Xiao Bao and the others stared at Lu Changsheng in quiet disbelief. Their heart force was strong, but that had much to do with the environment of the Ancient Region. Domain contemplation, on the other hand, relied completely on a martial artist's own Perception, and no kind of environment could provide a shortcut for that.

Under normal circumstances, getting a Domain to Perfection required opening the Mind Space and nurturing the Domain within it. As for pushing a Domain to Perfection through Perception alone, that was something they had only ever heard of in legends, something they had never believed possible. But now, they stood face to face with the person who had accomplished it, shattering what was supposed to be pure fantasy.

Chen Gang, a burly, fierce-looking man, cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Your Domain has reached Perfection, so in that regard, you are strong. But if all your focus went into that one Domain, then you probably hadn't condensed more layers of divine fortification. Let me tell you now, in the Heavenly Lin Squad, heart force and Domain are important, but combat power matters more, because if that falls short, survival in the Ancient Region will be a struggle."

Chen Gang spoke the truth bluntly. The Ancient Region was not a place for quiet cultivation. This was where the supreme geniuses of all five regions gathered, where the Immortal Dao flourished, and where danger was constant. Even among disciples who had grown up in the Ancient Region, death was a common occurrence, something accepted as the price of being here. Talent meant nothing if you were not strong enough to survive.

Liu Yuan nodded in agreement. "I know it sounds intimidating, but Chen Gang is right. Our Heavenly Lin Squad is one of the strongest in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, and we still run into danger more often than any of us would like. When that inevitably happens, we can't always spare the attention to protect you. You need to build some strength as quickly as possible.

"One layer of divine fortification isn't enough. You should aim for two, or even three. Everyone on this squad has at least two layers of top-tier divine fortification, along with one or two ordinary layers on top of that."

Lu Changsheng listened attentively. If each of them has at least two layers of top-tier divine fortification, then they can each manifest at least two Domains. As expected of a supreme squad of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect...

But there was something that amused him. Why did they all assume I have only condensed one layer of divine fortification?

"Who said I only have one layer of Divine Fortification? I'm fairly certain I've never mentioned how many layers I have."

Liu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've contemplated your Domain to Perfection. That kind of focus takes almost everything a martial artist has. One Domain means one layer of Divine Fortification... unless you've also grasped some Intents and managed to condense a second layer?"

Lu Changsheng realized words alone would not be enough to convince them, so he decided to show them instead.

Buzz...

A low hum spread through the air as a layer of Boundless Starry Sky Divine Fortification enveloped his body.

They gasped. "Boundless Starry Sky Divine Fortification! That's one of the most supreme divine fortifications. It can amplify the physique thirty times over!"

Everyone was struck by the divine fortification emanating from Lu Changsheng. They instantly recognized it as one of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect's most supreme divine fortification techniques.

Before the shock could settle, another layer condensed over Lu Changsheng's body, followed by a third and a fourth. Tempest Divine Fortification, Giant Wave Divine Fortification, and Hundred Zhang Waterfall Divine Fortification appeared one after another, each one top-tier.

Liu Yuan and the others watched in astonishment as the layers stacked on top of each other. Four layers of Divine Fortification meant a ninety-times amplification, and combined with a Perfection-level Starry Sky Domain, the resulting power was beyond anything they could easily grasp.

"Four layers..." Liu Yuan drawled. "Does that mean you have four Domains as well?"

Lu Changsheng nodded. "That's right."

Since they were all teammates now, he saw no reason to hide his true strength from them. All four of his Domains spread outward at once, sweeping through the area with overwhelming force, and leaving the Heavenly Lin Squad speechless at the full extent of his strength.

The Heavenly Lin Squad had always taken pride in their strength, and as one of the top squads in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, they often held others to their standards. But before Lu Changsheng, they had nothing to criticize.

His strength clearly surpassed theirs. Heart force was the one area they still held over him, but for someone who had pushed a Domain to Perfection through Perception alone, it would only be a matter of time before he caught up.

Chen Gang stepped forward and gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Senior Brother Lu. You're one of us now. In the Heavenly Lin Squad, we don't scheme against each other, and we don't leave each other behind. When it matters, you can trust every person here with your back."

"Hehe, this is perfect." Xia Bao grinned. "With Senior Brother Lu joining us, we might finally be able to contend with the Five Peaks Squad of the Yellow Heavenly Sect."

Zhao Yufeng's expression turned cold at that name. "They've had the upper hand over us for too long. Last time we were competing for a treasure, they walked away with it right under our noses. But from now on, we shall be the ones with the upper hand."

The others came forward one by one. Only Shen Ningxiang held back, but the way she looked at Lu Changsheng had softened considerably.

In the days that followed, Lu Changsheng familiarized himself with both the Heavenly Lin Squad and the Ancient Region. He integrated into the Heavenly Lin Squad without any difficulty. More often than not, with enough strength, acceptance into an established group came naturally.

***

"Does the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect have Dao Comprehension Pills too?" Lu Changsheng asked Liu Yuan one day.

"Of course, we have dedicated pill masters here, and even a Dao Lord, so the supply is steady. In fact, many of the pills used by the Northern Region Heavenly Sect come from us."

Lu Changsheng nodded. The Ancient Region was rich in spirit energy, and natural treasures were abundant. Under such conditions, pill refinement was far easier to sustain.

Over the past few days, he had also gained a better understanding of the system of the Immortal Dao. Immortal Masters, Dao Lords, and True Persons were the three most common ranks of Dao practitioners. They were also referred to as Qi Refinement Immortal Masters, Foundation Dao Lords, and Golden Core True Persons.

In the Ancient Region, it was perfectly normal for martial sects to have Immortal Masters and Dao Lords within their ranks. Although martial sects still ranked slightly below immortal sects overall, given that the Ancient Region was practically a holy land for the Immortal Dao, it was not unusual for Immortal Dao practitioners to join them. Many did so for convenience, refining pills or setting up formations in exchange for contribution points, which they then used to obtain cultivation resources.

Liu Yuan added, "The exchange rate here is better too. One Dao Comprehension Pill costs 5,000 contribution points."

Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. Although the effects of Dao Comprehension Pills diminished with repeated use, he was nowhere near that limit. If he could get enough points to exchange for more, he could push his other Domains forward.

However, earning contribution points was not easy. The Ancient Region was filled with threats, so even as a supreme expert, he could not afford to venture alone carelessly. If he encountered a Qi Refinement Immortal Master, a top-tier squad, or a Divine Treasury martial artist on his own, he would be in real danger. Moving with the squad was the safer choice.

Liu Yuan seemed to read his thoughts. "We've rested long enough. Time to get some action. Lu Changsheng, you've been wanting to stack contribution points, haven't you? The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect has things the Northern Region Heavenly Sect can only dream of."

Lu Changsheng's mood lifted. "Where are we going, Captain?"

"Maple Leaf Valley. The Frigid Ice Grass ripens around this time of year, and each stalk is worth 1,000 contribution points. The valley sits on the outermost edge of the Ancient Region, so Divine Treasury Realm martial artists and Qi Refinement Immortal Masters rarely bother with it. The resources aren't worth their time. That said, we might run into squads from other sects, so come prepared."

Liu Yuan then gathered everyone and laid everything out in an orderly manner. It was clear why he was the captain.

Lu Changsheng had nothing to prepare, so he simply sat with his eyes closed and rested. About an hour later, Liu Yuan gave the signal, and the group set out.

It was Lu Changsheng's first time venturing beyond the sect grounds into the wider Ancient Region. He took in the surroundings as they walked. The flowers were more vivid than in the Northern Region, the grass a deeper green, and the trees were broader and taller—all the result of rich spirit energy.

Chen Gang walked over to Lu Changsheng and said in a low voice. "Senior Brother Lu, you're new here, so listen carefully. Never hold back in the Ancient Region. If a fight breaks out, you go all out."

Liu Yuan nodded in agreement. "Chen Gang's right. No one here worries about consequences. Everyone has a sect behind them, so connections won't help you. When conflicts arise, they're settled by strength alone. If you die, you die."

Lu Changsheng nodded. "Understood."

In the Ancient Region, one's background and connections meant nothing. Since everyone came from powerful sects, those things canceled each other out. What remained was strength. Resources were fought over, and hesitation only led to death.

Lu Changsheng was not afraid of brawls or killings. After countless battles on the Northern Region Battlefield, fighting to the death had become second nature to him. But the others had no way of knowing that; they probably assumed he was the kind of genius who had spent his years cultivating quietly in the sect, sheltered and untested.

"We're here," said Liu Yuan as he came to a sudden halt. His eyes were fixed on something, and his expression was serious. The rest of the squad mirrored him, their gazes locked forward with a hint of hostility.

Lu Changsheng followed their gazes. In the valley ahead, a group of people had already gathered.

"The Five Peaks Squad..." Liu Yuan gritted his teeth. "Xu Haoran!"

The Five Peaks Squad noticed them too.

"Liu Yuan! Fancy running into you again!" someone said, his voice drifting across the distance. It was faint at first, then amplified by some technique until it struck their ears like thunder. "Here for the Frigid Ice Grass? I'm afraid that belongs to the Five Peaks Squad now. You have three seconds to get your squad out of Maple Leaf Valley."