Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 185.2: Initial Comprehension of the Fire Principle; Shocking the Dao Foundation Experts of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect! (II)

Time slipped by unnoticed. One day became three, then five, then ten, until a full month had passed.

Eventually, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed within.

Heavenly Demon Essence Blood is really something...

He had been in seclusion for the entire month, focusing solely on contemplating the Fire Principle through that single drop of essence blood. The results had exceeded his expectations.

Before this, his understanding of Principles had been nothing but a blank; he had had no direction and no foothold to begin with. But now, this one drop had carved out a path for him, allowing him to grasp a trace of the Fire Principle. With that, he brought up his status panel.

[Status Panel]

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 8350 (Praised by All)

[Skills]

Fire Principle Seed: 5% Progress

Heart Sword True Mantra: 1% Progress (Golden Heart Sword)

His Fire Principle Seed had reached five percent progress. This was no insignificant gain. In fact, advancing this much in a single month could be considered remarkable by any reasonable standard.

Still, as Lu Changsheng examined it more closely, he understood the limitation just as clearly. This drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood had already yielded everything it could. Its effect had ended here, at five percent. If he wanted to push the Fire Principle Seed to completion, he would need more of such essence blood.

By that count, twenty drops of similar quality would be enough to reach full comprehension. The quantity itself was not unreasonable; what complicated matters was the inconsistency. No two Heavenly Demons were the same, and their essence blood varied accordingly. If this specific drop had increased the progress of his Fire Principle Seed by five percent, perhaps another drop might yield a far greater leap.

In any case, this was the first time Lu Changsheng could clearly see a path forward.

He exhaled slowly. As expected, staying shut in and cultivating blindly won't lead anywhere when it comes to Principles. My Perception may be high, but it's not enough to derive a Principle from nothing. I still need external means...

He rose and looked toward the cave entrance. Hmm, looks like I do need to head to the third layer.

With that, he made the basic preparations before going directly to the True Inheritor Hall.

Technically speaking, he was no longer a true inheritor disciple. However, his breakthrough to the Dao Foundation Realm had only happened a month ago, and his new cave residence or any other arrangement had yet to be finalized. Still, he was not in a hurry; those could wait until his return.

Just as Lu Changsheng stepped into the True Inheritor Hall, a voice reached him. "Oh? You're here already? Come, let's head to the inner hall."

He recognized Wang Feng's voice at once and walked in without hesitation. As he entered, he saw another figure standing beside him—Zhong Yu, the Enforcement Hall Master.

Lu Changsheng stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Hall Master Zhong and Hall Master Wang."

Zhong Yu waved it off with a soft smile. "We can drop such formalities now. You've already forged your Dao Foundation. You're no longer a true inheritor disciple, and in terms of your cultivation, you stand on the same level as us. We now walk the Martial Dao together as equals."

Lu Changsheng hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Understood, Senior Brother Zhong and Senior Brother Wang."

Both of them nodded with smiles on their faces.

Wang Feng studied him for a moment before saying, "Junior Brother Lu, it's been a month, and it seems you've gained quite a bit. You should understand the value of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood by now."

He was very certain that no one would remain unmoved after experiencing the Heavenly Demon Essence Blood effects. When it came to comprehending Principles, there were few reliable paths. Without something like Heavenly Demon Essence Blood, most might never manage to comprehend a principle.

There were, of course, other ways. Certain rare natural treasures or phenomena could also help martial artists contemplate Principles—but such opportunities were scarce and unpredictable, things that could only be encountered by chance.

Heavenly Demon Essence Blood, on the other hand, was different. Although rare, one could still obtain it with enough effort. There were countless demons out there, and while Heavenly Demons were far fewer, they were not beyond reach. As long as the martial artist was willing to fight for it, there was always a chance to obtain more.

Lu Changsheng nodded in acknowledgement before saying, "Senior Brother Wang, regarding the situation in the third layer..."

Wang Feng naturally understood what Lu Changsheng meant. "It's complicated. The third layer is essentially a chaotic battlefield. On the surface, martial artists and Dao Lords stand on the same side to fight against demons. But in reality, there are many cases of martial artists killing one another over Heavenly Demons, and demons do the same among themselves.

"Order exists, but only loosely. Most of the time, survival depends on who you trust. That's why, once you enter the third layer, your sect remains your only reliable anchor. You can still trust Dao Foundation experts from your own sect... at least more than anyone else, anyway."

Lu Changsheng nodded in understanding. In truth, this was not much different from the first and second layers. The only difference was perhaps that fights in the third layer might be fiercer and more frequent.

Wang Feng took out a map and handed it over. "Follow this route when you enter. The marked location is where our sect camps in the third layer. So, go there first.

"You can get a grasp of the situation from the people stationed there. Zhong Yu and I have both been away from the third layer for too long. Whatever we know might not be entirely reliable now. Once you're there, everything depends on yourself. You haven't comprehended a Principle yet, so don't rush into anything. Keep a low profile at the start. Understand the situation first, then decide how to act."

Zhong Yu also spoke about some of his own experiences. He did not dwell on details, but each point was grounded and practical, which was drawn from years spent in that place.

Both of them clearly valued Lu Changsheng, yet neither tried to soften the reality of what awaited him. Whatever reputation or standing he had built in the past would not carry much weight there. The third layer was a place where identity meant little and strength was the only thing that endured.

Anyone who reached the Dao Foundation or Foundation Establishment Realm had once been a standout figure in the lower layers, but in the third layer, that distinction faded quickly. Everyone there had walked a similar path, and none of them were ordinary.

Hence, time itself became a dividing line. Some had been cultivating for over a hundred years, others for two or three hundred. With that time came accumulated experience, techniques, and understanding. Even contemplating Principles followed that same pattern: it was not something achieved in a sudden breakthrough but something built patiently over years of effort.

The third layer was filled with such people. In comparison, the first and second layers felt almost shallow. And, in addition to those seasoned experts, there were also powerful demons roaming those lands.

"I understand," Lu Changsheng said with a bow. Now, he knew well what he ought to do once he ventured into the third layer: forget all about past achievements and focus on sheer strength.

After leaving the hall, he returned to his cave residence. There was little for him to pack, but that did not mean he could leave immediately. Once he entered the third layer, he would not be able to return easily. There were matters he had to settle before he left.

I've not forgotten about you.

Lu Changsheng recalled the promise he had made to Sun Ming, an elder of the Enforcement Hall. He was meant to do everything he could to find a treasure that could extend one's lifespan, within three years. Although there was still plenty of time, Sun Ming should have already heard the news of his advancement. Even so, he had not come to seek him out, as though both of them were waiting for the three years to pass.

However, Lu Changsheng had no intention to drag this out.

Life-extending treasure... The Exchange Hall should have them.

With that in mind, he went straight there. It did not take long before he decided to acquire a Dark Fruit. This treasure could extend one's lifespan by about fifty years, which was enough for his purpose. For someone like Sun Ming, who was only at the Divine Treasury Realm, gaining another fifty years was already a blessing.

The price was steep, but Lu Changsheng did not hesitate. He had more than enough contribution points to afford it. The Five Element Beasts he had obtained earlier had not even been fully converted into the points yet. The total amount had to be tremendous.

However, he held back on the exchange for the time being. His current path involved comprehending the Five Element Principles, and those beasts might prove useful later. There was no need to rush into exchanging everything.

With the Dark Fruit in hand, he left the Exchange Hall and headed directly for the Enforcement Hall.

The moment he entered, several elders noticed him and immediately bowed. "Greetings, True Inheritor Lu."

The respect in their tone was unmistakable. Regardless of his current title, his status as a Dao Foundation expert alone was enough to command such respect.

Regardless, Lu Changsheng did not dwell on formalities. "I'm looking for Elder Sun Ming."

"Elder Sun Ming? Please wait a moment..."

The message was passed along quickly. Before long, Sun Ming arrived. He looked much the same as before, frail and aged, his body weighed down by a heavy aura of death. If anything, he seemed even closer to the end of his lifespan than before.

Yet the moment he saw Lu Changsheng, his eyes lit up with unmistakable excitement. Clearly, he had already been waiting for this day for a long time.

Ever since Lu Changsheng rose to prominence as a Divine Treasury martial artist, Sun Ming had held onto that promise. Later, when Lu Changsheng broke through to the Dao Foundation Realm, the news had far exceeded anything he had dared to hope for.

"Greetings, True Inheritor Lu!" Elder Sun Ming said with a bow, trying his best to suppress his excitement.

"Elder Sun, there's no need for that. I came today to fulfill the promise I made." He took out the Dark Fruit and placed it in Sun Ming's hands. "This should extend your life by fifty years."

Sun Ming froze for a moment, then stared at the fruit as if afraid it might disappear. His hands trembled as he held it, the excitement finally overflowing. "Oh... It really is a Dark Fruit!"

For him, this was not just a treasure; it was time itself. Fifty years was almost an entire lifetime for an ordinary person, and now it was within his grasp.

He held the fruit tightly and looked up at Lu Changsheng, his expression filled with gratitude and disbelief. "Thank you, really. I never imagined you would reach the Dao Foundation Realm so quickly. It still feels unreal."

Lu Changsheng merely smiled. At this point, he had grown almost numb to such praise.

"Well then, I have fulfilled my promise. Take care, Elder Sun!"

With that, he turned to leave. He did not return to his cave residence. Instead, he headed straight out of the sect grounds.