heavenly Spirit Water and handed it over.
Lu Changsheng accepted it with a nod and tucked it away.
"Now then, Fellow Daoist Changsheng, you may proceed to the teleportation formation."
True One Yun Lai led the way personally, with Lu Changsheng and Lu Tong following close behind, until they arrived at the long-range teleportation formation. At first glance, the formation seemed extraordinarily complex occupying an entire mountain peak, with concealed auxiliary formations surrounding it on all sides to sustain the main structure.
"A long-range teleportation formation of this scale requires an enormous amount of spirit energy to operate," True One Yun Lai explained. "Activating it is no simple matter. The spirit stones needed for that will need to be provided by your sect."
"Of course. Our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect came fully prepared," Lu Tong replied.
He produced spirit stone after spirit stone, each one radiating a breathtaking surge of spirit energy, and embedded them into the formation one by one. When it was done, well over a hundred spirit stones had been set in place.
Spirit stones were extraordinarily precious in the Ancient Region, not easily obtained even by immortal sects, let alone factions of the Martial Dao. This was clearly the result of years upon years of accumulation by the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, and every last one of them was being brought out now, without reservation, to power the formation and send Lu Changsheng on his way.
Without such a reserve, most people would not be able to activate the formation even if they managed to convince the Vast Immortal Sect to open it.
"Alright, Junior Brother Changsheng, step in," Lu Tong said.
Lu Changsheng nodded and took his place within the formation.
"Junior Brother Changsheng, the Sacred Earth is nothing like the Ancient Region. As I've said before, your life comes first, above all else! We'll be waiting for you to come back."
Lu Changsheng said nothing. He simply offered a fist-and-palm salute.
The formation hummed to life. A tremendous binding force surged outward and locked around Lu Changsheng in an instant. It was not particularly powerful, something he could have shaken off at any moment, but he offered no resistance, letting it envelop him completely.
Swoosh.
In the next instant, Lu Changsheng vanished.
Lu Tong stood before the now empty formation and let out a long sigh. "The Sacred Earth... I wonder whether Lu Changsheng will make it back safely. There were predecessors of our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, grand elders, who journeyed to the Sacred Earth and never returned..."
True One Yun Lai said nothing. The Sacred Earth was a place that inspired both longing and dread. Only fate could determine whether Lu Changsheng would return safely.
***
The Sacred Earth. Heavenly Sacred City. Vast Immortal Square.
True One Cui Xuan sat cross-legged within the forbidden ground of the rear courtyard. The large formation suddenly pulsed with a ripple of activity, and a distant glow began to emanate from within it. True One Cui Xuan's attention snapped to it immediately, and his eyes flew open.
"Someone's coming through the formation..."
As his words trailed off, a young figure materialized within the large formation.
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, and his gaze met True One Cui Xuan's directly.
"Hmm? A martial artist? And a Dao Foundation martial artist at that. Which sect in the Ancient Region do you hail from?" True One Cui Xuan asked.
Lu Changsheng already knew that whoever guarded the other end of the formation was a True One of the Vast Immortal Sect named Cui Xuan. The elderly man standing before him now had to be exactly that.
Lu Changsheng clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "I am Lu Changsheng of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect."
"The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect? A Dao Foundation martial artist, and they sent you all the way to the Sacred Earth? Activating a long-range formation is no small cost. Spending it on a Dao Foundation martial artist seems like a terrible waste..." True One Cui Xuan frowned.
But since Lu Changsheng was not a disciple of the Vast Immortal Sect, he left it at that.
"In any case, the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect must've had their reasons to send you here. This is the Vast Immortal Square in the Heavenly Sacred City, the only base the Vast Immortal Sect maintains in the Sacred Earth.
"If you ever wish to return to the Ancient Region, the only way back is through the teleportation formation here, but you will need to supply the spirit stones required to activate it yourself. You may stay at the Vast Immortal Square for up to one month, but after that you will need to move on. The Vast Immortal Square has no interest in inviting trouble."
True One Cui Xuan laid out the rules of the establishment, and Lu Changsheng nodded. True One Yun Lai back in the Ancient Region had already mentioned most of this, so none of it came as a surprise.
"Oh right, the Vast Immortal Square has a long-range teleportation formation on the premises. Has it always been safe? Has no one ever tried to destroy it, or wanted to use it to reach the Ancient Region?" Lu Changsheng could not help but ask.
The Vast Immortal Square was, after all, little more than a shop selling enchanted artifacts and enchanted treasures, hardly a formidable power in its own right. The existence of a long-range teleportation formation on site was not the kind of secret that could be kept forever. Surely some powerful faction or expert had considered setting their sights on the Ancient Region.
True One Cui Xuan shook his head, his tone cold. "You know far too little about the Sacred Earth. This is a sacred land for cultivation, and its abundance is beyond anything you can imagine. Would someone who feasts on delicacies every day spare a thought for bitter, unpalatable wild greens?"
The meaning was clear enough: the Ancient Region was simply too poor for anyone in the Sacred Earth to bother giving it a second glance.
Lu Changsheng was slightly taken aback by the explanation. To think a place as vast as the Ancient Region wouldn't be worth someone's attention...
In any case, he bowed before turning to leave. "Thank you, True One Cui Xuan."
He made his way to the front of the Vast Immortal Square, where he found customers browsing and attendants going about their work, all amid the buying and selling of enchanted artifacts and enchanted treasures. Business was neither particularly brisk nor particularly slow.
The Vast Immortal Sect was a major force in the Immortal Dao, and crafting enchanted artifacts and treasures was its bread and butter. Having a base in the Sacred Earth was only natural. A Martial Dao sect could never have managed the same.
Without rushing, Lu Changsheng set out into the Heavenly Sacred City, wandering its streets and quietly gathering information over the course of more than ten days. By the end of it, he had managed to grasp a fairly complete picture of the city.
The Heavenly Sacred City was home to a great many factions: Martial Dao sects, Immortal Dao sects, and a number of powerful families and merchant associations. Joining a sect would have been the ideal path, since sects held large quantities of Heavenly Spirit Water.
However, the Martial Dao sects in the Heavenly Sacred City only accepted disciples who had not yet reached the Divine Treasury Realm. Anyone who had already reached the Divine Treasury Realm was turned away outright, which meant that route was effectively closed to Lu Changsheng.
That left the families and merchant associations. As an unaffiliated cultivator, working for a family would likely take untold years before he saw so much as a drop of Heavenly Spirit Water.
A merchant association was another option, but the outlook was no different. Serving under someone else for who knew how many years, all for the chance at one or two drops, was hardly a solution when what Lu Changsheng needed was far more than that.
Heavenly Spirit Water is among the most precious resources in the Sacred Earth. It can be purchased, but the price is staggering. Even a century of service to a merchant association or family may yield only a drop or two. And then there's one last possibility, which is taking it by force...
The thought crossed his mind, but the city was full of experts; Divine Ability Realm martial artists and Golden Core True Ones were everywhere. If he attempted to rob someone here, he would be cut down before he even managed to make a move, regardless of how dominant he was in the Dao Foundation Realm. Lu Changsheng could not compare to Divine Ability experts and Golden Core True Ones, and he was not so arrogant as to think otherwise.
As he considered his options, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Wait, there's one more option, one that can yield Heavenly Spirit Water quickly.
Over his days in the Heavenly Sacred City, Lu Changsheng had come across a particular place called the Battle Arena, a venue where people fought. Both martial artists and immortal cultivators could sign up to compete, and the rewards were substantial, provided one won.
However, losing almost always meant death. The mortality rate was extremely high, but with enough luck, a handful of bouts could be enough to accumulate a drop of Heavenly Spirit Water.
Fighting to the death in front of a crowd for the entertainment of others was somewhat beneath Lu Changsheng, but he did not care. If it meant getting his hands on Heavenly Spirit Water, it was worth it. As for the danger, he had the utmost confidence in himself. Who in the Dao Foundation and Foundation Establishment Realms could possibly match him?
Having made up his mind, he went to say his farewells to True One Cui Xuan.
"You're leaving already? Are you heading somewhere specific?" True One Cui Xuan asked.
"I'm going to try my luck at the Battle Arena."
"The Battle Arena?" A strange light flickered in True One Cui Xuan's eyes. "I see... Statistically, there's only a one in ten chance someone walks away from the Battle Arena. You've got guts, I'll give you that.
"The Battle Arena does have a decent reputation, backed by a Martial Saint and a True Lord behind the scenes, so if you win, you'll get what's owed to you. But remember this: competing is one thing, becoming consumed by it is another. Even supreme Divine Ability Realm experts have died in that arena. Don't let it pull you in."
"Understood. Then, I'll be on my way. Goodbye, True One Cui Xuan."
With that, Lu Changsheng rose, left the Vast Immortal Square, and headed straight for the Battle Arena.
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