Chapter 339: Ping’an, Why Are You Here?

Purple Cloud Gorge.

The entire gorge stretches for a hundred miles, flanked by towering mountain ranges.

Because of the presence of the Purple Secrets Realm, this section of the gorge rarely sees any demonic beasts.

Even if a few appear occasionally, they are swiftly hunted down by passing cultivators or nearby family forces.

On this road, the real danger comes from other cultivators.

Everyone knows that the Purple Secrets Realm opens once every thirty years.

Many people don’t venture into the realm but instead turn into bandits, lying in wait here to ambush others.

At this moment, Lu Changsheng was navigating a Spirit Boat, taking Lu Quanzhen into Purple Cloud Gorge.

He wore a luxurious black robe, his posture tall and upright, standing with his hands behind his back on the Spirit Boat, exuding a calm yet imposing presence, radiating a faint Foundation Establishment pressure.

Faced with such pressure, no bandits dared to be reckless.

Most bandits were only at the Qi Refining stage.

They would only target seemingly easy prey among scattered cultivators.

This made Lu Changsheng wonder if some Foundation Establishment cultivators might be deliberately disguising themselves to entrap others.

After all, such people are never in short supply in the cultivation world.

Besides, rather than robbing poor scattered cultivators, why not rob the bandits themselves?

Not long after, Lu Changsheng piloted the Spirit Boat through the gorge and reached the end.

Ahead was a vast expanse of yellow soil.

In the center of the slope, there seemed to be a giant purple altar.

Scattered around the altar, many cultivators had gathered, numbering in the hundreds, creating a bustling scene.

Ninety-nine percent of these cultivators were at the Qi Refining stage.

However, most were in the late stages of Qi Refining.

Most Foundation Establishment cultivators, like Lu Changsheng, had come to escort younger family members or juniors.

But they usually had three or four, or even seven or eight, Qi Refining cultivators accompanying them.

It was rare to see someone like Lu Changsheng, who only brought one person.

When the Spirit Boat slowly descended, a few nearby Qi Refining cultivators immediately showed respect, stepping back to make room.

They were careful not to offend Lu Changsheng or to be disliked by him.

After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators could be unpredictable.

If they were in a bad mood and found them annoying, they could be attacked with no recourse.

“This Purple Secrets Realm is really lively.”

Lu Changsheng put away the Spirit Boat and, seeing the scene, clicked his tongue.

Although he had been to Nine Heavens Immortal City and Qingluan Immortal City,

he had never seen such a gathering of hundreds of cultivators, all on high alert, like in the Purple Secrets Realm.

At this moment, he spotted people from Qingzhu Mountain and Hundred Bird Lake in the crowd.

Lu Miaofeng, whom he knew, was leading the group from Qingzhu Mountain.

There were four of them; besides Lu Miaofeng, who was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, the other three were only at the eighth and seventh layers.

Lu Changsheng didn’t step forward to greet them.

He was here secretly, both he and Lu Quanzhen disguised.

After all, it’s more convenient to act with a concealed identity; revealing their true appearance might invite trouble.

Not just him, but many other cultivators here were also disguised.

“Quanzhen, if you wish, you can join Miaofeng and the others later.”

Lu Changsheng transmitted these words to his son, Lu Quanzhen.

He had previously learned about the Purple Secrets Realm from Qingzhu Mountain.

Everyone who enters will be randomly placed within the realm.

But they can reunite quickly using Communication Talismans, Yin-Yang Communication Talismans, and other tokens.

So, at this moment, many scattered cultivators and family disciples were getting acquainted and forming alliances.

After all, besides seeking opportunities, the Purple Secrets Realm is also a trial ground for disciples of immortal sects.

Disciples from immortal sects may not be bloodthirsty,

but you never know, so it’s best to prepare for the worst.

“Understood.”

Lu Quanzhen, dressed in a black robe with a crown, nodded in agreement, his face showing a refined and scholarly demeanor.

The two of them stayed where they were, resting and waiting for the Four Great Immortal Sects to arrive and open the realm.

As time passed, more Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived with their juniors.

At this time, Lu Changsheng noticed an imposing elder leading six Qi Refining cultivators off a golden Spirit Boat.

“Jinlong Ridge.”

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes at the sight of the newcomers.

He then turned to his son and said, “Quanzhen, if you encounter people from Jinlong Ridge in the Purple Secrets Realm, join Qingshan to kill them all.”

Although the Jin Patriarch had come to apologize and make peace,

it was all just to irritate him!

Moreover, over the past year, they had been openly and covertly suppressing White Tiger Mountain’s businesses and properties.

Given the situation, he couldn’t confront them directly, but this opportunity wouldn’t be wasted.

Of course, this was mainly because he had confidence in his son’s abilities.

Even without Lu Qingshan, Lu Changsheng was quite assured of Lu Quanzhen’s situation.

With a Second-Tier puppet, a full set of Top-Tier Artifacts, a Talisman Treasure, a stack of Second-Tier talismans,

could a few Qi Refining cultivators stand a chance against him?

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would feel uneasy facing Lu Quanzhen.

Lu Quanzhen was a bit surprised by his father’s words,

but he just smiled, squinting his eyes as he glanced at the Jinlong Ridge group, and replied softly, “Rest assured, Father.”

Time ticked by.

With more and more people arriving, Lu Changsheng finally understood that many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from various forces were here to buy resources and Natural Treasures.

Once the scattered cultivators exit the realm, they trade with them.

Because the Four Great Immortal Sects only take a portion of the rare resources,

most of the resources obtained are not needed by scattered cultivators and are directly traded here.

Or they spend resources to hire someone to escort them to the Market.

“I didn’t expect this Purple Secrets Realm to have so many intricacies.”

Lu Changsheng clicked his tongue in amazement, finally understanding why so many family forces revealed their identities and came here.

With a good family reputation, even if they offer a slightly lower price, people are willing to trust them.

But since he was disguised, it wasn’t convenient to engage in trading.

“Hmm!?”

At that moment, Lu Changsheng seemed to sense something and suddenly opened his eyes.

In the distance, a tall, burly, and weathered middle-aged man with the air of a wandering hero found a spot to sit down.

Lu Changsheng instantly felt a familiar aura from him.

“Ping’an?”

Lu Changsheng scanned the man with his Divine Sense, instantly seeing through his disguise.

“Isn’t Ping’an supposed to be out traveling? Why is he here at the Purple Secrets Realm?”

He was a bit surprised and immediately transmitted, “Lu Ping’an, come over here.”

“Huh?”

Lu Ping’an was stunned when he heard the transmission, his expression confused as he looked around.

He had come here without returning home, knowing that his father wouldn’t approve of him going to the Purple Secrets Realm.

So he made the decision to come alone.

But he didn’t expect to hear his father’s voice as soon as he arrived at Purple Cloud Gorge.

He looked around but couldn’t find his father, Lu Changsheng.

But soon, he saw a stern-looking man in his thirties wearing a black robe and a scholarly young man in a black robe with a crown walking towards him.

“Are you… Father?”

Lu Ping’an hesitated, unsure.

The black-robed man before him didn’t resemble his father in appearance or aura.

“Yes.”

Lu Changsheng, with a stern expression, nodded slightly.

His current disguise was far from the casual disguises of the past.

Not only did he have the Void Robes to conceal his aura, but he also wore a specialized disguise mask.

Unless a Golden Core cultivator used their Divine Sense to probe, it would be hard to see through his disguise.

Lu Quanzhen was the same, concealing his appearance and aura.

“Ping’an, why are you here?”

Lu Changsheng led his son aside and asked.

“I heard about the opening of the Purple Secrets Realm and thought I’d come and see if I could gain something.”

Lu Ping’an scratched his head, speaking a bit sheepishly.

Worried that his father might misunderstand, he quickly added, “Dad, I’m not being reckless. I recently had some fortunate encounters and broke through to the fifth layer of the Hundred Refined Body Technique, so I dared to come.”

“The fifth layer of the Hundred Refined Body Technique!?”

Lu Quanzhen’s eyes narrowed in surprise.

Lu Changsheng had taught him the Hundred Refined Body Technique years ago.

But he hadn’t practiced it well and gave up.

He didn’t expect that his older brother had broken through to the fifth layer, meaning his physical body was as strong as a Spirit Tool?

“Since you’re here, you’re here. Do you think I’d blame you?”

Lu Changsheng, seeing his son’s honest expression, said with a hint of exasperation.

“Thank you, Father.”

Lu Ping’an immediately breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

He was usually fine with his father.

But now, with his father’s disguised appearance exuding a natural authority, he felt a bit nervous.

“Dad, why are you here?”

Lu Ping’an continued to ask, looking at Lu Quanzhen, curious about his identity.

“I brought Quanzhen here.”

Lu Changsheng replied.

“Big Brother.”

Lu Quanzhen smiled and greeted him, his expression refined and scholarly, like a scholar.

“You’re Quanzhen?”

Lu Ping’an looked at Lu Quanzhen in surprise.

Then he asked, “Dad, isn’t the Purple Secrets Realm quite dangerous? Quanzhen coming here…”

He didn’t know much about Lu Quanzhen’s situation.

He only knew that his younger brother’s cultivation wasn’t much higher than his own.

“Quanzhen has also had some good fortune. He is now at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“When you enter the realm, you can use your identity Jade Tokens to stay in contact and look after each other.”

Lu Changsheng explained.

“The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

Lu Ping’an was surprised, not expecting his younger brother to have reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

But then he thought, if he had his own opportunities, it was only natural for his younger siblings to have theirs as well.

He immediately responded solemnly, “Don’t worry, Father!”

“Did you make any preparations before coming to the realm?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

“Uh, I did inquire about the situation in the Purple Secrets Realm and gathered some information.”

Lu Ping’an replied somewhat awkwardly.

“Sigh.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head helplessly.

Then he led the two of them to a secluded spot and took out a stack of talismans and a couple of bottles from his Storage Ring, handing them to his son.

In the past, he would carry a bunch of Artifacts and Natural Treasures with him.

But now, with the family established, he left all the Artifacts and Natural Treasures he had acquired in the family’s treasure building for them to manage.

So all he had on hand were pills and talismans, no spare Artifacts.

Otherwise, he would have armed his son with a full set of Artifacts.

“Thank you, Father.”

Lu Ping’an felt a warmth in his heart and expressed his gratitude.

“Big Brother, do you need any Artifacts? See if there’s anything you can use.”

At this time, Lu Quanzhen took out several Top-Tier Artifacts and asked.

These Artifacts were all prepared by Lu Changsheng for him.

Attack, defense, escape, and support, all were included.

“Uh, no need, no need. I have Artifacts.”

Lu Ping’an quickly waved his hand, feeling embarrassed to take his younger brother’s Artifacts.

“Big Brother, I have a robe, so I don’t need this Spirit Armor. You take it.”

Lu Quanzhen knew that his older brother was a body cultivator, so he handed him a Spirit Armor.

“Since it’s Quanzhen’s kind gesture, you should accept it. Be careful when you enter the realm.”

Lu Changsheng was pleased to see the harmony between his sons and spoke with satisfaction.

He then told Lu Ping’an about some important things to watch out for in the Purple Secrets Realm.

Although his son claimed to have learned about the realm,

Lu Changsheng knew that most of the information from scattered cultivators was likely half-true, half-false, and not to be trusted.

After finishing his instructions, he added, “By the way, if you find any rare spiritual herbs, like the Celestial Spirit Fruit, uproot them and place them in Quanzhen’s spirit plant bag.”

He had naturally thought of the abundant Celestial Spirit Fruit in the realm when his son mentioned going there.

Although the Celestial Spirit Fruit is only a Second-Tier spiritual fruit, it’s almost impossible to cultivate outside the Purple Secrets Realm.

However, Lu Changsheng thought of his little green bottle,

believing he could try using the Wanling Bottle to cultivate the Celestial Spirit Fruit.

If successful, they wouldn’t have to worry about Foundation Establishment Pills in the future.

“Understood, Father.”

Lu Ping’an nodded.

His main goal was the Celestial Spirit Fruit anyway.

He immediately committed his father’s advice to memory.

When he encounters any rare spiritual flowers or herbs, he’ll uproot them all!

“By the way, how did you break through to the fifth layer of the Hundred Refined Body Technique?”

This time, Lu Changsheng was concerned about his son’s Second-Tier body tempering.

He had been baffled for a long time when he learned of Lu Ping’an’s breakthrough.

“Uh…”

Lu Ping’an scratched his head and explained his situation.

He mentioned being ambushed, and in a stroke of luck, an Ironback Centipede and Manggu Red Frog entered his body.

At that time, he was almost unconscious, on the verge of passing out.

But a light appeared, causing the Hundred Refined Body Technique to activate automatically, refining the treasures and the two poisonous creatures inside him, leading to the breakthrough to the fifth layer.

As for Su Jiuer, he didn’t mention her much, as he had promised her and sworn a Heart Demon Oath.

“Be more careful in the future.”

Lu Changsheng patted his son’s shoulder and spoke in a serious tone.

Although the process sounded simple,

he could sense the danger involved.

He knew that the Hope Gu only activates in desperate situations.

This meant that Lu Ping’an had been on the brink of death at that time.

“I understand, Father.”

Lu Ping’an nodded repeatedly, feeling a bit of fear even now.

After giving all the instructions, the father and sons returned to the area around the altar.

“Hmm, a False Core cultivator’s aura…”

As soon as he sat down, Lu Changsheng felt a powerful aura coming from the south.

Moments later, an exquisitely decorated and luxurious White Jade Tower ship appeared in the sky.

At the front of the ship stood a long-haired, alluring, and graceful beauty.

She wore a pink gauze palace dress, her graceful figure faintly visible through the fabric.

Especially her pair of snow-white, beautiful legs, barely covered by the thin gauze, adding a sense of hazy seduction.

“It’s from the Phantom Sound Gate!”

“It seems to be the Mei Yin Zhenren from the Phantom Sound Gate.”

Someone immediately shouted, eyes scanning the luxurious ship.

“A False Core cultivator from the Phantom Sound Gate?”

Lu Changsheng glanced at her but didn’t pay much attention.

Although this False Core cultivator was full of allure, captivating many who wanted to look but didn’t dare,

Lu Changsheng found her rather unremarkable.

The reason was simple: A False Core cultivator with an air of dust and grime.

This behavior surprised Lu Quanzhen beside him.

After all, his father was known for his love of beautiful women.

And as one of the top forces in the Jiang Kingdom, the Phantom Sound Gate was famous for its female cultivators, music, dance, charm techniques, and beauty.

It was rare to see his father uninterested in the Phantom Sound Gate.

However, seeing the dusty aura of the people on the ship, he too showed disdain.

The Phantom Sound Gate’s ship didn’t descend, just floating quietly in the sky, waiting for the realm to open.

To the cultivators below, this was extremely disrespectful, like stepping on their heads!

But no one dared to speak out.

After all, the Phantom Sound Gate was a Golden Core-level force, led by a False Core cultivator.

Following the Phantom Sound Gate’s arrival, it wasn’t long before another sect among the Two Sects, Three Cities, and Three Families, Danxia Mountain, arrived.

This sect specializes in alchemy.

The famous Dan Ding Pavilion is a business under Danxia Mountain.

“Rumble, rumble, rumble…”

Suddenly, distant clouds began to churn, thunder rumbled, and a loud roar echoed.

Nine Wind Thunder Beasts were pulling a massive divine ship through the sky.

These nine Wind Thunder Beasts were all Second-Tier demonic beasts, soaring through the sky, surrounded by wind and thunder, exuding a terrifying aura.

On the divine ship, a flag with a large, flamboyant ‘Xu’ character was flying.

“It’s the Beast Taming Xu Family!”

“What a grand display, using nine Second-Tier demonic beasts to pull a carriage!”

“Which Xu Family elder is personally attending?”

Many cultivators whispered, their eyes filled with awe and reverence.

After all, the Beast Taming Xu Family, one of the three major families in the Jiang Kingdom, had deep foundations and a widespread reputation.

“The Beast Taming Xu Family…”

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene.

He remembered Xu Ruoyin mentioning that the Beast Taming Xu Family had taken an interest in him.

But when he looked at the leader on the divine ship, it didn’t seem to be the Xu Family’s third ancestor, whom Xu Ruoyin had mentioned.

These Golden Core-level forces hovered in the sky, conversing from a distance, each trying to outdo the other in grandeur, while the cultivators below looked on in awe and envy.

After all, most people cultivate not only to seek the Dao and achieve immortality but also to one day stand above others like these.

“No wonder a family or force with a Golden Core cultivator is considered Top-Tier…”

At this moment, Lu Changsheng truly understood why only families or forces with a Golden Core cultivator were considered Top-Tier.

Without a Golden Core cultivator, a family or force could never accumulate significant resources.

Just like White Tiger Mountain.

Even though it has supposedly been passed down for a thousand years, its foundations are weak.

At the slightest threat, it could be wiped out.

For forces like the Phantom Sound Gate, Danxia Mountain, and the Beast Taming Xu Family,

even at their worst, they can maintain multiple False Core cultivators to stabilize the situation, waiting for a new Golden Core cultivator to emerge.

As the realm was about to open, the Azure Cloud Sect, Sunset Glow Sect, and Spirit Control Sect arrived almost on time.

All three sects were led by Golden Core cultivators.

The Spirit Control Sect rode a near-Third-Tier Golden Eagle spirit beast, exuding an imposing aura.

The Azure Cloud Sect and Sunset Glow Sect both arrived on giant boats and treasure towers, appearing much simpler.

But even though these two immortal sects had modest displays, no one dared to underestimate them.

As the realm’s opening time approached, the Nascent Soul-level overlord of the Jiang Kingdom, the Heavenly Sword Sect, finally arrived.

Their flying treasure was very simple, a giant flying sword that cut through the sky with overwhelming spiritual pressure.

Standing on the sword were about thirty Qi Refining disciples, all dressed in white sword uniforms, carrying Magical Swords, their expressions cold and sharp.

At the forefront stood a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy with an ordinary appearance, wearing a simple white robe, his demeanor cold and austere.

If not for the immense spiritual pressure surrounding him, radiating an endless sharp aura, it would be hard to tell that he was a Golden Core cultivator!

“Heavenly Sword Sect! Jade Sword Zhenren!”

All the cultivators in Purple Cloud Gorge looked at the newcomers from the Heavenly Sword Sect with awe.

The major Golden Core-level forces that had arrived earlier all stepped forward to pay their respects.

“Hmm!?”

Lu Ping’an’s expression suddenly froze as he looked at the Heavenly Sword Sect group, spotting a familiar figure on the flying sword.