Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The 8th Layer of Dao Palace (2nd Update)
“A peerless genius is about to make a breakthrough.
In the bamboo forest of the Great Xia Literary Court, an old man with white hair and beard gazed at the purple aura that spanned dozens of miles above the imperial city.
“This aura, could it be Mount Shu’s Taiqing Wuji Technique? The Taiqing Wuji Technique is a supreme skill created by the Ancestral Master of Mount Shu. When breaking through, it can trigger a purple aura phenomenon, truly miraculous indeed. When Taiqing Wuji Technique reaches great accomplishment, the purple aura extends three thousand miles.” The terrifying aura in the imperial palace’s Heavenly Prison was once again awakened.
However, Mount Shu is the protectorate of the Great Xia dynasty, and there is no danger in Mount Shu’s Lu Changsheng making a breakthrough in the Great Xia imperial city.
No one dares to target a Mount Shu Elder within the sovereign domain of the Great Xia imperial city and the influence of Mount Shu.
“The foundation of this individual is incredibly solid; the celestial phenomenon triggered during the breakthrough is beyond ordinary.”
The swordsman at Yue Lai Inn stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the direction of the palace, full of admiration.
The unparalleled experts of the small Daoist temple and Picking Flowers Temple were also once again disturbed.
“First it was demonic Qi, now a celestial phenomenon; will anybody be able to sleep tonight?”
“The center of the celestial phenomenon seems to be in the direction of the imperial palace?”
All cultivators in the city were unable to sleep.
Countless strands of purple Qi formed a vortex with dozens of miles in diameter, with Lu Changsheng’s room at the very center.
“Elder Lu is making a breakthrough.”
“This is the celestial phenomenon triggered by our Mount Shu’s Taiqing Wuji Technique. It is said that whenever the Sect Leader breaks through, Mount Shu will witness this purple aura phenomenon.”
“Protect Elder Lu, and do not allow any disturbances.1
The people of Mount Shu quickly occupied strategic positions in all four directions to guard Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng, now a peerless genius on par with Mount Shu’s eldest brother Li Changye, was a thorn in the side of the four Great Demon Sects. Once Lu Changsheng made his breakthrough, Mount Shu would gain yet more strength. “We at the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion share roots with Mount Shu, we too shall protect Elder Lu.”
Xia Ningxue saw the celestial phenomenon appearing above the imperial city and understood what was happening, so she led the people from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion to guard Lu Changsheng.
“Is this commotion caused by Daoist Lu’s breakthrough?
The Second Princess had been busy for half the day. After chasing traces of an extraordinary Great Demon, she had yet to remove her armor upon returning to the palace when Lu Changsheng triggered another celestial phenomenon. She hurriedly took the Imperial Guards to the scene.
“Daoist Lu has shown me kindness; I ask all officers and soldiers to join me in safeguarding Daoist Lu!”
“At your command!”
The Second Princess, along with the Imperial Guards, took defensive positions around the palace perimeter to prevent anyone from interrupting Lu Changsheng’s breakthrough.
A refined man with graying temples approached upon hearing the news: “Your
Highness, the Princess.”
“State Preceptor.”
“Seeing Lu making his breakthrough and triggering a celestial phenomenon, I have come to provide protection.”
“Your assistance is much appreciated, State Preceptor.” “Lu has also shown me kindness; how could I not repay it?” The State Preceptor of Great Xia, the Second Princess, Xia Ningxue, and the people of Mount Shu, all voluntarily guarded Lu Changsheng. Unless an unprecedented expert from the four Great Demon Sects launched an attack, it was unlikely that Lu Changsheng’s breakthrough could be disrupted.
However, the imperial city of Great Xia is a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers reside; it is not easy for the outstanding experts of the Great Demon Sects to trespass recklessly.
Lu Changsheng seized the fleeting opportunity of sudden enlightenment to attempt to break through to the eighth level of the Dao Palace Realm.
The Dao Palace Minor Realm within Lu Changsheng expanded in all directions, resembling a magnificent temple.
In a state of sudden enlightenment, his understanding of cultivation techniques and martial skills surged like a cheat code was activated. Regrettably, the state of sudden enlightenment induced by the Enlightenment Pill was far too brief. When it ended, Lu Changsheng was left with a sense of loss.
“After all, the Taiqing Wuji Technique is a Heaven Rank skill; I haven t completely comprehended the seventh level. However, I have grasped a small part of it, and my cultivation has reached the eighth level of the Dao Palace Realm.”
Lu Changsheng formally stepped into the eighth level of the Dao Palace Realm, his True Qi more vast and powerful than even a typical ninth-level Dao Palace Realm cultivator’s True Qi.
“Sigh…”
As Lu Changsheng took a deep breath, the purple aura that had gathered for dozens of miles above the imperial city also dispersed.
When Lu Changsheng stepped out of his room, he found cultivators from Mount Shu, Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, the Imperial Guards, and the Literary Court-hundreds in total-all looking towards him in unison.
“Congratulations, Lu, on advancing yet another realm. Your cultivation has already surpassed this old man. I have cultivated for four hundred years and still have not reached your level, which is truly shameful,” said the State Preceptor of Great Xia, his voice filled with a sigh of envy.
During the cleanup of the Reincarnation Hall stronghold, Lu Changsheng was at the seventh level of the Dao Palace Realm, so this breakthrough meant he was now at the eighth level, completely surpassing the State Preceptor.
“Congratulations, Daoist Lu.”
The Second Princess appeared even more regretful.
Her initial assessment had been correct. If she could have taken Lu Changsheng as her teacher, with that layer of mentorship, Lu Changsheng would have been even more protective of the Great Xia dynasty.
“How can I ever catch up with Master?”
Lian scratched her head. She wanted to pursue her master’s level of cultivation so that one day she could repay him, but while her master’s cultivation was making great leaps, Lian was still in the Nascent Soul Realm, and Lu Changsheng had reached Great Accomplishment in the Dao Palace Realm.
“Congratulations.”
Xia Ningxue didn’t say much, her gaze towards Lu Changsheng somewhat odd. Could it be that she suspected the momentary surge of overwhelming Demonic Qi had something to do with him?
Lu Changsheng pretended not to see Xia Ningxue’s suspicious gaze; without verbal acknowledgment, Xia Ningxue did not inquire further.
“Changsheng is grateful to all the fellow Daoists for their protection. I will always remember today’s events. Please disperse and rest,” Lu Changsheng said, bowing with his hands clasped, taking note of everyone present.
To repay grievances directly and kindness with virtue-this was Lu Changsheng’s principle.
“Daoist Lu, we shall take our leave.”
The crowd all went back to rest.
“Lian, you should also go to rest. Tomorrow, your master will present you with a new Flying Sword.”
“Mm.”
Lu Changsheng returned to his room.
“The ‘Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword’, a lower-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, is no longer sufficient for me.”
“The ‘Taiyi Daoist Robe1, an upper-grade Acquired Spirit Treasure, has been damaged in the fight with Jue Jian, and I need a more advanced Daoist robe.’ As Lu Changsheng’s cultivation soared rapidly, his various magical treasures became inadequate, and he aimed for higher-level treasures.
Magical treasures are extremely important to cultivators. Even with a cultivation one or two realms lower, one can possibly leap ranks in battle with a superior magical treasure.
Lu Changsheng could now bestow his first and second disciples with Acquired Spirit Treasures, with a chance to retrieve an Innate Spirit Treasure-and a very small chance of retrieving an Immortal Artifact.
Lu Changsheng needed a batch of Acquired Spirit Treasures. “There’s an auction house in the imperial city. I can definitely auction off one or two seventh-grade Elixir Pills and then buy a batch of Acquired Spirit Treasures, continuously bestowing them to disciples to farm for Innate Spirit Treasures and even Immortal Artifacts,” Lu Changsheng quickly thought of a way to farm Immortal Artifacts.
Immortal Artifacts are the treasured possessions that safeguard the six major factions.
The “Gallbladder Mirror” was a lower-grade Immortal Artifact of Mount Shu that could see through the aptitude of most people, and over tens of thousands of years, it has selected many outstanding disciples for Mount Shu. Using the system, Lu Changsheng farmed a large quantity of Elixir Pills and Talismans, and now it was time to farm for magical treasures.
Lu Changsheng had three disciples, giving him three chances a day to farm for magical treasures.
The next day, Lu Changsheng donned the coarse clothes of a Swordsman, suppressed his cultivation, and blended into the auction at Tianyu City. This time, Lu Changsheng was auctioning seventh-grade Elixir Pills. Lu Changsheng had accumulated a bag of seventh-grade Elixir Pills. Taking out one or two of these for the auction was nothing much to him.