Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Chapter 185.1: Initial Comprehension of the Fire Principle; Shocking the Dao Foundation Experts of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect! (I)

Lu Changsheng asked, "Hall Master, is it perhaps forbidden to imprint eight Principle Seeds?"

"No, there's no such thing. You're free to try to print even eighty Principle Seeds if that's your intention. However, the more Principle Seeds one imprints, the harder they are to comprehend. Can you imagine how much time and energy it would take to fully comprehend all those Principles?"

Wang Feng let out a long sigh as he went on, "Not to mention, if you fail to comprehend the Principles, you'll never be able to condense a divine ability, and you'll be stuck at the Dao Foundation Realm for the rest of your life."

Wang Feng assumed that Lu Changsheng was already aware of those basic facts of cultivation. Even so, he had still imprinted eight Principle Seeds, which had to mean he was incredibly confident that he could comprehend all eight Principles!

Lu Changsheng remained silent. After all, he had already imprinted those eight seeds, so there was no point in saying anything now. He could only prove himself through action.

"Since things have already reached this point, there's no going back," Wang Feng went on. "Of course, even if one comprehends all eight Principles, it's not necessarily guaranteed that they'd manage to condense a divine ability, but I don't think that would be a problem for you. I imagine you've been trying to contemplate the Principles during this period. How is it going?"

Lu Changsheng hesitated before deciding to answer honestly. "Hall Master, truth is, I still haven't found even the slightest clue on how to contemplate Principles. It really is too difficult. Is there truly no easier way?"

Wang Feng could not help but laugh. Lu Changsheng looking disappointed and helpless was a rare sight indeed. It seemed that no matter how talented a martial artist was, Principle contemplation could not be forced just with talent alone.

"Hahaha, now you know how difficult it is to contemplate Principles. Yet you still imprinted eight Principle Seeds?" Wang Feng paused for a moment before continuing, "If you want to contemplate a Principle, locking yourself away in seclusion and arduous cultivation won't help much. Almost all Dao Foundation martial artists go to the third layer of the Ancient Region to fight demons. Only there do they have a chance of comprehending Principles."

Lu Changsheng’s eyes lit up. "Fighting demons can help me to contemplate Principles? Why is that?"

Indeed, he had seen quite a few demons since arriving in the Ancient Region, but this was the first time he had heard that demons had anything to do with Principle contemplation.

"Among demons, some awaken certain innate abilities," explained Wang Feng. "Once a demon awakens an innate ability, we call it a Heavenly Demon. Now, Heavenly Demons have nothing to do with strength, identity, or status. It only refers to a group among demons that has awakened innate abilities. Of course, because of those innate abilities, Heavenly Demons are usually far stronger than ordinary demons of the same tier.

"We call demons comparable to Divine Treasury martial artists first-tier demons. Following the same logic, demons comparable to Dao Foundation martial artists are second-tier demons.

"First-tier demons usually live in the second layer of the Ancient Region, while second-tier demons live in the third layer. Heavenly Demons, however, are different. Whether they are first-tier or second-tier, once they have awakened innate abilities, they generally stay in the third layer, sometimes in the fourth.

"When martial artists kill Heavenly Demons, they can obtain Heavenly Demon Essence Blood. By studying the innate ability contained within that essence blood and comparing it with the Principle Seed they wish to develop, they may gain the chance to contemplate a Principle.

"That is why almost every Dao Foundation martial artist goes to the third layer of the Ancient Region. You could say they are hunting demons, or you could say they are searching for Heavenly Demon Essence Blood. Either way, if a Dao Foundation martial artist wants to contemplate Principles, the third layer is unavoidable."

"Of course, Dao Foundation martial artists aren't the only ones who roam the third layer. You'll see Dao Lords there as well as they also have a great need for demonic essence blood, demon bodies, and other materials. Because of this, the third layer of the Ancient Region has basically become a battlefield between demons, Dao Foundation martial artists, and Dao Lords."

Lu Changsheng nodded. So there really is a shortcut to contemplating Principles. And that shortcut is Heavenly Demon Essence Blood.

After thinking over what Wang Feng had just told him, he said, "Heavenly Demon Essence Blood is precious, but demons can't be weak either, right? Since they can stand against the major Martial Dao forces and great Immortal Dao sects in the Ancient Region, they must be extremely powerful. In that case, the third layer of the Ancient Region must be very dangerous."

"That's right," Wang Feng replied. "The third layer is extremely dangerous. Dao Foundation martial artists and Dao Lords need demons, but demons also need Dao Foundation martial artists and Dao Lords. To demons, the flesh and blood of human experts are the finest treasures for strengthening their bloodline. If a demon devours a few Dao Foundation martial artists or Dao Lords, perhaps it might advance a tier, or its bloodline might grow stronger.

"That is why demons, Dao Foundation martial artists, and Dao Lords have been killing one another in the third layer of the Ancient Region for years. However, the two sides are more or less evenly matched. Neither one can completely defeat the other."

Lu Changsheng nodded again. At this point, he realized why Wang Feng had gone out of his way to explain all these things.

"Hall Master, you want me to go to the third layer of the Ancient Region, don't you?"

Wang Feng made no effort to hide it. "Yes. With your talent and Perception, I know it is impossible for you to remain in the base of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect forever. You must have greater pursuits. You can't possibly be satisfied with remaining at the Dao Foundation Realm. If you want to contemplate Principles, then sooner or later, you'll have to go to the third layer of the Ancient Region."

Wang Feng paused for a second, his expression solemn. "And if you do go, I have a matter I would like to entrust to you..."

"What is it?"

"I need a drop of essence blood from the Black Nether Heavenly Demon. In exchange, I will give you a drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood right now, so you can experience its wonders in advance. What do you think?"

The offer was undeniably tempting. To Lu Changsheng, getting a drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood early was a good thing, especially when he had yet to find any clue on how to contemplate Principles.

So, he accepted the deal. "Hall Master, what kinds of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood do you have?"

Not all Heavenly Demon Essence Blood would be useful to him. It had to correspond to his Principle Seeds. Otherwise, it would do him no good.

"Hehe, I once ventured through the third layer of the Ancient Region as well and fought demons there. I obtained some Heavenly Demon Essence Blood back then. It's just that Black Nether Heavenly Demon Essence Blood is too rare and very difficult to exchange for, which is why I entrusted you to go to the third layer of the Ancient Region and try your luck. Perhaps, if you're lucky, you might encounter a Black Nether Heavenly Demon."

He took out one porcelain bottle after another and placed them before Lu Changsheng. "Come and choose. Each of these bottles contains Heavenly Demon Essence Blood corresponding to a different Principle."

More than a dozen bottles were laid out in front of Lu Changsheng, each containing a different kind of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood.

As he stared at the bottles, Lu Changsheng understood why Wang Feng had become the hall master of the True Inheritor Hall, a hall that stood above all others in the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect.

Just from these dozen or so bottles of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood, Lu Changsheng could tell that Wang Feng must have been a ruthless figure when he used to venture through the third layer of the Ancient Region. Otherwise, he could never have collected so many kinds of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood.

Lu Changsheng opened the porcelain bottles one by one and examined the Heavenly Demon Essence Blood inside. Each drop carried a different attribute. He checked several bottles in a row, but none of them matched his eight Principles.

Eventually, his gaze paused on one specific bottle, and his eyes lit up. "Is this a Heavenly Demon Essence Blood with fire attribute?"

He had finally found a drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood that matched one of his Principle Seeds.

"Hall Master, I'll take this drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood with fire attribute."

Wang Feng nodded. "Very well. Fire attribute is very common in Heavenly Demon Essence Blood. Many Heavenly Demons are of that attribute. If you wish to contemplate the Fire Principle, a single drop of this essence blood will do.

"However, in order to fully comprehend the Fire Principle, you can also study different kinds of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood with fire attributes. Most of them are similar, but there are still subtle differences between them. Those differences may help deepen your understanding of the Fire Principle and allow you to contemplate it fully."

These were small techniques for contemplating Principles. Back when Wang Feng had ventured through the third layer of the Ancient Region, he had learned many such methods through experience. He figured since he could not enter the third layer and fight demons now, passing these techniques on to Lu Changsheng might at least be of some help.

"Thank you for your guidance, Hall Master."

"Alright, take this drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood and go. Remember, you only have a month to prepare, but don't venture into the third layer any sooner," Wang Feng instructed.

Lu Changsheng stood up and nodded. "Yes, Hall Master."

Afterward, Wang Feng left the cave residence, leaving Lu Changsheng by himself.

"Heavenly Demon Essence Blood..." Lu Changsheng muttered as he stared at the drop of liquid before him.

After a few moments, he carefully tried to contemplate it.

Woosh!

As soon as he began, he seemed to "see" flames filling the sky.

The fire existed between heaven and earth. It was drawn out by a terrifying demon. When the demon opened its mouth and spat, flames raged wildly, scorching and warping the air itself.

The power of this flame was simply earth-shaking. Indeed, it seemed to contain a trace of the charm of a Principle. From this drop of Heavenly Demon Essence Blood, Lu Changsheng understood what a Principle was.