Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 184.3: The Beginning of Martial Dao! Eight Principle Seeds; the Shock of the True Inheritor Hall Master! (III)

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and closed his eyes. In the next moment, his Mind Space descended, spreading outward to envelop the entire cave residence. Within it, everything lay under his control, as though he was the sole ruler of that domain.

The countless Domains he had once nurtured merged into the Mind Space itself. With a single thought, he could bring any one of them forth again.

Wind.

Just like that, fierce winds wept through the Mind Space, howling as they surged in all directions.

Water.

Immediately after, a towering flood rose in response, waves crashing and rolling as they swept forward.

Fire.

Then, fire descended from the sky, spreading wildly as if it meant to burn everything in its path.

Within his Mind Space, any Domain Lu Changsheng had once comprehended could be manifested at will. However, despite their overwhelming energy, they were, in fact, still limited. That was because, without Principles, the power of the Mind Space itself was limited. Currently, Lu Changsheng's Material Mind Space could be suppressed with just one Principle.

It was no exaggeration to say that each additional Principle brought a fundamental leap in the power of the Mind Space.

Buzz.

With another shift of thought, the Five Elements Domain also emerged around him. Alongside it appeared the Land Domain, the Storm Domain, and the Golden Heart Sword.

Principle Seeds...

A sudden clarity struck him, and his Mind Space trembled slightly. The eight powers were gathering at its core, each condensing into a faint trace of a Principle Seed. The process unfolded naturally. Even the Golden Heart Sword stirred, giving rise to a seed of the Spirit Principle.

Before long, all eight seeds had taken shape.

Merge

With a single thought, the eight Principle Seeds sank into his Mind Space, merging with it completely and becoming part of its very foundation. As the fusion settled, Lu Changsheng felt a subtle change within the space. It felt more solid than before, as though it had taken a step towards something greater.

It still feels like something's missing...

He lingered on that feeling for a moment before understanding slowly dawned on him. What he had fused into his Mind Space were only seeds; the true Principles themselves were still far beyond his grasp. What he had accomplished now was merely the first step, and the next step was comprehension. The sooner he grasped the Principles, the sooner his Mind Space would transform.

Only now did Lu Changsheng understand the weight behind the Principle. Every new one would deepen the transformation of the Mind Space, strengthening and pushing it along the path to becoming a true world.

Just how powerful would I become if I managed to grasp all eight...?

He had never asked Zhong Yu how many Principles he had comprehended, but based on what he had seen and read, even among Dao Foundation experts, very few went beyond two or three. Zhong Yu was already considered strong among his peers. Even so, he likely stood within that range.

Eight Principles... Which one should I start with?

Lu Changsheng thought about it for a moment before finally deciding on the Principles of Water and Fire. These two existed in both systems he had considered earlier—the Five Elements and the four fundamental elements of the physical world. Their importance was undeniable, and they should hold great significance for what was to come.

After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to start with the Principle of Fire. By its very nature, fire was fierce and explosive, a force born for destruction. If he could grasp it, his strength would surge at once.

Fire!

In the next moment, flames surged forth, spreading through his Mind Space until it was filled from end to end.

There were no illusions. With the Material Mind Space, everything within it had taken on a tangible form. The heat pressed in from all sides, searing just like real fire, growing more intense as the flames rose higher.

Lu Changsheng stood within the fire without moving. He let the flames engulf him, quietly immersing himself in their presence as his mind gradually stilled, turning toward the task of contemplating their nature.

Time passed without notice. One day, then three... five... ten... Before he knew it, an entire month had slipped by.

"Ha..."

As he opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flickered within them, followed by faint disappointment.

No... I haven't grasped the Principle of Fire. I still don't even have the slightest clue as to what it is.

It seemed that he had spent one entire month immersed in flames for nothing. Given his Perception, he almost couldn't believe this outcome.

After a moment of silence, he raised his hand and summoned his status panel to check his condition.

[Status Panel]

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 8200 (Praised by All)

[Skills]

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

Lu Changsheng's Perception had already reached as high as 8,200, and yet he had failed to comprehend the Principle of Fire. In fact, he hadn't even gained the slightest sliver of understanding.

A faint sense of heaviness settled in his chest. At this rate, even a year—or even ten—might not be enough for him to grasp the Principle of Fire.

"So my Perception... still isn't enough..."

Back in the Divine Treasury Realm, he had felt almost unstoppable due to his Perception. Whether it was Intent or Domain, he could grasp it with ease, as though nothing could truly hinder him.

But now, having stepped into the Dao Foundation Realm and being faced with Principles, that confidence slowly crumbled. His Perception was indeed high, but it had not reached the point where he could casually grasp a Principle. To put it plainly, it had yet to reach a level capable of touching upon Principles at all.

I guess I'm not good enough...

He finally knew what that felt like. In the past, he had always believed that his Perception was exceptional, far beyond that of others. But now, having stepped into the Dao Foundation Realm and attempted to comprehend a principle, he realized his Perception was no longer enough.

If my Perception could reach 10,000 and undergo a complete transformation, perhaps it might help me grasp Principles. But based on the current rate of 150 points per month, that makes 1,800 points a year, which means I'll need an entire year to reach 10,000 and trigger a transformation.

A year was not long. If anything, it was actually a short amount of time for a Dao Foundation expert. By reaching the Divine Treasury Realm, a martial artist's lifespan would stretch to one hundred and fifty years, and at the Dao Foundation Realm, it would extend to three hundred years.

And yet, Lu Changsheng couldn't help but frown. To him, one year was too much time. He had been cultivating for almost eight years now, and having to wait another year for this simply did not sit well with him.

There should be other ways to comprehend Principles. Otherwise, if it really comes down to Perception alone, and even I can't grasp one, then what about the others? How did those Dao Foundation experts manage it?

Perception remained one of his greatest weapons, and if despite that he failed to comprehend a Principle, then relying on Perception alone made little sense. After all, if Lu Changsheng himself was struggling like this, then very few Dao Foundation experts should have been able to comprehend Principles at all.

"Lu Changsheng." An unfamiliar voice suddenly came from outside his cave.

He looked up, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes. "Oh? Hall Master of the True Inheritor Hall!"

Outside stood an elderly man, his aura more imposing than Zhong Yu's. It was clear that he was a top Dao Foundation expert!

Lu Changsheng knew this man. His name was Wang Feng, and he was the Hall Master of the True Inheritor Hall. There was nothing particularly notable about the name, nor was there anything striking about his background. He had simply advanced step by step through steady cultivation to reach his current position. And yet, no one in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect dared to underestimate him. Among all the Hall Masters of the sect, he stood at the very top, even surpassing the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall.

"Greetings, Hall Master Wang!" Lu Changsheng quickly opened the cave residence and bowed respectfully.

Wang Feng gave a slight nod and stepped inside.

Lu Changsheng was also puzzled. For the Hall Master of the True Inheritor Hall to come in person, it could not be a trivial matter.

"You've only just stepped into the Dao Foundation. There's still a lot you don't—"

Suddenly, Wang Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression changed at once. "Lu Changsheng, you have already imprinted your Principle Seeds?!"

"Yes," Lu Changsheng answered, confused. "I just did. Hall Master... is there a problem?"

Lu Changsheng looked completely puzzled. "Release your Mind Space."

"Yes, Hall Master Wang."

Lu Changsheng complied at once. His Mind Space descended and quickly enveloped Wang Feng.

The moment the old man saw it clearly, his usually unshakable composure wavered. His eyes widened, and he couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

"Eight Principle Seeds... You actually imprinted eight?"

There was no hiding the shock in his voice. Wang Feng had long heard of Lu Changsheng's reputation within the True Inheritor Hall. Following the battle atop Goose Mountain, that reputation had only grown.

And still, none of those rumors could have prepared for what he had just seen now with his own eyes. At their very first meeting, Lu Changsheng had already shaken him.

Just how much confidence did it take to even attempt that? Wang Feng wondered.