Lu Changsheng quietly turned the elder's words over in his mind. He had always thought that the cultivation system of the Immortal Dao was powerful. The Immortal Master he had encountered in Zhanhai City could refine pills and wield artifacts, and martial artists below the Divine Treasury Realm seemed ill-equipped to contend with such opponents.

He had long assumed that few people cultivated the Immortal Dao because few possessed the necessary talent, but it was now clear that talent was not the limiting factor. With such a vast population in the Northern Region, there could not be so few people born with spirit root talent. The real reason lay in the diminishing spirit energy of heaven and earth.

After a brief pause, the elder spoke again. "Because spirit energy is scarce here, all true inheritor scions are sent into the Ancient Region. It is the only large-scale area across the five regions where spirit energy remains abundant. Much of it is occupied by immortal sects and filled with Immortal Masters, but there are also many martial artists there.

"The Martial Dao now dominates the five regions, so those immortal sects cannot monopolize the Ancient Region. They have no choice but to permit the martial sects from each region to periodically send their most outstanding disciples inside."

Everything became clear to Lu Changsheng now. The Ancient Region was where all true inheritor scions went. It was a land rich in spiritual energy, filled with Immortal Dao legacies and countless Immortal Masters, but also a place where martial artists could thrive. In the Ancient Region, heart force could advance in ways the Northern Region simply could not support.

Lu Changsheng had already experienced how difficult it was to increase heart force. Even after bringing a Domain to Perfection, his heart scale had only increased by fifteen marks. If someone as strong as him found it challenging, then for others, bringing the heart scale to one hundred would be nearly impossible.

If the only paths were simply contemplating nature or experiencing the trials of the mortal world, then the number of Divine Treasury martial artists in the sect would be close to zero. However, they did exist in modest numbers, which meant there was another way—a way Lu Changsheng now knew about. Most of them had likely entered the Ancient Region and relied on its environment to accelerate the growth of their heart force, allowing them to reach the Divine Treasury Realm.

Lu Changsheng stood up and bowed to the Task Hall elder. "Elder, I thank you for your guidance."

The elder waved it off. "No need to be so polite. Consider this a gesture of goodwill. Even if I hadn't said anything, the inner sect stewards or other elders would have informed you eventually. Right now, do you have any other questions?"

Lu Changsheng considered for a moment and then said, "I saw that the true inheritor, Xiao Jian, could materialize his Domain. I recently brought my Domain to Perfection and found that I could also use my heart force to do the same, but I could not sustain it. How does Xiao Jian sustain it?"

The elder laughed. "With that little bit of heart force you have, you already want to materialize your Domain? Xiao Jian can do it because he has nurtured his Sword Domain within his Mind Space.

"The Mind Space is where heart force is born, and it possesses all kinds of wondrous abilities. As the saying goes, the heart's capacity determines the size of the world. The heart is mysterious, and whatever the heart conceives can become real.

"There's no reason to dwell on that now, since you've yet to open your Mind Space. Once you do and step into the Divine Treasury Realm, materializing your Domain will come naturally."

Lu Changsheng nodded. Just as he had suspected, it came back to the Mind Space. There was nothing to be done about that for now. His heart force was rising quickly, but he was still a long way from being able to open his Mind Space.

With no other questions, Lu Changsheng left the elder. He returned to his courtyard and quietly sorted through his thoughts.

He could continue using Dao Comprehension Pills to contemplate his Domains, but exchanging for those pills required a large number of contribution points. Even if he could consistently place in the top three in the monthly battles, it was still far from enough.

He still had four Domains left. How many Dao Comprehension Pills would it take to bring all of them to Perfection? If he relied solely on this method to raise his heart scale to one hundred, would it take three years, or five?

Lu Changsheng had no intention of waiting that long. Compared to that, going to the Ancient Region seemed like a better choice.

Having made up his mind, Lu Changsheng allowed himself a day of rest. The following day, he went straight to the inner sect and sought out the steward elder.

"Elder, I have already sensed heart force," he said plainly.

The steward elder stared at him. "What did you say? You've sensed the heart force?"

He studied Lu Changsheng for a long moment, as though his reaction might confirm that he had misheard.

Lu Changsheng did not answer with words. Instead, he focused his mind, and the silent, formless heart force extended outward, brushing against the steward elder. As a Divine Treasury martial artist, the elder sensed it immediately.

"It truly is heart force." The steward elder exhaled slowly. "But how long have you even been in the inner sect...?"

He quickly shook his head before Lu Changsheng could respond. "Nevermind. That doesn't matter. Now, since you have already sensed the heart force, there are certain things I must tell you."

The steward elder then went on to explain about the Ancient Region and true inheritor scions, much the same as the Task Hall elder had described.

"So then, you are now a true inheritor scion and may go to the Ancient Region," the steward elder said at last. "Do you wish to go now, or wait a while longer?"

"I want to go right away," Lu Changsheng answered resolutely.

"The Ancient Region is not for the weak, but you've made the right choice. The earlier you go, the better it will be for you. Go back and make your preparations. Return in three days."

"Thank you, Elder."

And so, Lu Changsheng returned to his courtyard. There was little to prepare, only a few clothes and some simple belongings. With everything in order, he simply waited.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Once again, Lu Changsheng went to the office of the inner sect steward.

"Good, you're here." The elder rose at once. "Come with me."

The steward elder led him to the main peak of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, a place Lu Changsheng had never set foot on before. The main peak was where many elders and true inheritor disciples resided, and the atmosphere alone felt different from the rest of the sect.

They walked until they arrived at an open area covered in strange, ancient runes, surrounded with several small flags.

"This is...?" Lu Changsheng asked.

"A teleportation formation," the steward elder replied. "I have to say, the cultivation system of Immortal Dao has its unique advantages. Its spells and formations are full of wonders. Take this formation for example: as long as inscribed formations exist at both ends and spirit stones are supplied, a person can be transported thousands of li in an instant."

He gestured toward the formation beneath them. "This one leads directly to the Ancient Region. It was personally inscribed by a True Person, and the Northern Region Heavenly Sect paid a tremendous price to invite him to set it up.

"Each activation consumes an enormous amount of spirit stones. Only true inheritor scions like yourself can use it freely. Just keep your mind steady when it activates."

There was a faint trace of envy in the steward elder's voice. He wished to go to the Ancient Region too, but he simply could not afford to yet. The cost of activating the formation once, if converted into contribution points, was staggering, and he simply did not have enough at the moment.

He could only continue to accumulate points, hoping that one day he too would have the chance to go. After all, everyone knew that the Ancient Region, rich in spiritual power and treasures, was a holy land for both cultivators of the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao.

Lu Changsheng stepped into the center of the teleportation formation. Then, the steward elder activated it and began feeding it spirit stones.

Buzz...

Almost instantly, a vast and surging force enveloped Lu Changsheng's body. Before he could react, the space around him twisted, and in the next moment, he vanished without a trace.

The steward elder stood before the empty formation for a moment, a faint smile straying on his face. "I hope that when you return, you will already be a true inheritor disciple."

Although both he and Lu Changsheng were at the Divine Treasury Realm, the difference between them was clear. A true inheritor disciple still had room to advance, while he himself was already at his limit.

***

At the base of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect in the Ancient Region, the teleportation formation flared to life, sending a pillar of brilliant white light into the sky. It was visible from a great distance, and the guards and disciples stationed nearby turned toward it, startled.

"The teleportation formation was activated? That's rare."

"Yeah. The sect is always short on spirit stones, so getting it activated even once is no small thing. If we want to return home, we have to find the spirit stones ourselves."

"And without them, there's no going back to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. I haven't been home in eighteen years..."

"I know the feeling. The Ancient Region has its wonders, but home is home."

"Who do you suppose is coming through? An elder? A true inheritor disciple?"

These people were all disciples, guards, and elders of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. Out here in the Ancient Region, the usual hierarchies were less rigid, and interactions were far more relaxed.

Whoosh!

As the light from the formation gradually subsided, Lu Changsheng emerged within the formation. In an instant, all eyes turned toward him.

"He's so young... And still at the Divine Fortification Realm. Could this be a true inheritor scion?"

"It must be. The last time a true inheritor scion came to the Ancient Region was over ten years ago, wasn't it?"

"That's right. Each generation seems to produce fewer of them. True inheritor scions have become something of a rarity."

"Still, the timing couldn't have been worse. Given the current situation in the Ancient Region... it won't be easy for him."

Lu Changsheng stepped out of the formation and looked around. The buildings here were numerous and familiar in style, very much like those of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

A middle-aged man soon approached him. "Your identity token. Let me see it."

Lu Changsheng handed it over without hesitation. The man examined it, and a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes. "Lu Changsheng. Inner sect scion disciple... but you joined the sect less than a year ago?"

The identity token could not be wrong. According to its records, Lu Changsheng had indeed entered the sect only a few months ago. To have sensed the heart force and become a true inheritor scion in under a year was a level of innate talent that was, by any measure, exceptional. Even across all five regions, he would be considered a supreme genius.

The man smiled. "I see. No wonder the sect was willing to expend precious spirit stones to activate the teleportation formation and send you here. Such talent is rare indeed. I am Mo Tu, an elder stationed in the Ancient Region."

"Greetings, Elder Mo." Lu Changsheng bowed.

He had been briefed on this beforehand by the steward elder. The Northern Region Heavenly Sect maintained an encampment here in the Ancient Region, and here, it was known as the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. The term "Northern Region" in "Northern Region Heavenly Sect" was merely a designation of location. Without a location, the sect was simply known as the Heavenly Sect.

Mo Tu studied Lu Changsheng for a moment before asking, "What is your heart scale? Seventy? Eighty?"

"Forty-eight," Lu Changsheng answered.

"What?"

"Forty-eight..."

Mo Tu's expression froze. A heart scale of forty-eight was not merely unimpressive—it was bafflingly low. The sect had a well-known reputation for being careful with its spirit stones, and would never waste them on sending an ordinary genius to the Ancient Region. Even the sect master's own son would not be afforded such a privilege, so why would they send someone with a heart scale of only forty-eight to the Ancient Region?

Mo Tu was not the only one thrown off. The disciples and guards nearby had all heard, and they looked equally puzzled.

"A heart scale of forty-eight and he gets to come to the Ancient Region?"

"He probably hasn't even sensed the heart force yet. Don't you need at least seventy marks for that?"

"Perhaps he pulled some strings?"

The mood shifted at once. Suspicion crept in, and with it, a trace of hostility.

There had been cases of people slipping through on personal connections rather than merit, which ultimately led to friction between the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect and the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.

Where there were people, there were emotions, and emotions could lead to favoritism. But using precious spirit stones to send a mere Divine Fortification disciple here? That crossed a line the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect would not quietly accept.

Mo Tu's gaze sharpened as it locked onto Lu Changsheng. "I am sure the sect master is not so unwise to use spirit stones so carelessly. So tell me, how did you come to be a true inheritor scion?"

Every other pair of eyes were fixed on Lu Changsheng as well. The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect was a close-knit group with a strong sense of shared standards. If someone had truly come here through improper means, they would not hesitate to deal with it, regardless of who stood behind him.

Lu Changsheng took in the crowd. He could easily guess what they were thinking. To them, he was just another disciple who had cut corners and come here unfairly. He could try to explain himself, but in moments like this, actions spoke louder than words.

Buzz...

In the next moment, the sky seemed to darken. Those nearby glanced upward and found themselves staring into a vast field of stars. The buildings and the ground around them had vanished, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though they had been pulled into the depths of the cosmos.