Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 180.4: Lu Changsheng Against Immortal Masters At Spirit Gathering Mountain! (IIII)

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless layers of Lu Changsheng's Domains shook violently and shattered beneath the terrifying power of Ling Miao's lightning net. However, whenever one layer collapsed, another immediately formed to replace it. Even though countless layers had already been destroyed and only several dozen remained, as long as even a single layer endured, Lu Changsheng himself would remain unharmed beneath their protection.

This was what it meant to be a Divine Treasury martial artist. Once in the Divine Treasury Realm, the confidence to face Immortal Masters head-on came from Domains.

At this moment, Lu Changsheng was using his Domains to the absolute limit. Layer upon layer surrounded him like an impenetrable shell, leaving Ling Miao unable to break through no matter how fiercely she attacked.

"How is this possible?" Ling Miao's expression finally changed slightly. "How can your Domains be this powerful?"

She had fought Divine Treasury martial artists before. She had even sparred with Xia Feilong, the former number one martial artist on the Dao Foundation Candidate List. Xia Feilong was strong, but he was no match for her Lightning Art. Every time she unleashed them, his Domains would quickly collapse beneath the thunderbolts.

However, Lu Changsheng was a different story. No matter how violently the lightning bolts crashed down, his Domains managed to withstand the assault. From this alone, Ling Miao could already clearly see that Lu Changsheng was far stronger than Xia Feilong.

"If this is all you've got, I'm not sure you'll get to walk away from Spirit Gathering Mountain today!"

With that, Lu Changsheng's Domains erupted once more.

Boom!

The lightning net was instantly swallowed by Lu Changsheng's Domains and ground apart piece by piece. At the same time, the Domains surged forward like an unstoppable tide and swept directly toward Ling Miao.

"Hah! Your Domains may be powerful, but can they break the defense from my Mystic Light Pearl?"

Just as the Domains were about to reach her, Ling Miao waved her hand and channeled her mana into a cyan pearl. Then, a brilliant cyan light immediately spread outward and formed a protective barrier around her body.

The tremendous force generated by all eighteen fused Domains crashed down upon Ling Miao and slammed continuously into the cyan barrier like endless tidal waves. However, the barrier merely rippled slightly each time before quickly stabilizing.

Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. An enchanted treasure?

The Mystic Light Pearl was most likely a defensive enchanted treasure, the kind normally wielded by Dao Lords. While its offensive power might be limited, its defensive capabilities were astonishing enough to withstand even attacks from Dao Lords.

Wave after wave of Lu Changsheng's Domains crashed against the Mystic Light Pearl, but as expected of an enchanted treasure, the pearl stood firm and unmoving.

"Enchanted treasures consume an enormous amount of mana, don't they?" Lu Changsheng remarked indifferently. "How long can your mana last? You won't outlast me in a battle of attrition."

Despite his words, Lu Changsheng did not actually intend to drag this battle out.

"Heart Sword, sever!"

He unleashed the Heart Sword with full force. The Jade Heart Sword shot out from his Mind Space and instantly pierced Ling Miao's mind.

Boom!

Immortal Master Ling Miao felt a deafening roar in her mind. Blades plunged into her mind one after another, inflicting a wave of unbearable pain that made it feel like her very spirit was being torn apart. And it was only through this immense pain that she finally sensed real danger.

Truth be told, Ling Miao had always been an extremely proud person. As number three on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List, she had never suffered defeat before. Even the two people ranked above her had never tested themselves against her in a real fight. Among those at the same level, Ling Miao had always considered herself invincible, and she had never imagined that one day she would be suppressed by a Divine Treasury martial artist.

Although the duel with Lu Changsheng was not yet settled, the outcome was more or less obvious. At this point, she was stuck in a position where she could only defend, and to make matters worse, the mental damage inflicted by the Heart Sword made it impossible to even activate a Teleportation Talisman.

The Immortal Masters watching from their distance could barely process what they were seeing.

"How is Ling Miao at a disadvantage? Is Lu Changsheng really just a Divine Treasury martial artist?"

"She's barely holding on. Without the enchanted treasure she'd be dead already."

"An undefeated woman ranked third on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List is now about to lose to a Divine Treasury martial artist? What's going on...?"

The other Immortal Masters could hardly believe what they were witnessing. Ling Miao was a genius destined to become a Dao Lord in the future and possibly even a True One, and yet she was now being pushed into a corner by a Divine Treasury martial artist.

"Alright, Lu Changsheng." Ling Miao's voice came out a little more than a whisper. "You win."

Her voice carried exhaustion and unwillingness. She had held on for a long time, and her mana was about to run out. Although deep down she refused to accept this defeat, she could not deny reality. She realized that without the protection of the Mystic Light Pearl, she would have already died beneath Lu Changsheng's Domains.

I'm not dying here... especially at the hands of a Divine Treasury martial artist...

Unlike Luo He, her status within the Purple Sun Immortal Sect was extraordinarily high. She was already the disciple of a True One, which was precisely why she possessed an enchanted treasure like the Mystic Light Pearl.

"Lu Changsheng, you are stronger than Xia Feilong. Stronger than every Divine Treasury martial artist who has ever appeared before you. I am willing to call you the greatest Divine Treasury martial artist of all time."

Ling Miao wore a troubled expression. As proud as she was, she knew she had no choice but to acknowledge her adversary. This outcome was a most bitter pill, and she had no choice but to swallow it.

"Even Yu Feixiao, the number one genius on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List, is likely no match for you. If the Ancient Region ever created a unified ranking for both the Immortal Dao and Martial Dao, you would stand above both systems as the prodigy who dominates an entire generation."

Boom!

They could hardly believe the words coming out of Ling Miao's mouth. The idea that Lu Changsheng would be capable of suppressing Yu Feixiao, and that he could dominate both the Immortal Dao and the Martial Dao, was utterly astounding. If everyone else had made such a claim, everyone at the scene would have snorted.

However, it was none other than Ling Miao who had made that incredible claim, the third-ranked Immortal Master on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List and the direct disciple of a True One from the Purple Sun Immortal Sect. In terms of talent, strength, insight, and status, Ling Miao stood among the very best in the Ancient Region. Naturally, any praise or acknowledgement coming from her was deeply significant.

At that moment, many of the Immortal Masters finally began looking at Lu Changsheng differently. Perhaps he truly was a once-in-an-era freak capable of standing at the peak of the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao at the same time.

"Unbelievable... To think Immortal Master Ling Miao actually holds Lu Changsheng in such high regard."

"The greatest Divine Treasury martial artist of all time... perhaps that still makes sense since it only refers to martial artists. But to say he can stand at the peak of both the Immortal Dao and Martial Dao... Does he really deserve such praise?"

"I never imagined a martial artist could be this powerful."

"Immortal Master Ling Miao has already admitted defeat. She actually acknowledged Lu Changsheng's strength."

"Not even Yu Feixiao, the number one on the Foundation Establishment Candidate List could ever earn such praise from her. She has truly accepted defeat... until now."

Even Lu Changsheng himself was somewhat surprised. He had not expected someone as cold and proud as Ling Miao to think so highly of him. Regardless, he had no intention of showing mercy.

But before Lu Changsheng could make another move, a mysterious aura suddenly spread out from Ling Miao. The next moment, her figure vanished without leaving the slightest trace behind.

Spatial teleportation? Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. No, this has to be some kind of single-use formation. Even Dao Lords do not possess such methods. This is clearly the work of a True One.

Considering Ling Miao's master was a True One, the explanation was obvious. Her master had placed a teleportation formation on her as a safeguard. The moment her life was actually in danger, the formation would activate automatically and instantly take her away. Only another True One or a martial artist of equivalent standing could have stopped her.

In the end, Lu Changsheng had failed to kill Ling Miao, but he had gotten what he came for. He swept his gaze across the valley and found that no Immortal Masters remained nearby. All of them were now far away, fleeing desperately from Spirit Gathering Mountain.

Naturally, after seeing Ling Miao herself on the brink of death, saved only by a failsafe measure left behind by a True One, the remaining Immortal Masters had completely lost any courage to compete for the Spirit Flowers. Lu Changsheng did not bother pursuing them, as his main objective had always been the Spirit Flowers.

Before long, Zhang Kong finished harvesting every last Spirit Flower, and brought them to Lu Changsheng. "Here you go, Junior Brother Lu. Twenty-eight stalks in total."

Zhang Kong had a nervous look on his face. He had heard everything Ling Miao said about Lu Changsheng earlier, how he was the greatest Divine Treasury martial artist of all time, how he could stand at the peak of the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao across this entire generation.

That kind of recognition is insane...

Indeed, no one in the entire Ancient Region had ever received such acclaim before, especially not from an Immortal Master as a martial artist, and certainly not from someone as proud as Ling Miao.

Following this battle, Lu Changsheng's reputation would likely shake the entire Ancient Region once again. Now, even ordinary Dao Foundation and Foundation Establishment experts would pale in comparison to him.