Chapter 398: Red Lotus’ Shock, Merging with the Spirit Embryo!

Sumeru Cave Heaven, Hall of Everlasting Life.

Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged, holding the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman, preparing to use the Sun and Moon Reincarnation Sutra to nourish Hong Lian’ soul.

“Buzz!”

The Ancient Beast Taming Talisman emitted a glow, countless small crimson light dots emerged, gradually forming a woman wearing a splendid crown and a red palace robe.

Her figure and face were hazy, hard to discern.

Despite the haze, her unmatched grace was undeniable.

She exuded both the holy majesty of someone with high status, the elegance of a mature woman, and a distant, ethereal aura that was untouchable.

Even after all these years, Lu Changsheng still found himself slightly amazed by Hong Lian.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Hong Lian knew that with Lu Changsheng’s current soul state, it would be hard for him to help her much.

But this was the first time Lu Changsheng had made such a request. She vaguely guessed his intention, so she accepted it calmly.

“No need to be so polite. You’ve been working hard for me all these years, and I’ve yet to do much for you.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and activated the Sun and Moon Reincarnation Sutra.

“Buzz!”

A divine golden soul light radiated from the sun symbol appearing on his brow, illuminating the faint form of Hong Lian.

Facing this soul light, Hong Lian’s body emitted a crimson glow, transforming into a resplendent, phoenix-like Vermilion Bird, bathing in the radiant soul light.

“Caw!”

The Vermilion Bird cried out, with flames swirling around it, blending with the golden sun.

In that instant, Lu Changsheng felt a peculiar sensation in his heart.

It was as if he and Hong Lian had embraced, their bodies intertwined, a warm and comfortable union that felt almost euphoric.

“So this is the power of a Nascent Soul True Lord. Even a remnant soul is so astonishing!?”

Lu Changsheng was amazed.

He realized that no matter how weak Hong Lian’s soul was, it couldn’t be compared to an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.

If Hong Lian were willing, she’d likely be able to destroy a Golden Core cultivator, even if it meant her soul’s destruction.

By merging his soul with hers like this, even with the protection of Sumeru, he was walking a fine line.

However, with the Substitute Life Charm, Lu Changsheng wasn’t afraid. He was fully committed to Dual Cultivation of their souls, using his own power source to nourish Hong Lian’s soul.

“Buzz-buzz-buzz——”

Their souls collided and merged, intertwining intimately.

Numerous fiery red dao patterns flowed around the Vermilion Bird, transforming into profound dao and principles.

Hong Lian was transmitting her dao comprehension to Lu Changsheng through this soul connection.

If Lu Changsheng carefully understood it, he could learn from it, avoiding many pitfalls in his future cultivation.

During this process, Hong Lian also opened her mind, allowing Lu Changsheng to experience every subtle thought she held.

“Hong Lian.”

Eyes closed, Lu Changsheng captured many of Hong Lian’s thoughts and feelings, including a faint sense of submission.

In this silent exchange, an unspoken, delicate affection began to wrap around Lu Changsheng’s heart, making him feel soft inside.

Men are always easily softened, easily moved.

Especially when such a stunning, noble, and talented woman like Hong Lian willingly offers her full affection. How could he not be moved?

In this process, Lu Changsheng also sensed many of Hong Lian’s thoughts and assumptions about him.

Things like the Dragon Emperor Dao Body, the Central Plains Saint King, or a True Immortal reincarnated.

These thoughts left Lu Changsheng quite confused.

He never expected Hong Lian to imagine so many things.

It seems the more you know, the more complex your thoughts become.

Seeing Hong Lian being so open, Lu Changsheng realized she had already guessed his intent, so she actively cooperated, expressing her sincerity.

“Dealing with smart people is truly comfortable.”

Lu Changsheng silently sighed.

Although he had some sense of male chauvinism, he didn’t mind having wise and capable wives.

A sweet and naive girl might evoke affection and love.

But someone like Hong Lian sparked a desire to conquer!

Time passed.

Even though Lu Changsheng’s soul nourishment couldn’t help Hong Lian much,

Hong Lian’s initiative made the Dual Cultivation of their souls deeply resonant, surpassing even the desire of the flesh.

So the two souls continued to merge, so deeply intertwined that they became inseparable.

Lu Changsheng didn’t know how much time had passed before he gradually woke up from this soul fusion, feeling an unwillingness to part.

He silently sighed, thinking, ‘It’s true what they say: when you feel comfortable around someone, it means they’re on a higher level than you.’

“Hong Lian, you’ve worked hard.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the faint form of Hong Lian and spoke.

Originally, his goal was to nourish Hong Lian’s soul through soul fusion.

But it turned into Dual Cultivation of their souls, from which he gained some benefits.

Yet, after this soul connection, Lu Changsheng felt a greater closeness and appreciation for Hong Lian.

He knew that despite her intentions, her sincerity was undeniable.

“You flatter me, Young Master.”

Although this soul connection would evoke affection between them,

as a Nascent Soul True Lord, it wouldn’t have much impact on Hong Lian.

However, the thoughts she revealed during the soul fusion weren’t just to play along; they were genuine.

“Hong Lian, I once promised you I’d help you rebuild your body.”

“Right now, I have something that might be suitable as a new body. Would you like to take a look?”

Lu Changsheng didn’t beat around the bush and spoke directly.

There’s a saying: ‘If she is innocent and unworldly, show her the grandeur of the world. If she becomes weary from life, take her to ride a carousel.’

For someone like Hong Lian, who has experienced so much and understands everything,

trying to win her over with love strategies would be impossible.

So it’s better to be straightforward.

Let her keep guessing and let her imagination run wild.

Moreover, someone like Hong Lian, a powerful cultivator, has a tendency to admire strength.

As long as he grows stronger, she would naturally admire and submit to him fully.

“Hmm?”

Hong Lian was stunned. She hadn’t expected Lu Changsheng to have the means to rebuild her body so soon.

Even though she believed Lu Changsheng would fulfill his promise, she had thought it would take centuries.

Immediately, she realized that Lu Changsheng had been in possession of these celestial materials for a long time.

It was just that he didn’t trust her enough at first to reveal them.

This recent soul fusion was also a test.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Hong Lian spoke softly, understanding that she had passed Lu Changsheng’s test.

“Come, let me show you.”

Lu Changsheng held the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman and walked out of the Hall of Everlasting Life with Hong Lian, then called out, “Sumeru.”

As soon as he spoke, a massive, half-burned tree stump appeared inside the cave heaven.

The stump was charred black, clearly once having a tree crown and branches.

On the tree trunk, nine brilliant peach blossoms bloomed, as if carved from jade, emitting an intoxicating fragrance.

“This is…”

When Hong Lian first saw the Peachwood Spirit Embryo, her soul quivered, her eyes filled with amazement as she examined it.

After a moment, she looked at Lu Changsheng in disbelief and asked, “Young Master, could this be a Celestial Spirit Embryo?”

Hong Lian had only heard about Celestial Spirit Embryos, never seen one.

So when she saw the Peachwood Spirit Embryo, she was shocked and even slightly hesitant to believe it.

“That’s right. This tree was once a ten-thousand-year Peachwood Divine Tree. It perished while crossing the tribulation to transform, but by a stroke of fate, it gave birth to a Spirit Embryo under the tribulation.

“Now, after tens of thousands of years of growth, this Spirit Embryo has reached the fourth tier, capable of forming an avatar, a Dao Soldier with a Third-Tier cultivation base.

“If appropriately nurtured with enough Natural Treasures, it could naturally progress to the fourth tier in about a century.”

“Do you think this Spirit Embryo would suit you as a new body?”

Lu Changsheng smiled faintly and spoke calmly.

“A ten-thousand-year Peachwood Divine Tree, a Celestial Spirit Embryo, Fourth-Tier in a century!”

Hong Lian was stunned, her mind slightly dazed after hearing his words.

She never imagined that this stump was indeed a Celestial Spirit Embryo!

And a Fourth-Tier Spirit Embryo, at that!

It’s known that Spirit Embryos are incredibly rare, Top-Tier materials for crafting avatars!

A Fourth-Tier Spirit Embryo is beyond value.

Yet here, Lu Changsheng had given such a rare Celestial Spirit Embryo to her for a new body.

At this moment, Hong Lian didn’t know what to say.

Her heart was filled with shock, admiration, and immense gratitude.

She felt fortunate Xu Ruoyin had met Lu Changsheng.

She felt fortunate she had chosen to follow Lu Changsheng.

Otherwise, even though Xu Ruoyin was extremely gifted and had the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman, it would be nearly impossible for Hong Lian to rebuild her body.

She would have needed to wait hundreds of years,

and even if she had managed to rebuild her body, it wouldn’t have been with such a rare Fourth-Tier Spirit Embryo!

With this Spirit Embryo as her new body, she could not only return to her peak state quickly,

but she might even be able to take her dao a step further, peering into a realm that had always seemed so close, yet so unreachable!

“Thank you, Young Master!”

Hong Lian bowed deeply to Lu Changsheng, her fiery red eyes like flawless gems looking at him.

In these decades, although she had lowered her stance before Lu Changsheng, she had never been so respectful.

But now, she truly acknowledged Lu Changsheng!

With the True Spirit Tree King, the Dragon Emperor Dao Body, double Top-Tier spirit bodies, Dao Golden Core, Celestial Spirit Embryo, and so on, Hong Lian had already come to believe that Lu Changsheng was indeed a reincarnation of a True Immortal!

For such an existence to treat her sincerely, what harm was there in serving him as a maid?

Besides, it was only because Lu Changsheng hadn’t reached his full potential that she had this opportunity.

If he had already grown to his full strength, she wouldn’t even have this chance.

“It seems you’re quite satisfied with this new body.”

Lu Changsheng said with a smile, very pleased with Hong Lian’s attitude at this moment.

He knew that by giving her this Celestial Spirit Embryo as a body, she was likely overthinking things.

“Young Master, by giving Hong Lian such a Celestial Spirit Embryo to create a new body, I have nothing to repay you with. In the future, I will follow your orders.”

Hong Lian solemnly swore an oath.

She knew that Lu Changsheng had ulterior motives in giving her such a gift.

And she had a good idea of what those motives were.

However, saying aloud that she would give herself to him as a slave and maid still felt a bit awkward.

What if Lu Changsheng didn’t have that intention?

What if he just needed someone strong to protect his family or to teach his children?

“Hehe, Hong Lian, you’re overthinking. Since you’ve chosen to follow me, I naturally won’t mistreat you.”

“From now on, consider Bihu Mountain your home. When you return to your peak and want to go back to the Northern Plains cultivation world to investigate the events of the past, I’ll help you.”

Lu Changsheng, in his green robe, smiled gently.

Hong Lian had once told him of the events of her downfall.

So he didn’t mind making some promises.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Hong Lian, with her stunning beauty and noble aura, made anyone feel unworthy to even defile her.

But now, she bowed gracefully like a lowly maid.

“This Spirit Embryo has yet to develop a consciousness or soul. You can possess it with your soul and guide its growth according to your needs.”

“When the Spirit Embryo fully forms, you can take this Soul Fusion Life-Returning Pill to merge your soul with the body.”

Lu Changsheng handed Hong Lian the Soul Fusion Life-Returning Pill from his Storage Ring.

Hong Lian was in a poor state as just a remnant soul, unable to refine the Spirit Embryo.

This Soul Fusion Life-Returning Pill would help her soul to perfectly merge with the Spirit Embryo, fusing flesh and spirit while nourishing her soul.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Hong Lian received the Soul Fusion Life-Returning Pill, her gaze lingering on the Peachwood Spirit Embryo, still somewhat in a dreamlike daze.

She felt everything had come too easily, too unreal.

Once again, she bowed gracefully to Lu Changsheng, her soul gently entwining around the Peachwood Spirit Embryo.

Through the nine peach blossoms, her soul gradually seeped in, connecting with the embryonic form within.

“Buzz——”

As soon as her soul entered the Spirit Embryo, she sensed an extraordinarily pure consciousness within.

As Lu Changsheng had said, this embryonic form had no consciousness or soul yet.

It was merely pure flesh and blood, a heart beating with overwhelming vitality.

Without hesitation, Hong Lian made the Spirit Embryo her vessel.

“Boom!”

In an instant, she was engulfed by an overwhelming, pure life force, nourishing her soul like an unborn baby in a womb, warm and comfortable.

For years, Hong Lian had relied on the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman to maintain her remnant soul’s stability.

But now, this Spirit Embryo not only stabilized her form but also nourished her soul.

Hong Lian realized that if she stayed within this Spirit Embryo for a few hundred years, her soul might fully recover.

“Young Master, I’ll need some time to let the Spirit Embryo mature.”

Hong Lian’s joyful and excited voice transmitted to Lu Changsheng.

“Mm, no rush. Take your time. Let Sumeru notify me when the Spirit Embryo is complete.”

Knowing the process would take years, Lu Changsheng wasn’t in a hurry.

After Hong Lian possessed the Spirit Embryo, the nine crystal-clear peach blossoms on the charred tree trunk emitted a fragrance as rich as celestial spiritual herbs.

Once a Celestial Spirit Embryo is possessed by a soul and marked by another’s aura, it can no longer grow further. Spirit energy flowed around it.

This spirit energy was immensely pure, aiding the growth of spiritual herbs.

Lu Changsheng immediately moved the Peachwood Spirit Embryo next to the herb gardens, eagerly awaiting the day Hong Lian would emerge.