Dao Palace Realm, Eighth Layer

A Peerless Genius is about to break through.

In the Bamboo Grove of the Great Xia Academy of Letters, an elderly man with white hair and beard looked up at the purple qi stretching for dozens of miles above the Imperial City.

"This aura... is it the Taiqing Wuji Art of Shushan? The Taiqing Wuji Art is a supreme Cultivation Method created by the Shushan Dao Ancestor. When one breaks through to a higher level, it can trigger the extraordinary phenomenon of purple qi, which is truly miraculous. When the Taiqing Wuji Art perfected, purple qi travels three thousand miles eastward."

The terrifying atmosphere of the Imperial Palace prison was once again awakened.

However, since Shushan is the protector of the Great Xia Dynasty, Lu Changsheng of Shushan is not in danger when he breaks through in the Great Xia Imperial City.

No one dared to make a move against the Elders of Shushan in the Imperial City of the Great Xia Dynasty or within the sphere of influence of Shushan.

"This person's foundation is extremely solid; the extraordinary phenomena he triggered during his breakthrough were far beyond those of ordinary people."

The Swordsman at Yuelai Inn looked towards the palace with his hands behind his back, full of praise.

The extraordinary masters of the Daoist Temple and Nianhua Temple were once again alarmed.

"First came the Demon Qi, then the strange phenomena in the heavens and earth. Are they even going to let people sleep tonight?"

"The center of this celestial phenomenon seems to be in the direction of the Imperial Palace?"

No cultivator in the entire city could sleep.

Countless purple qi formed a vortex with a diameter of tens of miles, and at the center of the vortex was Lu Changsheng's room.

Elder Lu is about to break through.

"This is a celestial phenomenon caused by our Shushan Taiqing Wuji Art. Legend has it that every time our Sect Master breaks through a barrier, purple qi aura will appear over Shushan."

"To Guardian Elder Lu, we must not allow anyone to disturb him."

The Shushan people quickly took up positions in the four directions to Guardian Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng is now Peerless Genius of Shushan, on par with his Senior Brother Li Changye. He is a thorn in the side of the Four Great Demonic Sects. Once Lu Changsheng breaks through, Shushan will gain even more strength.

"We Ask Immortal Pavilion, are of the same lineage as Shushan, and we also serve as Guardian of Elder Lu."

Xia Ningxue saw the strange celestial phenomenon appearing above the Imperial City and understood what was going on. So she led the Ask Immortal Pavilion and others to Guardian Lu Changsheng.

"Was it Daoist Lu caused this commotion?"

The Second Imperial Princess had been busy for half a day, first tracking down the whereabouts of the Peerless Great Demon. Before she could even remove her armor upon returning to the palace, Lu Changsheng triggered another celestial phenomenon, and the Second Imperial Princess hurriedly led the Imperial Guards to the scene.

"Daoist Lu has been kind to me; I request that all soldiers join me in Guardian Daoist Lu!"

"I will obey your command!"

The Second Imperial Princess led the imperial guards to set up defenses around the palace to prevent anyone from interrupting Lu Changsheng's breakthrough.

A refined-looking man with graying temples came upon hearing the news. "Your Imperial Princess."

"The Imperial Preceptor."

"I have come to Guardian, Young Friend Lu, as I witnessed your breakthrough causing extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth."

"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Preceptor."

"Young Friend Lu has also been kind to me; how could I not repay him?"

The Great Xia Kingdom Imperial Preceptor, the Second Imperial Princess, Xia Ningxue, and the Shushan people all volunteered to Guardian Lu Changsheng. Only if the peerless masters of the Four Great Demonic Sects attacked could Lu Changsheng's breakthrough be interrupted.

However, the Great Xia Imperial City is a place where hidden talents abound, and even the most powerful masters from the Four Great Demonic Sects cannot easily trespass.

Taking advantage of a brief moment of enlightenment, Lu Changsheng broke through to the Dao Palace Realm, Eighth Layer in one fell swoop.

The Dao Palace Minor World within Lu Changsheng's body continued to expand in all directions and in all directions, like a magnificent temple.

In a state of sudden enlightenment, one's understanding of Cultivation Method and Martial Technique advances by leaps and bounds, as if one has unlocked a cheat code.

Unfortunately, the enlightenment state brought about by the Enlightenment Pill was too short-lived. When the enlightenment state ended, Lu Changsheng felt a sense of loss.

"The Taiqing Wuji Art is ultimately Heaven Stage Cultivation Method. I haven't fully comprehended the Seventh Layer yet, but I have grasped a small part of it, and my cultivation has reached the Eighth Layer of the Dao Palace Realm."

Lu Changsheng officially entered the Dao Palace Realm, Eighth Layer, and his True Qi became even more powerful, exceeding that of an ordinary cultivator at the Dao Palace Realm Ninth Layer.

"Call..."

Lu Changsheng exhaled, and the purple qi aura that had gathered over the Imperial City for dozens of miles dissipated as a result.

When Lu Changsheng stepped out of the room, he found that hundreds of cultivators from four groups— Shushan, Ask Immortal Pavilion, the Imperial Guard, and the Academy of Letters— were all looking at him.

"Congratulations, Young Friend Lu, on advancing to another realm. Your cultivation has surpassed mine. I have cultivated for four hundred years, yet my cultivation is still inferior to Young Friend Lu. I am truly ashamed."

The Great Xia Kingdom Imperial Preceptor sighed deeply.

When Lu Changsheng swept through the Reincarnation Hall stronghold, his cultivation level was at the Dao Palace Realm Seventh Layer. This breakthrough means he has reached the Dao Palace Realm, Eighth Layer, completely surpassing the Imperial Preceptor.

Congratulations, Daoist Lu.

The Second Imperial Princess was even more regrettable.

Her judgment was correct. If she could become Lu Changsheng's disciple, Lu Changsheng would be even more protective of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"I wonder when I'll be able to catch up with my master?"

Lian scratched her head. She wanted to catch up with her master's cultivation level so that she could repay him one day. However, her master's cultivation level had advanced by leaps and bounds. Lian was still in the Nascent Soul Realm, while Lu Changsheng had already Great Completion of the Dao Palace Realm.

"Congratulations."

Xia Ningxue didn't say much, but her gaze towards Lu Changsheng was strange.

Could it be that she suspected the fleeting, overwhelming Demon Qi was related to her?

Lu Changsheng pretended not to see Xia Ningxue's suspicious look, and the two understood each other without saying a word. Xia Ningxue did not ask any further questions.

"Changsheng thanks all fellow Daoists for Guardian. Changsheng will always remember what happened today. Please go and rest."

Lu Changsheng cupped his hands in a respectful bow and noted down the names of everyone present.

Repay injustice with justice and kindness with kindness—this is Lu Changsheng's principle.

"Daoist Lu, farewell."

Everyone went back to rest.

"Lian, you should go back and rest too. Your master will give you a new Flying Sword tomorrow."

"Um."

Lu Changsheng returned to his room.

"The Low-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the 'Nine Heavens Thunder-Controlling Sword,' is no longer sufficient for me."

"The Upper-Grade Houtian Spirit Treasure 'Taiyi Daoist Robe,' was damaged in the duel with the Juejian; a higher-grade Daoist Robe is needed."

Lu Changsheng's cultivation level advanced by leaps and bounds, rendering various Law Treasures ineffective, so he sought out more advanced Law Treasures.

Law Treasure are of paramount importance to cultivators. Even if one's cultivation level is one or two realms lower, it is still possible to fight across realms with the help of a top-grade magical Law Treasure.

Lu Changsheng can currently bestow Houtian Spirit Treasure his Eldest Disciple and Second Disciples, with a chance to return Innate Spirit Treasures and an extremely small chance to return immortal Immortal Artifacts.

Lu Changsheng needs a batch of Houtian Spirit Treasures.

"The Imperial City has Auction House. I can easily put up one or two Seventh-Grade Medicinal Pills for auction, and then buy a batch of Houtian Spirit Treasures to continuously reward my Disciples, using them to cultivate Innate Spirit Treasures, or even Immortal Artifacts."

Lu Changsheng quickly came up with a method to farm Immortal Artifacts.

Immortal Artifacts are the Sect-Guarding Treasure the Six Great Sects.

The "Guts-Illuminating Mirror," Low-Grade Immortal Artifact of Shushan, can see through the aptitude of most people and has been used to select a large number of outstanding disciples for Shushan over hundreds of thousands of years.

Lu Changsheng used the system to collect a large number of Medicinal Pills and Talisman; now it's time to collect Law Treasures.

Lu Changsheng has three disciples, and each disciple has three chances to obtain Law Treasures each day.

The next day, Lu Changsheng changed into a Swordsman's raincoat, concealed his cultivation, and infiltrated the Auction House in Tianyu City.

Lu Changsheng is auctioning off Seventh-Grade Medicinal Pills this time.

Lu Changsheng had accumulated a bag of Seventh-Grade Medicinal Pills; it was nothing special for him to take out one or two Seventh-Grade Medicinal Pills to auction off.