The True Astral Battlefield

Lu Shaoyuan leaned back in his chair, his aged hands resting on the armrests. His knuckles were thick and calloused—the hands of a man who had practiced martial arts all his life.

"Not all grandmasters are alike," he said slowly. "You may have heard that before, but you may not truly understand it. Some grandmasters remain stuck at the first step their entire lives. Their Dharma Image remains a Dharma Image and never becomes anything more."

"Some reach the second step, drawing their Dharma Image inward to form a domain. Within that domain, they are gods. Others reach the third step, condensing their domain into Divine Intent. Wherever their Divine Intent reaches, their rule holds sway."

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and lightly tapped the desk with his index finger.

The gesture looked casual, but Xu Wuyi sensed it clearly: in that instant, all the air in the room had gone still.

It was like a free-flowing river suddenly frozen solid.

Lu Shaoyuan withdrew his hand. The stillness vanished at once, and everything returned to normal.

"That is Divine Intent," he said, his voice still calm. "The rule I cultivate is called 'Stillness.' It stills storms, hearts, and heaven and earth. When my Divine Intent emerges, anything can be brought to a standstill."

Xu Wuyi looked at him, overcome by a feeling he could not put into words.

This was the third step.

A Dharma Image manifested outward, a domain constructed, Divine Intent condensed.

After those three steps, a grandmaster became a true master of the world around him.

Lu Shaoyuan continued, "But as you just saw, my 'Stillness' is ultimately only one rule. It can hold things in place, slow time, and stop all movement. But it has limits."

"Limits?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Yes, limits." Lu