Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 144.1: Five Domains Revealed; Transmission Elder Explains Divine Treasury! (I)

Clang!

Bai Yuansheng let go of his sword. Disappointment weighed heavily on him. He had always taken pride in his diligence, and after years of effort, he had managed to condense three layers of divine fortification and evolve a Domain. In his own estimation, he should have been just a step behind the inner sect's scion disciples. Given enough time, he could have caught up and perhaps even become a true inheritor one day.

And yet, he found himself completely outmatched by a disciple who had only just advanced to the inner sect. He lost before he even got to draw his sword, and with that, all that pride was shattered completely.

Without another word, Bai Yuansheng stepped down from the arena and disappeared into the crowd. His sword lay on the platform, while Lu Changsheng remained standing where he was. At that instant, both inner and outer disciples understood one thing clearly: the inner sect had gained another scion disciple.

"As expected, Lu Changsheng won."

"What else could Bai Yuansheng do against four Domains and four layers of divine fortification?"

"Yeah, I don't blame him. In that situation, even drawing his sword would've taken real courage."

"He threw his sword and just walked away... This must've shaken him badly. I wonder if he'll recover from this."

"He's worked hard, and no one can deny that. But against a true genius... The gap is just too big, and it almost feels impossible to bridge."

The disciples around them continued to murmur among themselves. With this duel, the inner sect had truly taken notice of Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng did not linger for long. After leaving the arena, he returned to the inner sect. The steward's office assigned him a residence, Courtyard No. 83. The inner sect was vast, and each disciple was granted a private courtyard, unlike those in the outer sect. This alone reflected the clear difference in status within the sect. Moreover, inner disciples also had the right to select attendants.

Lu Changsheng stood before the steward elder. The elder had clearly learned of his victory over Bai Yuansheng. Even he could not conceal his astonishment at such talent. He became noticeably more friendly toward Lu Changsheng.

"Lu Changsheng, inner sect disciples are allowed to take one attendant, man or woman. You can have one assigned by the sect, or bring someone to the sect yourself. Just remember, an attendant's life is in your hands. You have full authority over them, but that also means they're your responsibility. If they cause trouble, you'll be the one held accountable," the steward elder warned.

Lu Changsheng nodded in understanding. The attendant system existed so that inner disciples could bring in their own trusted people. Many inner disciples came from prominent clans or smaller sects, which allowed them to place close associates by their sides. Although attendants did not formally belong to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect and were attached only to the individual disciple, once they entered the sect, they would inevitably benefit from its resources.

For that reason, even an attendant position was highly sought after. Countless people were willing to entrust their lives to an inner disciple in the hope of entering the sect in such a capacity.

"I don't need one for now."

Lu Changsheng had no particular desire for an attendant. Living alone in the courtyard, he had little to manage. He would not keep a stranger by his side for trivial matters like cleaning. If he were to take on an attendant, it would be someone he actually trusted.

"Lu Changsheng, you are an inner sect scion disciple. If you hold onto that status for a full year without losing it, you'll receive a Dao Comprehension Pill. Inner disciples can remain for up to ten years, so in theory, a scion disciple could earn ten of them in total. So make sure you hold onto that position."

Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. One Dao Comprehension Pill each year?

Ten pills would be worth 100,000 contribution points.

"Oh right, above the Divine Fortification Realm is the Divine Treasury Realm. But how does one break through to it?" Lu Changsheng asked.

Although Lu Changsheng had already stepped into the Divine Fortification Realm and knew that the Divine Treasury lay beyond it, something struck him as strange. Outside the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, he had rarely heard anyone mention the Divine Treasury.

Most people spoke only of the Divine Fortification Realm, whether in Zhanhai City or on the Northern Region Battlefield. He had almost never heard of the term, let alone seen a martial artist of that realm. It was only after arriving at the Northern Region Heavenly Sect that he learned the Divine Treasury stood above Divine Fortification, and that only by reaching it could one become a true inheritor.

The sect was the hegemon of the entire Northern Region, with tens of thousands of outer and inner disciples. Yet the number of true inheritors was only a few hundred. The probability of an inner disciple advancing was roughly one in a hundred.

The transition from Divine Fortification to Divine Treasury remained shrouded in mystery. Even now, Lu Changsheng had no clear understanding of how to break through, nor any definite direction for cultivation.

The steward elder gave a mysterious smile. "Divine Treasury is no small matter. It's practically a transformation for martial artists. Once you reach it, you will finally gain the strength and confidence to stand toe-to-toe with Qi Refiners. It's because of the Divine Treasury that the Dao of Martial Arts can truly rival the Dao of Immortality. As for the details... you should go to the Transmission Hall and ask the Transmission Elder. Scion disciples of the inner sect don't need to spend contribution points for guidance."

Lu Changsheng nodded. Following the steward elder's advice, he went straight to the Transmission Hall to seek out the Transmission Elder. That position was not an ordinary one. To serve as Transmission Elder, one had to be a martial artist of the Divine Treasury Realm.

At first sight of the Transmission Elder, Lu Changsheng sensed something different. The elder seemed unlike any martial artist he had seen.

"Greetings, Transmission Elder. I am Lu Changsheng, scion disciple of the inner sect. This is my identity token."

"What is it?" the Transmission Elder asked after checking the identity token, his gaze settling on Lu Changsheng.

"I've just advanced to the inner sect and wanted to ask... how does one break through to the Divine Treasury Realm?"

"Divine Treasury..." The Transmission Elder did not seem surprised.

The ordinary people of the jianghu had some understanding of the Divine Strength and Divine Fortification Realms, at least in broad terms—but the Divine Treasury was different. Martial artists of that realm were rarely seen in the jianghu. Only the Northern Region Heavenly Sect and a handful of other forces possessed such experts. To most, this realm remained shrouded in mystery. Even the path of cultivation beyond Divine Fortification was unclear.

The Transmission Elder slowly explained, "The Divine Treasury Realm focuses on cultivating the Mind Space. Once it's cultivated, all kinds of extraordinary abilities become possible. You've already condensed divine fortification, so you should get the gist of it now. The physical body has its limits. The Thousand Cauldrons Stage is essentially the limit. Even divine fortification only reinforces it by letting you unleash power in short bursts, but it doesn't truly raise your physical limits."

"So if the body can't go any further... how should I advance?

"By cultivating the Mind Space."

Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. After the Divine Fortification Realm, the body reached its limits, and no amount of tempering would help. From that point onward, cultivation shifted toward the Mind Space. By opening a new path and unlocking the Mind Space, the possibilities could be endless.

That was the direction of the Dao of Martial Arts. Though it was only a general outline, it was enough to dispel Lu Changsheng's confusion. The haze surrounding his cultivation seemed to lift at once.

"How does one enter the Mind Space?" Lu Changsheng asked again.

"To open the Mind Space, you have to rely on willpower. Have you ever heard the saying, the greater the heart, the greater the world? Though it may seem intangible, it's what opens the Mind Space. And even after it's opened, further progress still depends on it.

"As for how to cultivate it? The best way is by gaining insight into heaven and earth. If that's not possible, then life-and-death battles can temper the will just as well. Or you can roam the world and gain life experience by experiencing various ups and downs. A moment of true enlightenment can strengthen the will. Willpower may seem elusive, but once the Mind Space is opened, you'll be able to sense it. But anything before that... you won't."

Lu Changsheng understood at once. There were plenty of ways to temper the mind, and one had to find what suited them best. Yet clearly, comprehending heaven and earth ranked foremost. Its effect on strengthening the mind had to be the greatest.

"So... when we comprehend Intent or evolve a Domain, we're actually tempering the power of the mind without realizing it?" Lu Changsheng asked as the thought suddenly clicked into place.

The Transmission Elder smiled faintly. "Exactly. You've made the connection. In truth, comprehending Intent and evolving a Domain is just another way of understanding heaven and earth. It's a path the experts of the Divine Treasury Realm passed down to help the younger generation temper their minds."