Several voices rose at once, filled with uncertainty and disbelief.

"Is this... a Domain?" one of them asked, frowning as he took in the scene.

Another shook his head. "It feels different."

A third voice followed, lower and more cautious. "Yeah, there's definitely something different about this Domain. Could it be that it's been brought to Perfection?"

One of them reached out to touch it. The moment his fingers brushed against the space before him, he jerked his hand back and hissed sharply.

When Lu Changsheng achieved Perfection of the Starry Sky Domain, there was a fundamental shift toward materialization, but without drawing on his heart force to fully materialize it, the change only went far enough to deceive the senses. And even if he had, he would not have been able to sustain it for long.

Regardless, none of that diminished what stood before them. It was still enough to stun every last person here.

Another curious observer quietly released his own Domain in response, but it was immediately suppressed by Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain. Unless someone could manifest a Domain nurtured to Perfection within the Mind Space—one that had fully materialized—there was simply no way to contend with this Starry Sky Domain.

Mo Tu smiled with growing satisfaction, and a faint glimmer of delight appeared in his eyes. His earlier suspicions that Lu Changsheng had managed to enter the Ancient Region by pulling some strings had completely vanished.

"Perfection of a Domain... Most impressive! You're only at the Divine Fortification Realm, and you've brought your Domain to Perfection without using the Mind Space. It seems the Northern Region Heavenly Sect has sent us a truly extraordinary individual."

Then, he turned to a martial artist nearby. "Liu Yuan, Lu Changsheng will be assigned to your squad. Take good care of him."

Liu Yuan stepped forward at once. "Yes, Elder Mo."

Mo Tu's expression softened as he looked back at Lu Changsheng. "Go with Liu Yuan and get a feel for the Ancient Region. He's a good man, and his squad includes some of the finest cultivators at the Divine Fortification Realm. With their guidance, you will adapt quickly."

"Thank you, Elder Mo," Lu Changsheng said as he cupped his hands, then walked up to Liu Yuan.

Liu Yuan greeted Lu Changsheng with a quick nod. He then gestured and said, "Follow me."

He led Lu Changsheng deeper into the sect grounds, and as they walked, Lu Changsheng found himself slightly puzzled.

Though the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect was considered an encampment, it was anything but crude. In fact, the entire compound was grand and meticulously constructed, with an air of quiet magnificence. Remnants of its former immortal sect heritage still lingered. Faint formation patterns were etched into the ground, while cultivation palaces drifted high above, suspended by what could only be more formation work.

Seeing Lu Changsheng's expression, Liu Yuan chuckled. "Feels a little strange, doesn't it? I thought so too when I first arrived. Why would a martial sect have Immortal Dao methods plastered across every corner?

"Well, once you spend enough time here, it'll start to make sense. You'll see that the methods of the Immortal Dao are incredibly useful, and they also lend the place a touch of wonder," Liu Yuan said, gesturing toward the surroundings.

He continued, "The Heavenly Sect's base in the Ancient Region could give the Northern Region's a run for its money, wouldn't you say? In fact, I think it looks more magnificent, and none of it would be possible without the methods of the Immortal Dao. Of course, another reason is the fact that the Ancient Region is rich in spirit energy. Here, formations don't even need spirit stones to function. They draw directly from the spirit energy of heaven and earth, so the cost of maintaining them is nearly nothing."

Lu Changsheng nodded in understanding. With spirit energy this abundant and the Immortal Dao's methods at their disposal, it was only natural that the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect had built something of this scale and grandeur.

If they relied on manpower alone, it would require an unimaginable amount of time and effort, and even then, it might still fall short of this level of magnificence. Even the Northern Region Heavenly Sect had spent a full century building its base to its current state.

Soon after, Liu Yuan and Lu Changsheng arrived at a pavilion. Inside, a martial ground stretched out, and four young martial artists were already gathered there, two men and two women.

One of them glanced over and raised a brow. "Boss Liu, another newcomer?"

Another snorted. "Don't tell me Elder Mo talked you into it again."

A third shook his head. "You're nice, Boss Liu, but you've got to learn to say no. He sends us someone new every year, and when has any of them actually been useful?"

The last one crossed her arms, her tone blunt. "Seriously, you should say something. Our squad is strong, but we can't keep babysitting..."

The four martial artists stared at Lu Changsheng with annoyance and frustration. This was clearly not the first time Mo Tu had pressed a newcomer onto Liu Yuan, and by the look of things, none of those arrangements had gone well.

Liu Yuan looked slightly sheepish, but he still stepped forward to explain. "This time is different. This is Lu Changsheng, a true inheritor scion from the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. He's not like the others Elder Mo has assigned to us."

"A true inheritor scion from the Northern Region Heavenly Sect?"

The four of them exchanged looks, their eyes lighting up with interest, though a trace of doubt still lingered. The last time the Northern Region Heavenly Sect had sent someone was over a decade ago.

"Inheritor scions are rather talented. The one the Northern Region Heavenly Sect sent more than ten years ago made it to the Divine Treasury Realm not long after. Word has it that he's among the best even within that realm now."

"The Northern Region Heavenly Sect has been declining in recent years. Fewer and fewer true inheritor scions make the trip here. This is the first one in ten years!"

"I didn't think they'd ever send another."

The four martial artists turned their attention fully to Lu Changsheng, curiosity now outweighing their earlier resistance. But as Lu Changsheng listened, something felt off to him. These individuals spoke about the Northern Region Heavenly Sect with admiration but also with a certain detachment, as though they were referring to an entirely different sect.

His gaze moved across the group. "Are you not true inheritor scions of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect yourselves?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Liu Yuan shook his head. "True inheritor scions are the sect's most prized disciples, and they are as rare as it gets. We're disciples of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, born and raised here in the Ancient Region. None of us have ever set foot in the Heavenly Sect base of the Northern Region. Everything we know about it comes from our elders. Although we share the same origin as the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, we're different branches."

Lu Changsheng fell silent as the realization settled in. This was the Heavenly Sect in name, but in reality, the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect had diverged from the one of the Northern Region to the point where they could almost be considered entirely separate entities.

The hierarchical bond between them had long since faded, and as time passed, that distance would only continue to grow. After all, how could disciples who had only ever known the Ancient Region as home feel any real allegiance to a Northern Region Heavenly Sect they had never seen?

The Northern Region Heavenly Sect's leadership had likely seen this coming long ago and chosen to let it unfold as it would. Whatever the reason, that was a matter for the sect's upper ranks, and none of his concern.

"Forget about the sect for now, Lu Changsheng," Liu Yuan continued, breaking the brief silence. "Let me tell you about our squad first. Our squad goes by Heavenly Lin[1], named after our former captain. And after he advanced to the Divine Treasury Realm, leadership fell to me."

He gestured toward the others. "And these are your teammates, Chen Gang, Zhao Yufeng, Xiao Bao, and Shen Ningxiang. With you joining us, we now have six members."

Lu Changsheng cupped his hands to each of them in greeting.

Xia Bao stepped in front of Lu Changsheng and sized him up from head to toe. "So what's your heart force at? The Heavenly Lin Squad doesn't tolerate slackers. Every true inheritor scion the Northern Region Heavenly Sect has sent us has been exceptional. I'd expect you to be no different. And just so you know, the lowest heart force in this squad sits at eighty."

The others said nothing, but their attention was fixed on Lu Changsheng. It was clear Xia Bao had voiced what all of them were thinking.

"Well..."Lu Changsheng began, his lips curling into a smile.

Liu Yuan had not stepped in to speak for him this time. It seemed Liu Yuan intended for him to make his own impression and win over the others himself so that his integration into the Heavenly Lin Squad would be smoother.

"Truth is, I didn't become a true inheritor scion through heart force. Rather, I earned my status through my Domain."

Woosh!

Lu Changsheng manifested his Starry Sky Domain once more. The vast expanse spread outward, instantly enveloping the entire martial ground. A heavy pressure descended on everyone present, including Liu Yuan.

None of them were weak. Their mental strength held firm, and faint traces of their own Domains flickered around them in resistance. But no matter how hard they pushed, they failed to manifest their Domains. As it turned out, only someone with a materialized Domain could fight back against a Perfection-level Domain.

Disbelief spread across the faces of the four martial artists.

"How is this possible? I can't even manifest my domain!"

"This Domain hasn't even materialized! How can it be this strong?"

"How can an illusory Domain be this strong?"

They knew that every true inheritor scion of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect was a supreme genius, and they had been eager to see it for themselves. Of course, none of them had imagined that Lu Changsheng could suppress them all with just an illusory Domain.

However, they were far from facing defeat. Even a materialized Domain would not be enough by itself to defeat a martial artist with a heart force above seventy. Thus, even if this were a real fight, the four martial artists would not be afraid. With the lowest heart force in their squad at eighty, and with their divine fortification and full range of abilities, they were confident they could hold their own against Lu Changsheng in an actual fight.

None of them forgot the fact that they were a supreme squad. Even so, having their Domains shut down by Lu Changsheng that easily was nothing short of embarrassing.

Soon, Lu Changsheng withdrew the Starry Sky Domain, and the four martial artists looked at him as if he were a monster.

"Captain, how is his Domain that strong?" Xia Bao asked in disbelief.

Liu Yuan smiled. "Simple. He's brought it to Perfection."

"What? Perfection?"

"He actually pushed his Domain to Perfection without using the Mind Space to nurture it?"

"Incredible! He's an absolute beast!"

"The Northern Region Heavenly Sect's true inheritor scions are all incredibly powerful, but Lu Changsheng is clearly on another level."

1. The Lin here is likely derived from (麒麟 | qí lín). In Chinese mythology, Qi (麒) refers to the male and Lin (麟) to the female. The qilin is an auspicious creature whose rare appearance is said to herald the birth or passing of a sage or great ruler. Here is what it looks like. ☜