Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 185.3: Initial Comprehension of the Fire Principle; Shocking the Dao Foundation Experts of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect! (III)

With a thought, Lu Changsheng stepped into the air.

Some disciples below noticed him at once.

"Look, it's Senior Brother Lu."

"He's leaving the sect. Where do you think he's going?"

"Where else? Most likely to the third layer! That's where the true inheritors usually go once they reach the Dao Foundation. Most of them never come back."

"That's the path of the Martial Dao. A lifespan of three hundred years... He's on an entirely different level from us now."

Their envy was evident in their voices. To them, the Dao Foundation was a dividing line. Everything beyond it belonged to a different world.

Lu Changsheng paid them no mind as he pressed forward. The Ancient Region was vast, and even with his current speed, it would take some time to cross the first and second layers.

As he advanced, the familiar landscapes gradually gave way to harsher terrain. The atmosphere grew heavier and more oppressive, as if the very air carried a weight of accumulated bloodshed. He encountered more and more demons, but none of them slowed him down.

Although he had not comprehended any Principles, his Mind Space could shift from illusion to reality. As such, he could subdue and kill a demon with just a thought. The Golden Heart Sword made things even simpler. Below the Dao Foundation Realm, few could withstand his Heart Sword, whether human or demon.

In the end, it took him an entire month to cross the first two layers. By the time the third layer came into view, the change was unmistakable. This was no longer an extension of the outer layers, but the core of the Ancient Region. The weak had already been filtered out long before reaching this place. Not a single Divine Treasury martial artist or Immortal Master appeared within his sight. Naturally, none of them would dare set foot here.

The stench of blood...

Rumble.

Very quickly, the entire mountain forest began to tremble. The disturbance was not distant; it rolled outward in waves and pressed against everything in its path.

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes and looked ahead. The fluctuations were intense, far beyond an ordinary clash. Within them, he could hear the roars of demons, along with something far more familiar—the aura of a Mind Space.

A Dao Foundation expert fighting demons!

With that thought, he withdrew at once, not even pausing to observe. Instead of passing nearby, he deliberately circled the battlefield and avoided it entirely.

Now that he was in the third layer, he had to be cautious. After all, he had yet to comprehend a single Principle, and that inadequacy alone would put him at a disadvantage in a place like this. He was strong indeed, but not strong enough to act rashly.

He moved forward steadily and extended his Sense Domain to its limits. It swept over the surroundings, constantly monitoring for disturbances. At the slightest sign of danger, he would change direction.

Just like that, Lu Changsheng slowed down his advance. He took detours, avoided conflict, and spent several extra days making his way through the region. Only after maintaining that level of caution did he finally reach the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's camp.

I'm finally safe. Lu Changsheng let out a breath of relief.

The third layer was more dangerous than he had anticipated. In just a few days, he had come across more than twenty battles of varying scale, and that number alone told him enough about how things stood here in the third layer. If he stayed too long in one place or moved carelessly, the risk would increase. Here, even the slightest misstep could mean death for Lu Changsheng.

I'm confident in my strength, but I can't be arrogant here. There are others here who are stronger than me. I have no choice but to keep a low profile.

As he approached the camp, a figure stepped forward and blocked his path. "Stop."

Lu Changsheng halted and took out his identity token. "I am Lu Changsheng, a true inheritor of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. I've just forged my Dao Foundation."

The person glanced at the token, then frowned slightly. "Lu Changsheng? Hmm, sounds familiar."

Another person spoke up from the side. "Wait, I heard it a few days ago. Isn't he the one who fought Yu Feixiao at Goose Mountain? The one who killed him in a single move and took first place on both lists?"

"Oh yeah! He's the number one on both lists, the one who crushed an entire generation of both Martial Dao and Immortal Dao! You've made quite a name for us."

The atmosphere shifted almost immediately. The tension dissipated, replaced by curiosity and a hint of admiration.

"Hahaha! Hurry in, you've already made a name for yourself here. But be careful. Those Dao Lords won't take that lightly. In this place, anything can happen. People strike from the shadows all the time."

As they spoke, more Dao Foundation experts turned to look at him. They seemed very curious about him.

Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. Has the news already spread to the third layer? From the looks of it... I might actually be pretty famous.

A great reputation had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was naturally that he would not have to struggle alone. He believed there would be many kind-hearted Dao Foundation experts in the camp who would help him adapt to this place, which made settling in and understanding the situation far easier than it would have been otherwise.

As for the disadvantage, there was a risk of being targeted by those of the Immortal Dao. They would probably not take kindly to what Lu Changsheng had done. His victory over Yu Feixiao had not just been a personal achievement, but something that had shaken a long-standing balance.

For as long as anyone could remember, Immortal Masters had always held the upper hand over Divine Treasury martial artists. However, a monster had emerged out of nowhere and shattered that hierarchy.

Indeed, the battle of Goose Mountain had caused a huge uproar in the first and second layers, and so, it was unlikely that the Dao Lord would overlook it. Some of them would not hesitate to make a move against Lu Changsheng if given the chance.

This constant risk was indeed troublesome, but Lu Changsheng chose not to dwell on it. There was no need to fret about problems that had yet to appear. For now, his priority was simple: settle in and understand the third layer.

Eventually, he found a place within the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's camp and quietly made his arrangements. However, the quiet did not last for long. Once news of his arrival spread, the entire camp stirred.

"I want to see him for myself. This so-called genius, the one who dominates the entire generation of both the Immortal Dao and Martial Dao."

"Even among Dao Foundation experts, there are those who can match Dao Lords, but someone who could dominate an entire generation? That's unheard of."

"Then let's go and see if he lives up to his reputation."

Many Dao Foundation experts arrived one after another, asking about his whereabouts.

By the time Lu Changsheng realized what was happening, there was already someone standing before him. He could only feel a hint of helplessness as he looked at the man.

The man introduced himself as Gu Nian, a Dao Foundation expert who had once been a true inheritor disciple of the sect. He had been in the third layer for many years, yet even now, he had not managed to comprehend a single Principle.

In truth, there were many Dao Foundation experts like him. Only after arriving here did Lu Changsheng realize how far his expectations had been off. He had assumed that anyone who reached the Dao Foundation Realm, especially those who remained in the third layer, would have already comprehended at least one Principle—but reality was far harsher. Many had spent years, even decades, without ever crossing that threshold.

"Huh? You want to spar with me? And with mental techniques, no less?" Lu Changsheng asked, taken aback by the challenge.

Gu Nian nodded. "That's right. I know you have a formidable mental technique that wiped out Yu Feixiao's in a single strike. It must already be at the Dao Foundation level. As for me, I've been trying to comprehend the Mental Principle for decades, but I've never managed to grasp it. Maybe clashing with your technique will give me the push I need.

"As for compensation, I have a drop of fire-element Heavenly Demon Essence Blood. You need it to comprehend the Fire Principle, right? So, what do you say? Just one sparring session, and it's yours."

"Alright." Lu Changsheng agreed without hesitation. The essence blood was far too valuable to him. "When do you want to do it?"

"Now." Gu Nian rose to his feet. "We can use the martial platform. It's got protections in place, so even if things get out of hand, it won't turn serious."

Lu Changsheng nodded and followed Gu Nian toward the martial platform. By the time they stepped onto it, quite a few Dao Foundation experts had already noticed them. Murmurs rose from the surrounding crowd.

"That's Gu Nian, right? And the one with him... is that Lu Changsheng?"

"Yeah, that's him. I knew that Gu Nian was definitely going to look for him! With how strong Lu Changsheng's mental techniques are, there's no way Gu Nian would pass that up."

"Look, look! They're heading onto the martial platform. Are they actually going to spar?"

"Gu Nian might not have comprehended the Mental Principle yet, but his mental techniques are insane. Lu Changsheng's probably going to lose."

"Honestly, I hope he does lose. Let him see what the Dao Foundation experts of the third layer are really like. Otherwise, after crushing his way through, he might actually think we're all weak."

"Still... Gu Nian going up against Lu Changsheng like this? Feels a bit unfair. I mean, he's been in the Dao Foundation Realm for decades..."

As Lu Changsheng and Gu Nian stood facing each other on the platform, all eyes gradually turned to them.