Chapter 138: 100,000 Spirit Stones, Xiao Xiyue’s Transformation!

“Boom, boom, boom!”

The Malicious Jiao’s soul engulfed the Red-Robed Youth. The terrifying aura filled the air, causing the entire void to roar and explode.

“Ah—”

A sharp scream echoed amidst the waves.

“Hoo!”

The explosion of the Treasure Bone made Lu Changsheng’s face pale, his chest faintly aching.

Through the red bead clashing with the Golden Light Brick, he knew the Red-Robed Youth was not completely dead.

“Go!”

Lu Changsheng ordered the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm, in case the opponent had some strength left.

At the same time, he continued to control the Golden Light Brick.

At this moment, he could clearly feel the diminishing power of the red bead resisting the brick, continuously falling.

This indicated the Red-Robed Youth’s situation was dire and hard to withstand.

“Boom, boom, boom!”

As the Golden Light Brick suppressed the Red Luan Pearl, a blood-red light burst from the Malicious Jiao’s soul.

It was the Red-Robed Youth.

At this time, his black armor was tattered, hair disheveled, looking utterly miserable.

“Ah, prepare yourselves, this hatred…”

The Red-Robed Youth spat out a vicious threat, intending to escape with a secret technique.

Before he could finish speaking.

The Golden Light Brick hovering in the sky descended like a mountain.

“Splat!”

Simultaneously, a golden line shot out like an arrow, piercing through his forehead, leaving a bloody hole.

It was the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm.

In the next moment, the Golden Light Brick crashed down, suppressing both the Red Luan Pearl and the Red-Robed Youth.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng embraced Xiao Xiyue’s delicate figure, swiftly descending with his flying Artifact.

“Boom!”

Amidst a loud crash.

The Golden Light Brick directly suppressed the young man on the mountain ground, causing the whole ground to shake.

“Hoo, indeed a Foundation Establishment expert, hard to kill!”

“I’ve nurtured this Treasure Bone for years, not weaker than a full blast from a Talisman Treasure, yet it almost escaped.”

Lu Changsheng felt that under the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm’s attack, the young man’s vitality was nearly gone.

Just to be safe, he reinforced with the Golden Light Brick.

Through the Golden Light Brick, he detected no signs of life from the suppressed Red-Robed Youth.

However, for safety, Lu Changsheng placed three High-Grade Talismans and one Top-Tier Talisman around the Golden Light Brick.

After setting them, Lu Changsheng gently willed the Golden Light Brick to rise slowly.

Seeing the mangled body in the pit, Lu Changsheng finally felt at ease.

He retrieved the Golden Light Brick, which had shrunk to its talisman form, dull and worn, back into his hand.

But now, this Talisman Treasure was very dim, even the talisman paper seemed damaged.

“This Talisman Treasure, one more use and it’ll be completely scrapped.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself, looking at the dim Golden Light Brick in his hand.

He had used this Golden Light Brick many times, consuming its power greatly.

Even though the recent battle was short, his full exertion consumed a lot.

“If this Foundation Establishment expert was a pauper, I’d have suffered a great loss.”

Looking at the pit caused by the Golden Light Brick and the mangled corpse, Lu Changsheng sighed.

Yet this possibility was low.

The red bead, white sword, and blood-red scissors alone were of great value.

Lu Changsheng didn’t dwell on it long, to avoid being noticed due to the battle.

Holding Xiao Xiyue’s figure, he swiftly collected the mangled body and surrounding treasures, then left quickly.

Half an hour later.

Lu Changsheng found a cave in the mountains.

He gently placed Xiao Xiyue down.

He took out the ‘Heavenly Veil Five Elements Formation’ from his Storage Bag and set it up simply.

This formation could trap enemies and isolate aura, very useful, always carried by Lu Changsheng.

After setting the formation, Lu Changsheng took out a healing pill and used a healing talisman on himself, feeling much better.

Then, he checked on Xiao Xiyue’s condition.

It seemed only her spirit was damaged, her spiritual energy greatly drained, but nothing serious.

After a preliminary assessment, Lu Changsheng fed her a healing pill.

Then he used a healing talisman on her.

Immediately, her pale face looked much better.

“Apart from changes in spiritual energy and power, the major difference between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment is Divine Sense.”

“Foundation Establishment cultivators gain Divine Sense, greatly aiding in battles and cultivation.”

“If it weren’t for the Peach Blossom Gu protecting me from Divine Sense attacks, I’d be in the same spiritual damage as Xiao Xiyue.”

Lu Changsheng realized the unsolvable aspect of Qi Refining meeting Foundation Establishment after observing Xiao Xiyue.

Even with Talisman Treasures, facing such Divine Sense attacks is hard to guard against.

Without the Peach Blossom Gu, he might have fallen victim too.

But he only discovered the Peach Blossom Gu had such effects recently.

Then, Lu Changsheng closed his eyes, inspecting the Peach Blossom Gu in his brow.

It was rather weak, but nothing serious.

This was normal.

After all, it was the Heavenly Spirit Gu.

And the Peach Blossom Gu grows very quickly.

Under his flourishing luck in love, it had grown to its first transformation limit.

If not restricted by Lu Changsheng’s cultivation, it could already advance to the second transformation.

Seeing Xiao Xiyue still unconscious, Lu Changsheng stripped the Red-Robed Youth of his Storage Bag and belt.

He began checking this round of spoils.

“Hope this brings me a good haul.”

Looking at the Storage Belt and Bag, Lu Changsheng had some expectations.

After all, the Red-Robed Youth didn’t seem like an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

So he shouldn’t be too poor.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”

At this moment, the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm fluttered around Lu Changsheng.

Its wings, thin as a cicada’s, emitted a bloodthirsty aura.

“Go ahead.”

Lu Changsheng naturally understood its meaning, chuckling lightly.

He didn’t burn the Red-Robed Youth’s body to ashes, leaving it for the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm.

After all, the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm fed on blood.

This Red-Robed Youth, being a Foundation Establishment expert, his Essence Blood was a great supplement for the silkworm.

With Lu Changsheng’s permission, the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm immediately burrowed into the young man’s body to feast.

“Isn’t this a bit of a demonic deed?”

Watching the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm’s actions, Lu Changsheng clicked his tongue.

Then he shook his head, saying: “It’s just resource utilization. If not used for the silkworm, I’d have to burn it.”

“Besides, this pales in comparison to actual demonic practices.”

“In books I’ve read, some demonic cultivators utilize all resources, humans, beasts, and beings for cultivation.”

“Things like human-skinned books, bone swords, flesh and blood pools, Ten Thousand Souls Banners, even human emotions and grudges for cultivation.”

Lu Changsheng voiced his thoughts.

He had read about the differences between righteous and demonic paths in books.

Though not very detailed, he had a general idea.

Demonic cultivators often engage in extreme practices and methods, unlike righteous ones.

Leading to differences in cultivation speed and realm breakthroughs.

But overall, righteous and demonic cultivators don’t differ much.

“My cheap brother-in-law seems to have turned demonic, I wonder how he is now.”

Lu Changsheng suddenly remembered his wife Qu Zhenzhen’s brother, Qu Changge.

Uncertain of how his demon path brother-in-law was faring over the years.

In Jiang Kingdom, being a demonic cultivator is hard.

Not continuing with pointless thoughts, Lu Changsheng checked the Storage Belt.

“So many Spirit Stones and materials!?”

Lu Changsheng saw a pile of Spirit Stones and materials inside, his face showing delight.

Even without counting, he knew this pile wasn’t small.

There were also many transparent mid-Tier Spirit Stones.

“Hmm, what’s this?”

Lu Changsheng picked up a crystal porcelain bottle.

It contained half a bottle of crystal-like, reddish sand-like particles.

Just from the spirit bottle and the crystal’s appearance, Lu Changsheng knew it wasn’t ordinary.

Opening the bottle, he felt an intense heat.

Each crystal grain shimmered with treasure light.

“This resembles the Heavenly Fire Glass recorded in books?”

“If it’s really such, at least worth thirty to forty thousand Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng smiled at the crystal porcelain bottle, storing it in his Storage Bag.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment spirit materials might be worth a few thousand Spirit Stones.

But Golden Core Formation spirit materials’ price skyrockets by tenfold.

Plus, they are priceless in the market!

Lu Changsheng continued inventorying.

The common materials and Artifacts didn’t stir much emotion.

“Red Luan True Scripture, a sideline-level technique.”

“Seems there’s something, even a sideline technique.”

“Though incomplete, only practiceable up to Golden Core Formation, the Secret Techniques inside could be studied later.”

Lu Changsheng found several technique Jade Slips in the Storage Belt.

A rough glance revealed several advanced techniques and cultivation arts.

Only the Red Luan True Scripture intrigued Lu Changsheng.

“Is this a Magical Treasure embryo?”

Lu Changsheng found a black-red small cauldron, examining it.

The small cauldron had merely a cauldron’s outline.

Neither appearance nor patterns were carved, appearing as a rough embryo.

Yet from the material and aura, Lu Changsheng sensed it was a Magical Treasure.

Yet compared to the Black Dragon Pearl, it was inferior, leading Lu Changsheng to guess it was an embryo.

As Lu Changsheng knew, most cultivators use rare Natural Treasures for crafting innate Magical Treasures.

Then, they refine them into embryos, slowly nurturing and growing them into nascent forms, finally becoming Magical Treasures.

This allows one to control nascent forms at the late Foundation Establishment.

Prepared Magical Treasures bloom in power upon Golden Core Formation.

“Could the Red-Robed Youth be a late Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

“Otherwise, why a Golden Core Formation spirit material and Magical Treasure embryo?”

Lu Changsheng glanced at the corpse the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm was feeding on, speculating.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn’t have such treasures.

Clearing the spoils made Lu Changsheng feel fortunate.

The Red-Robed Youth’s Storage Bag held six Second-Tier top-quality talismans and other treasures.

He had many trump cards.

Had he gone all out initially, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue wouldn’t stand a chance.

No time to summon Talisman Treasures to suppress.

“As always, go all out with even rabbits.”

“Or risk getting overturned.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, feeling thankful.

He put away the small cauldron, continuing the search.

Even an embryo Magical Treasure had little use for him.

It was merely valuable material.

Later, it could be sold or used in practicing the Hundred Refined Body Technique.

After all, even Magical Treasures can be refined into the body.

The rest of the sorting revealed no more high-value surprises.

“128 mid-Tier Spirit Stones.”

“3894 low-Tier Spirit Stones.”

“One suspected Golden Core Formation spirit material, one Foundation Establishment spirit material.”

“An embryo, four Spirit Tools, though one was worn and another severely damaged, practically waste for the Hundred Refined Body Technique.”

“Two High-Grade Artifacts, three Top-Tier Artifacts, one Spirit Boat, one Thunder Bail, one low-Tier Longevity Pill.”

“Plus this pile of pills, talismans, and materials, totaling about 100,000 Spirit Stones?”

After sorting everything, estimating the value, Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and exhaled.

These spoils were the greatest haul he ever had.

His previous biggest gain was the Kou Clan’s Five Fiends, totaling over ten thousand with Meng Xiaochan’s double Foundation Establishment spirit materials.

Now, the Red-Robed Youth’s haul reached nearly 100,000 alone.

This wealth made Lu Changsheng realize the man was extraordinary.

“Judging from earlier, he seemed to target Xiao Xiyue, wanting to capture her alive.”

Lu Changsheng pondered, watching the still-unconscious Xiao Xiyue, realizing this matter wasn’t simple.

Xiao Xiyue was a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect’s Golden Core Formation expert.

Yet a Foundation Establishment expert targeted her, a matter not simple.

“Alas, more entanglements, more karma.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, collecting the items, and replaced his Second-Tier Puppet’s Spirit Stones.

In the earlier battle, the puppet didn’t suffer damage, but the Spirit Stones were heavily consumed.

Ten Spirit Stones inside were nearly used up, needing replacements.

“Once I return, I’ll consider crafting more puppets if I have time.”

Lu Changsheng mused.

The materials were enough to make a Second-Tier puppet.

But immediately, Lu Changsheng shook his head.

“The pressing issue is cultivation; otherwise, my current mind can’t handle multiple puppets.”

During the battle, Lu Changsheng realized his limitation.

Controlling one puppet was his limit.

Controlling more would hinder multitasking.

“Most mind-training techniques require Divine Sense.”

“This can’t be rushed unless the system draws a technique.”

Lu Changsheng exhaled, took two low-Tier Spirit Stones, and began meditating to heal.

The next day, Lu Changsheng checked on Xiao Xiyue, still unconscious.

Seeing the healing talisman’s effect fading, he used another.

Like lotus dew, the talisman flowed over Xiao Xiyue’s body, making her wake with a soft moan.

“Xiao comrade, you’re awake?”

Seeing her awake, Lu Changsheng immediately asked with concern.

“Comrade Lu?”

“Where are we? What about that rogue cultivator?”

Xiao Xiyue sat up, looking around the simple cave, asking.

Unsure if she escaped or was captured by the Red-Robed Youth.

“Under your and my Talisman Treasures’ might, the rogue was pushed to the limit; I used my trump card to barely kill him.”

Lu Changsheng sighed with some regret, recounting the experience.

While speaking, he returned Xiao Xiyue’s tortoise shell, sword pellet, cloud scarf, and Talisman Treasure.

Greedy as he was, he wouldn’t covet the mother of his child’s things.

“You killed him?!”

Xiao Xiyue was incredulous.

In a brief clash, she knew the Red-Robed Youth wasn’t an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At least mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Though suppressed with Talisman Treasures and Lu Changsheng’s help, suppression and killing were two different concepts.

She was stunned.

Her usually pale face wore a smile unlike her usual cold demeanor, like a blooming snow lotus: “Didn’t expect Comrade Lu to hide so deep.”

She knew Lu Changsheng had secrets.

Yet seeing the Second-Tier Puppet, Talisman Treasures, and his cultivation surprised her.

She didn’t expect him to hide so deeply.

Now hearing of the Red-Robed Youth’s end, her impression of Lu Changsheng changed.

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s slight frown.

Xiao Xiyue seemed to understand.

She softly said, “Comrade Lu, rest assured, every cultivator has secrets.”

“In Ruyi County City, I sensed you’re different from typical cultivators, with unique opportunities and secrets.”

“Rest assured, I swear by my Dao Heart, I won’t disclose your affairs.”

Xiao Xiyue was smart, practicing the Supreme Forgetting Emotions Technique, her Dao Heart clear.

After speaking, she swore, promising not to reveal anything.

“No need for such extreme measures, it’s not that serious.”

Lu Changsheng smiled, pleased with her understanding.

Exposing his Talisman Treasures and cultivation posed certain risks.

He had considered how to hint at her, but she brought it up herself.

“Without Comrade Lu, I’d be in danger.”

“Before, you helped my cultivation, now risking your life, though we used our trump cards to slay the rogue, you must have suffered losses too, making me unsure of how to repay.”

Xiao Xiyue gently spoke, eyes lowered.

In the battle, a strange emotion stirred in her heart.

Now it quickly sprouted.

She didn’t use the Supreme Forgetting Emotions Technique to suppress it, letting it spread.

“Hehe, Comrade Xiao, don’t say such outlandish things.”

“In that situation, leaving you would’ve been impossible.”

Lu Changsheng eyebrow raised, noticing a change in Xiao Xiyue’s demeanor.

From their time together, he knew Xiao Xiyue’s cold demeanor disappeared during cultivation.

Stopping and adapting to cultivation brought back her aloof demeanor.

But now she was different.

Reminding him of ten years ago, the lively, radiant Xiao Xiyue.

He noticed she now called herself Xiyue.

She seemed much closer to him.

Knowing life and death, hero saving beauty, gained great favor.

As he finished speaking.

Xiao Xiyue pressed her pale but delicate face onto his.

He immediately felt warmth and sweetness on his lips.

His nostrils filled with her fresh fragrance.

Then they kissed.

This time, the fairy was so proactive.

He experienced a different taste.

Moments later.

Lu Changsheng released the warm jade in his arms.

Rough outdoor settings can’t handle rising passions.

Now he had to address another matter.

Clearly, the Red-Robed Youth targeted Xiao Xiyue, but would someone else come after her?

“Comrade Xiao, earlier the rogue clearly targeted you, in such a situation”

Lu Changsheng voiced his thoughts.

“The other party targeted me, likely to deal with my Master.”

Xiao Xiyue nodded, understanding the issue.

“I need to go back to report this to my Master.”

“We can only postpone cultivation for now, I’ll return to Qingzhu Mountain once resolved.”

Xiao Xiyue bit her lip, speaking softly.

Knowing the danger.

Moreover, staying with Lu Changsheng put him at risk.

Next time, luck may not be on their side.

“Okay, need me to escort you?”

Lu Changsheng agreed.

Under such circumstances, having a backing is best.

“Xiyue will return alone.”

“Comrade Lu, ready to establish Foundation?”

Xiao Xiyue asked.

“Need a few more years of honing first.”

He decided not to hide.

Still less than a year since breaking into the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, more time needed before Foundation Establishment.

“Once resolved, Xiyue will help Lu Lang’s Foundation.”

Xiao Xiyue smiled sweetly, her voice charming, then kissed him again.

Alas, I’m useless, even two changes are hard.