Chapter 349: A Pseudo Core Grandmaster, Nothing More!

A Spirit Boat, glowing with a blue light, passed through Purple Cloud Gorge.

On the boat, Lu Changsheng, dressed in a dark robe, stood tall and listened to his son, Lu Quanzhen, recount the events of the secret realm.

Lu Changsheng learned that not only had Lu Ping’an improved, but Lu Quanzhen also gained significant benefits.

Now that his foundation was much more solid, once they returned, he could focus on stabilizing it further and prepare to break through to Foundation Establishment.

“Quanzhen, did you encounter any Jin Family cultivators?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

Earlier, he saw a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Jinlong Ridge leave angrily, knowing that all six members of the Jin Family were wiped out in the secret realm. He suspected his son was involved.

“This wasn’t something my brother and I did. Qingshan happened to run into the Jin Family.”

Lu Quanzhen responded.

They had talked with Lu Qingshan earlier and learned about the situation involving the Jin Family.

He thought to himself, the Jin Family was truly unlucky.

If not, he and Lu Ping’an might not have even encountered the Jin Family cultivators.

“Qingshan.”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, surprised that his son, Lu Qingshan, had single-handedly killed the Jin Family cultivators.

It seemed Lu Qingshan’s strength was even greater than he had realized.

After all, defeating six people and killing six people are two very different things.

“Father, it’s likely that soon, people will find out about Qingshan. The Jin Family might connect this to our family.”

Lu Quanzhen looked at Lu Changsheng and said.

Lu Qingshan had been very high-profile during this trip, making Lu Quanzhen realize that soon, information about his younger brother would likely spread among other families and factions.

If the Jin Family learned that Lu Qingshan was a son of the Bihu Mountain Lu Family, they would surely suspect the connection.

However, that wasn’t his main concern.

He was more worried about the rise of Lu Qingshan in the family.

If Lu Ping’an also became prominent in a few years.

And if Lu Wangshu or other younger siblings he didn’t yet know about also rose to prominence, the family would be thrust into the spotlight, attracting a lot of trouble.

No force would want to see a family with several geniuses grow unchecked.

Once such a family was allowed to grow, it would be terrifying!

“Heh, even if the Jin Family knows, what can they do?”

Lu Changsheng said indifferently.

He had instructed his sons to act this way, so he was not afraid of what the Jin Family might do.

After all, both families had been secretly sabotaging each other for a long time, though they hadn’t brought the conflict out into the open.

Even if the Jin Family knew, they would have no choice but to swallow their anger!

As the father and son chatted, Lu Changsheng suddenly felt a terrifying spiritual pressure closing in on them.

He frowned slightly and looked to the side.

“Father, what’s wrong?”

Lu Quanzhen asked, noticing his father’s expression, and looked in the same direction.

But he saw nothing.

After a few breaths, he saw a cloud of mist churning in the distance, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder.

As the cloud grew larger, Lu Quanzhen’s face suddenly changed.

“This is bad! It’s the Beast Taming Xu Family!”

Earlier, outside the secret realm, Lu Quanzhen saw the arrival of several Golden Core-level factions.

The Xu Family made a grand entrance, with nine second-rank Wind Thunder Colts pulling a massive Spirit Boat. The wind and thunder roared as it traveled, crushing the skies with overwhelming power.

The scene in the distance was exactly like when the Xu Family came to the Purple Secrets Realm!

So Lu Quanzhen immediately realized that the Xu Family had likely come to cause trouble for them!

“Why would the Beast Taming Xu Family come after us? I destroyed all the tokens, credentials, and suspicious items from their Storage Bags and threw them off a cliff.”

“I also used a second-rank purification talisman to check my entire body and found no traces or marks!”

Lu Quanzhen was terrified, unable to understand how the Xu Family’s old ancestor had tracked them down.

But he didn’t have time to think further.

The Xu Family’s old ancestor was getting closer.

The Spirit Boat, pulled by nine Wind Thunder Colts, approached with a spiritual pressure as overwhelming as a tsunami, making the air feel heavy and hard to breathe.

“Father, my brother and I killed all the Xu Family disciples in the Purple Secrets Realm. This must be the Xu Family’s old ancestor coming to seek revenge!”

Lu Quanzhen said, his face grim, as he sent a message to his father.

He dared not hide the situation from his father.

Lu Ping’an also looked at the nine Wind Thunder Colts, covered in clouds and lightning, charging toward them with a serious expression.

He hadn’t expected that the two of them would provoke the Xu Family’s False Core old ancestor!

“What? You killed all the Xu Family disciples!?”

Lu Changsheng was stunned.

He thought to himself, well done!

He had wondered why the Xu Family’s old ancestor was rushing toward them with such hostility.

It turned out that all the Xu Family cultivators had been killed by his sons, and now they had come looking for trouble!

“Father, the Xu Family’s old ancestor likely used some method to find my brother and me. You should be able to escape using talismans.”

Several talismans appeared from Lu Quanzhen’s sleeve as he urgently spoke.

Although there were rumors that his father could kill a False Core Grandmaster with talisman formations.

He knew this was a rumor spread by Jinlong Ridge to set his father up for failure!

So, facing the Xu Family’s old ancestor, he had no intention of fighting.

His first thought was to use the talismans his father had given him to escape.

Only by doing so could the three of them have a chance of survival and avoid dying here.

He regretted that Aunt Lu Miaoge wasn’t here..

If she were, the combined strength of his father and aunt might have been able to hold off the Xu Family’s old ancestor.

“Father!”

Lu Ping’an also produced a talisman, looking ready to face death.

“Heh, don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

Lu Changsheng smiled, patting his sons on the shoulder to calm them down.

This time, the Xu Family’s old ancestor had come to kill, so he would use this as a lesson for his sons.

To teach them that there are always stronger people out there.

When facing high-level cultivators and the heirs of powerful families, they must always be extremely cautious!

Besides, his sons were now grown and about to enter Foundation Establishment. It was time they learned some family secrets.

He handed control of the Spirit Boat to Lu Quanzhen.

Then, looking at the charging Wind Thunder Colts and the Xu Family’s old ancestor, he took a step forward, off the Spirit Boat, and walked out to meet them.

“Father!”

Lu Quanzhen was shocked, calling out, thinking his father was buying them time.

“Quanzhen, trust Father.”

Lu Ping’an grabbed his brother’s shoulder and said firmly.

He had complete faith in his father.

He believed that his father wouldn’t do this unless he was confident!

“Hmm!? You audacious scoundrel, courting death!”

The Xu Family’s old ancestor, standing on the massive Spirit Boat, saw Lu Changsheng standing in midair in his dark robe, with a stern and composed expression. His brows furrowed in anger, and he ordered the Wind Thunder Colts to charge directly at him.

These nine Wind Thunder Colts were not just spirit beasts used by the Xu Family to pull carriages.

They were spirit beasts carefully nurtured by the old ancestor himself, used for transportation, each with remarkable combat power.

The leading beast had accompanied him for centuries and had the strength of a late second-rank.

Given its power, it could crush even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator to death!

“Roar!”

The nine Wind Thunder Colts roared in unison, wind and thunder swirling around them like a stampede of ten thousand horses, carrying a storm of violent lightning as they charged at Lu Changsheng.

“Buzz!”

At that moment, a clear sword hum echoed across the world.

Suddenly, a giant sword, several feet long and glowing with Seven Luminaries light, appeared above Lu Changsheng’s head. It unleashed an endless, sharp sword aura as it slashed forward.

“Boom!”

The violent storm of wind and thunder clashed with the domineering giant sword, releasing a thunderous explosion that shook the heavens.

Dazzling magical light tore through the sky as the aftermath of the fight spread out like waves, creating surging waves of energy.

The energy waves were so strong that Lu Quanzhen and Lu Ping’an’s Spirit Boat, not far away, was almost capsized by the massive waves.

Luckily, a surge of majestic Qi swept over them like a gentle breeze, neutralizing the shockwaves.

“What!?”

“Father’s strength?”

Lu Quanzhen and Lu Ping’an were both shocked, exchanging disbelieving looks.

They had never imagined that their father was so powerful.

Especially Lu Quanzhen.

He had always known that his father was hiding his true strength and was not as simple as he appeared!

But this was hiding it too well!

He could actually confront a False Core Grandmaster head-on!

Doesn’t that mean that during the battle at White Tiger Mountain, his father was just toying with the Jin Family’s Grand Elder?

“Old Ancestor Xu, why have you come with such hostility?”

Lu Changsheng, in his dark robe, stood with his hands behind his back, floating in midair, and looked at Old Ancestor Xu, who was approaching, and said calmly.

“Who are you? You know about my Beast Taming Xu Family, yet you dare to target us like this!”

Old Ancestor Xu was surprised by the earlier clash, but he still maintained an imposing demeanor and shouted fiercely.

“Me? I’m just a rogue cultivator sending my children to the Purple Secrets Realm for training.”

Lu Changsheng replied.

“Fine, fine, fine! You won’t say, huh!”

“A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to be so arrogant in front of me? Once I capture you, I’ll make you spill everything!”

Old Ancestor Xu’s eyes flashed with purple and green lightning as he shouted angrily.

He was convinced that Lu Changsheng came from some top faction, deliberately targeting his family.

As he spoke, purple-blue lightning flickered in his pupils.

“Roar!”

A beastly roar echoed across the sky.

Purple-blue lightning spread from Old Ancestor Xu’s dantian.

A ring-shaped Artifact, surrounded by wind and thunder, appeared above Old Ancestor Xu’s head.

This ring, called the ‘Wind Thunder Ring,’ was Old Ancestor Xu’s natal Magical Treasure.

Though it was just a lower-Tier Magical Treasure.

After years of refining, combined with the nine Wind Thunder Colts, its power was astounding.

Even though Lu Changsheng seemed to be a False Core Grandmaster, Old Ancestor Xu was not afraid!

After all, his Beast Taming Xu Family was known for controlling spirit beasts, making them among the best in their rank!

“Boom!”

As soon as Old Ancestor Xu summoned his treasure, Lu Changsheng attacked first.

He knew that this situation couldn’t be resolved peacefully, so they had to fight!

“Nine Treasures Dao Bone—Essence, Qi, Spirit!”

Lu Changsheng immediately activated the three Divine Abilities of his natal treasure bone.

The talisman patterns on his sternum intertwined, bursting with radiant light, causing his physical body, Qi, and Divine Sense to roar like a tsunami.

In an instant, Lu Changsheng’s figure seemed to grow taller as he shot forward.

At the same time, countless purple-red flames erupted from his radiant body as he charged towards Old Ancestor Xu.

“Roar!”

The nine Wind Thunder Colts howled into the sky, wind and thunder swirling around them, filling the world.

But before Lu Changsheng’s god-like figure, the nine Wind Thunder Colts were violently knocked away, screaming in agony as they were scorched by the Thunder-Reinforced Dragon Flame surrounding him.

“What!? This is bad!”

Old Ancestor Xu’s face changed when he saw Lu Changsheng knock away his nine Wind Thunder Colts with brute force and charge towards him.

He quickly formed hand seals, and his natal treasure, the ‘Wind Thunder Ring,’ shone brightly, creating walls of wind and thunder to block Lu Changsheng.

At that moment, under the enhancement of the Nine Treasures Dao Bone, Lu Changsheng’s usually dormant body seemed to awaken like a true dragon, or like an ancient volcano erupting. The pressure from his body was so overwhelming that it shot into the sky, forming a beacon of energy that disturbed the heavens.

“Boom!”

Under this god-like pressure, the nine walls of wind and thunder created by Old Ancestor Xu instantly shattered and dissipated.

“Old Ancestor Xu, as a False Core Grandmaster, can you withstand a few of my moves?”

Lu Changsheng’s pupils burned with purple-gold flames, exuding a domineering and eerie aura. A sea of flames formed around him, with a purple-red thunder dragon coiling around him as he spoke in a powerful voice.

“No! Could it be that this person is a third-rank body refiner!?”

Old Ancestor Xu’s face was filled with fear as he shouted, “Daoist friend, stop!!!!”

But Lu Changsheng had already struck.

A golden fist, accompanied by a roaring purple-red thunder dragon, flew straight at him, filling Old Ancestor Xu’s vision.

“Boom!”

The abyss-like fist, accompanied by the scorching and domineering Thunder-Reinforced Dragon Flame, instantly shattered Old Ancestor Xu’s protective barrier.

Next, the golden, thunderous fist punched through the False Core Grandmaster’s body, leaving a gaping hole in his chest.

“You…”

Old Ancestor Xu looked at Lu Changsheng with despair in his eyes.

“Sizzle!”

In the next moment, the scorching Thunder-Reinforced Dragon Flame evaporated Old Ancestor Xu’s blood, turning his body into charcoal.

“Is that it?”

Lu Changsheng looked at the easily defeated Old Ancestor Xu, feeling a sense of disbelief.

Too weak. Far too weak!

He was simply too weak!

With this level of strength, even without using the Nine Treasures Dao Bone, Lu Changsheng could have killed him.

But it was the enhancement of the Nine Treasures Dao Bone that left this False Core Grandmaster completely powerless.

Neither the Wind Thunder Colts nor the magical treasure, nor even his protective barrier, could withstand the attack!

“A False Core Grandmaster, nothing more.”

Lu Changsheng said calmly.

He raised his hand and collected Old Ancestor Xu’s inner core, Storage Ring, magical treasure, and other items, then turned to the nine Wind Thunder Colts.

“Roar!”

The nine Wind Thunder Colts roared at Lu Changsheng, furious at the death of their master.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng showed no mercy and killed all nine Wind Thunder Colts.

Although these nine Wind Thunder Colts were quite good.

They could serve as combat power and transportation.

But these nine Wind Thunder Colts had been raised by Old Ancestor Xu for a long time, making them difficult to tame.

Even if he managed to tame them, he couldn’t use them openly for now and would have to keep raising them.

But the cost of feeding and maintaining second-rank beasts was no small expense, so it was better to kill them.

After finishing this, Lu Changsheng stored the bodies of the nine Wind Thunder Colts in his Storage Bag.

The flames around him gradually died down, and the terrifying spiritual pressure receded like a tide as he returned to the Spirit Boat.

At this moment, Lu Ping’an and Lu Quanzhen were still standing there, dumbfounded.

That was incredible!

The scene just now was simply incredible.

One punch!

He killed him in one punch?

Father killed a False Core Grandmaster with just one punch!

The brothers were utterly stunned, unable to describe their feelings.

It felt like they were dreaming!

They knew their father was powerful and had been hiding his true strength.

But they never imagined it would be to this extent!

And wasn’t their father’s greatest skill supposed to be talisman crafting?

How was he so terrifying in body refinement?

And what was that scorching, domineering, and incredibly violent purple-red flame?

Even though the battle was over, they could still feel the heat waves in the air.

“As cultivators, we must remain calm even when the sky is falling, and not be shaken by dragons and phoenixes. If you act like this over a small matter, how can you achieve great things in the future?”

Lu Changsheng looked at his sons and calmly told them not to be so startled.

“???”

The brothers looked at their father.

You’re calling this a small matter?

But thinking about it, perhaps he was right.

After all, a fight that ended with one punch really wasn’t much.

After all, when Old Ancestor Xu came to kill them, their father had remained calm, assuring them that everything was under control.

“Father, you’re right.”

Lu Ping’an immediately felt ashamed and said with a serious expression.

He realized that his state of mind was indeed lacking.

Earlier, he had lost his composure when facing Qin Yi in the Purple Secrets Realm.

And just now, he had been stunned again.

If this had been a life-and-death battle, he would have already lost his life.

Lu Quanzhen nodded absentmindedly, still in shock, and didn’t say anything.

The situation had shaken him too much, making his father seem like a stranger.

He couldn’t imagine that his father, who only had a lower-Tier Spirit Root and usually appeared lazy and carefree, had such terrifying combat strength and a domineering side!

“I’ll explain more when we get home.”

Lu Changsheng patted his sons on the shoulder, seeing that they were still struggling to calm down.

Then he piloted the Spirit Boat, turning it into a beam of light as they flew into the mountain range on the right.

They had just left Purple Cloud Gorge and the recent commotion might attract unwanted attention.

So, he needed to find a place to regroup and check the situation to avoid being targeted by others.

Shortly after Lu Changsheng left, several figures looked in their direction.

“What just happened?”

“That was an incredible display of power. Could it have been a fight between Golden Core Grandmasters?”

“Why did the battle end so quickly?”

“I think I saw Old Ancestor Xu earlier.”

“Old Ancestor Xu left earlier, apparently because all the family cultivators died in the secret realm. Could this be related?”

“The Beast Taming Xu Family is one of the top forces in the Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world. How could something like this happen unless the Four Great Immortal Sects were involved?”

“Fellow Daoist, you shouldn’t say such things.”

After a brief discussion, the Foundation Establishment cultivators quickly left, not daring to linger.

They had just exited Purple Cloud Gorge and felt a terrifying spiritual pressure ahead, so they took a quick look and didn’t want to get involved.