Chapter 450: I Am Lu Changsheng, Once Known as Han Li!

“That corpse covered in red hair outside is my physical body. It won’t harm the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus.”

True Lord Tianyuan said these words.

“Just as I thought!”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself upon hearing this.

When he saw True Lord Tianyuan’s remnant soul appear earlier, he had suspected a connection with the red-haired figure outside.

He even suspected that the other party had lured him here using the red-haired corpse.

As if reading Lu Changsheng’s mind, True Lord Tianyuan softly sighed, his eyes showing a hint of sadness. “You must be curious why the secret realm looks like this, right?”

“Back then, I failed my Divine Transformation, but managed to escape with my second Nascent Soul and fled to this secret realm.”

“But my injuries were too severe. Even if I tried to reconstruct my body, I had no hope of returning to my peak. Thus, I prepared to put myself in a life-or-death situation, refining myself into a corpse demon to awaken my obsession for revenge.”

“This method was dangerous, and those people feared my revenge. They used my daughter’s bloodline to place a curse on me.”

“In the end, I failed, becoming tainted with misfortune. I went on a killing spree within the secret realm, and only through the Sect’s Heavenly Stele was I able to suppress the misfortune.”

“The resentful souls and ghostly cultivators you saw earlier were those I killed back then. They were suppressed under the Heavenly Stele along with me.”

After explaining, True Lord Tianyuan let out a long sigh.

Though the people here served him as servants, they suffered catastrophe because of him, almost to the point of extinction.

“A corpse demon refining… and a bloodline curse.”

Lu Changsheng squinted his eyes after hearing this.

He thought to himself how these Nascent Soul True Lords had numerous methods, none of them simple.

The bloodline curse, in particular, made Lu Changsheng more cautious.

After all, due to his situation, it would be easy for others to use bloodline curse techniques and skills on him.

“The vast world of cultivation is full of strange treasures, Secret Techniques, and magical skills. I must be extremely careful.”

Lu Changsheng sighed inwardly and asked, “Senior, will the secret realm’s collapse affect the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus?”

“Yes.”

True Lord Tianyuan answered directly.

“The secret realm has already been drained. With external interference and the loss of the Heavenly Stele’s support, it will completely collapse in a few days, turning into countless spatial fragments drifting in the void. Even the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus won’t be unaffected.”

“However, I will try my best to send the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus out by consuming some of my origin, though I can’t guarantee how successful it will be. The result will depend on your abilities.”

True Lord Tianyuan thus spoke.

“Very well, I’ll be in your debt, Senior!”

Without much hesitation, Lu Changsheng agreed.

The situation didn’t allow for any further delay.

On one hand, Chu Qingyi’s condition couldn’t be dragged on.

On the other hand, there was a possibility of a battle between Nascent Soul cultivators outside, making it extremely troublesome for him to escape.

“Since you’re ready, I will begin now.”

“There are still some remaining Natural Treasures in the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus that I left behind. You can take them as you wish.”

“As for my physical body, once the secret realm collapses, it will be exiled into the void. There are three Nascent Soul cultivators outside. I believe they won’t have trouble subduing my withered body.”

True Lord Tianyuan finished speaking with a carefree smile. The sorrow in his eyes seemed to dissipate a bit, revealing a sense of relief.

For him, these thousands of years were a torment.

He had held on solely by a thread of obsession.

“Rest assured, Senior. I will find a suitable disciple for you.”

“When I gain enough strength, I will find information about your daughter and rescue her!”

Lu Changsheng, holding Chu Qingyi, spoke solemnly.

This promise came not just because of the benefits the other party offered.

But also because, as a father, he understood the other’s profound love for his daughter, which had endured thousands of years.

“Good.”

True Lord Tianyuan gave a gratified smile. With a slight raise of his hand, beams of light erupted, turning into a thick ball of five-colored light that enveloped Lu Changsheng and Chu Qingyi.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo—”

At the same time, the dense and pure spiritual energy in the cavern started to surge toward Lu Changsheng like a tidal wave, forming a vortex of spiritual energy.

From a distance, spirit herbs, crystalline and fragrant, emitted radiant lights as they flew towards him.

These spirit herbs, cultivated by True Lord Tianyuan, were all rare and precious, highly valuable.

“To encounter you after death, achieving such a beautiful closure, it is indeed fortunate!”

True Lord Tianyuan laughed loudly after finishing his actions. The indistinct shadow of his figure dissolved into countless light particles like scattered sand.

“Boom—”

The cavern space trembled violently, shaking as if it would collapse.

At that moment, Lu Changsheng felt an inexplicable connection with the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus, realizing that True Lord Tianyuan had already pushed the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus out of the void and towards the outside world.

As for where they were headed, Lu Changsheng didn’t know. He had no time to worry about it.

True Lord Tianyuan’s Nascent Soul origin merged into his body, flooding his limbs and bones like a boundless sea, threatening to tear his body apart.

This power was too immense!

Even though it was only the remnant of a Nascent Soul origin, it wasn’t something an ordinary cultivator could bear.

Fortunately, Lu Changsheng practiced both body and technique dual cultivation.

Not only had he formed a Golden Core, but he also had a mid-stage Third-Tier tempered body, or else he wouldn’t be able to withstand the energy surging within him.

“Fairy Qingyi…”

Lu Changsheng looked at the unconscious Chu Qingyi in his arms, then gently placed her on the ground, intending to remove her torn white palace dress.

“Who… are… you?”

Chu Qingyi’s beautiful eyes remained shut. Her delicate, sculpted face was pale, blood seeping from the corners of her lips, giving her the tragic beauty of a celestial swordwoman exiled from the clouds.

She realized that she couldn’t resist Lu Changsheng.

If he used any means, she might not even resist.

But she wanted to know who Lu Changsheng really was.

Why did he have a familiar aura and was willing to risk so much to save her? And how did he know the Sun and Moon Reincarnation Sutra?

“Lu Changsheng of Bihu Mountain. I once assumed the name Han Li. We met on the Azure Cloud Spirit Ship. I was captivated at first sight by you, Fairy.”

Lu Changsheng’s hands paused, and his expression was calm as he explained.

Although Lu Changsheng was a man of many emotions, he always stood by his name and actions!

Even if he had to sacrifice his integrity to save someone, he was willing to take responsibility!

As for the issue of identity.

Once this secret realm affair ended and they both returned safely, it would definitely draw attention.

So Lu Changsheng had made up his mind.

Upon returning, he would visit Azure Cloud Sect and propose marriage to Caiyun Zhenren, being truthful about his cultivation situation.

A disciple’s life and virtue are at stake. That woman should know how to prioritize.

No matter the outcome, since Yun Wanshang is a Golden Core cultivator of Azure Cloud Sect and the head of the Enforcement Palace, she can easily find any reason to cover this matter up.

Moreover, as a Golden Core cultivator of Azure Cloud Sect, Chu Qingyi shouldn’t face much trouble as long as her situation isn’t exposed.

“Bihu Mountain… Lu Changsheng…”

Chu Qingyi’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

She naturally knew that name.

Firstly, Lu Changsheng had quite a reputation under Azure Cloud Sect’s jurisdiction.

Secondly, she had once asked her junior sister Xiao Xiyue about Han Li’s information, but Xiao Xiyue had dodged her questions.

Later, she investigated and found out that her junior sister had very few friends. One of them was called Lu Changsheng.

Subsequently, she discovered that Xiao Xiyue had grown increasingly close to this Lu Changsheng, even sparking rumors.

She never thought Lu Changsheng was the wandering cultivator Han Li who had once saved her.

“No wonder Xiao Xiyue was so vague back then…”

Chu Qingyi recalled how Lu Changsheng had removed poison from her by skin contact, and what he was about to do now…

“No…”

She felt Lu Changsheng’s hand reaching for her dress again. Her pale face flushed slightly, and she wanted to protest.

But before she could finish speaking, Lu Changsheng leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers, silencing her.

After kissing her, Lu Changsheng immediately used the Life Transfer Technique, nourishing her with his boundless vitality.

Just before True Lord Tianyuan dissipated, he had explained the crucial points of this process.

The key was maintaining Chu Qingyi’s vitality, and then successfully forming the Golden Core.

Whether it’s forming the Golden Core or refining it, both processes were incredibly dangerous.

Even though Chu Qingyi had the Nascent Soul origin and earthly herbs, it was still highly risky.

“Mmm~”

Chu Qingyi felt a strong masculine breath invade her senses.

The scent wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, it was quite comforting, even sweet, possibly mixed with the blood in her mouth.

But she could clearly feel that a warm stream, full of vitality, was entering her body, flooding her limbs, causing her emotions to become complicated.

He was consuming his origin to heal her.

Aside from her Master, no one had ever done so much for her, without expecting anything in return.

She wanted to say something, but not only was she weak, but her soft, slender tongue was also being entwined by Lu Changsheng’s, making her only able to produce muffled sounds.

Hearing those whimpering sounds akin to a small animal, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but recall her peerless appearance during the Azure Cloud Sect’s Golden Core Ceremony, clad in a cyan robe and carrying a blue sword. She had walked across the Rainbow Bridge, earning the respect of many.

A sense of accomplishment surged within him.

After all, pressing such a high and mighty fairy under him, tasting her as he pleased, was a deep desire in every man’s heart.

Even after decades, the heart of Lu Changsheng remained pure and untainted.

“Mmm~”

Though severely injured, Chu Qingyi’s body still emitted a faint fragrance, captivating Lu Changsheng.

Her breath gradually quickened under his kiss, knowing what was about to happen.

But despite the fog of confusion in her mind, she surprisingly didn’t feel outright rejection.

Was she accepting her fate?

However, at that moment, she felt Lu Changsheng release her.

“Qingyi…”

A warm voice, tinged with heat, whispered in her ear.

After being nourished just now, Chu Qingyi seemed to regain a bit of strength. Her eyelashes fluttered softly as she slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a face of unparalleled beauty.

Though she had seen Lu Changsheng before, she hadn’t paid much attention to him.

After all, the world of cultivation was full of handsome faces.

A mere mortal appearance wouldn’t easily catch her attention.

But for some reason, Lu Changsheng now appeared untainted by dust, making her feel an inexplicable sense of closeness.

“Qingyi, I’m about to begin. Are you ready?”

Lu Changsheng gazed at Chu Qingyi with warm eyes filled with tenderness.

Her tragic yet exquisite beauty made him want to care for her, to melt her cold heart.

“…

Chu Qingyi was momentarily at a loss for words.

At this stage, you’re still asking me?

Do I even have the option to refuse?

And even if I refuse, would you agree?

Moreover, seeing Lu Changsheng’s relentless efforts to save her, she couldn’t bring herself to voice any refusal.

As Lu Changsheng had said, let it be left to fate.

If she were to fail and die, then she would treat this as a dream during her final moments.

If she succeeded, and destiny willed it…

Chu Qingyi’s mind was in turmoil.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng simply smiled, understanding that he should proceed without further questioning, as it would only ruin the mood.

However, the lovely sight of Fairy Qingyi at this moment was too endearing.

He bent down to kiss her cold lips again, gradually removing her remaining dress.

Chu Qingyi’s skin was white as snow, slender and beautiful, not as seductive as Nangong Mili.

Nor as mesmerizing as her Master Yun Wanshang or her junior sister Xiao Xiyue.

But her body proportions were almost perfect.

Her breasts, like inverted jade bowls, fit perfectly in one hand, and her waist was as slender as a willow, her curves graceful. Her hips were delicate and perky, and her long legs were exquisitely shaped, flawless in every aspect.

Lu Changsheng slipped off her white boots and silk stockings, revealing a pair of delicate, smooth feet.

Her snow-white feet, like tender bamboo shoots, soft and silky, were held in Lu Changsheng’s hands. She wanted to protest, but lacked the strength, her feet flushing with a touch of pink, mesmerizing in their beauty.

But Lu Changsheng didn’t toy with them for long.

True Lord Tianyuan’s Nascent Soul origin was already flooding his meridians, dantian, and limbs.

If he didn’t quickly refine it or transfer it to Chu Qingyi, even he would find it difficult to bear.

Realizing the foreplay wasn’t enough, Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes. A peach blossom mark appeared faintly on his forehead, emitting a few pink glimmers.

Gradually, Chu Qingyi’s icy white skin began to blush pink. Her half-open eyes also became increasingly hazy.

“Sigh.”

Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but feel conflicted about his actions.

But given the urgency of the situation, he couldn’t afford to overthink.

Moments later.

In the isolated world of the cavern, the atmosphere was slowly filled with warmth.

Two figures, wrapped in a ball of five-colored light and heavenly spiritual energy, became intertwined, yin and yang merging.

There was no one to disturb them.

Not even the faintest breeze.

Time slowly passed.

No one knew how much time had gone by since the initial tension and resistance gradually turned into soft moans and unconscious cooperation.

Although the process was intimate, Lu Changsheng never lost sight of his goal.

Seeing Chu Qingyi’s condition stabilize, he immediately reminded her, “Qingyi, prepare to form the Golden Core!”

However, Chu Qingyi remained unresponsive.

“Qingyi!”

Lu Changsheng looked at her pale face, her tightly shut eyes, with tears still at the corners, and called softly.

Forming the Golden Core required Chu Qingyi’s cooperation.

If she refused to cooperate, forcibly proceeding would only increase the danger.

“You can punish me later however you wish, but please, listen to me now.”

“You agreed to the second option, didn’t you?”

Lu Changsheng whispered.

“When did I agree…?”

Chu Qingyi wanted to say this.

But remembering her earlier actions, which could be seen as a tacit agreement, she sighed softly.

She then activated her technique, beginning to dissolve the True Core, nourishing every inch of her meridians and flesh with the origin of the True Core.

“Hoo!”

Seeing her cooperation, Lu Changsheng finally relaxed.

He had truly been concerned that she might suddenly become stubborn.

He immediately guided the yin and yang power in Chu Qingyi’s body, gathering it in her dantian to help her dissolve the shattered True Core, using it to irrigate her flesh and meridians.

“Pfft!”

Suddenly, heavily injured, Chu Qingyi spat out blood.

Forming a Golden Core by dissolving the True Core was similar to shattering it, and the process was extremely dangerous.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng quickly infused his Nascent Soul origin into Chu Qingyi’s limbs and bones.

At the same time, he used the Yin-Yang Nirvana Method and Life Transfer Technique to sustain her vitality.

Simultaneously, he activated the signet in his hands, injecting the spirit herbs prepared by True Lord Tianyuan into Chu Qingyi’s body to help her refine them.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

After three days, Chu Qingyi’s True Core was successfully dissolved, nourishing every inch of her flesh and meridians.

The process was so dangerous that Lu Changsheng had to use not only the Yin-Yang Nirvana Method and Life Transfer Technique, but also the Nine Treasures Dao Bone.

In the end, even with these powerful Artifacts, the process was so perilous that the three percent success rate True Lord Tianyuan had mentioned felt overly optimistic.

Without the Nine Treasures Dao Bone, Lu Changsheng doubted that Chu Qingyi would have been able to survive, let alone form another Golden Core.

Even if she formed a Golden Core, it would at best be a flawed one, making even a mid-Tier True Core difficult to attain.

“So forming a Golden Core, even with such a Nascent Soul origin, is this dangerous? No wonder so few choose this path.”

Lu Changsheng deeply understood the perils of forming a Golden Core.

It could be said that only those with immense lucky opportunities dare even to consider this path.

Moreover, those with False Core at a lower level also faced the issue of age and potential.

Too old, and they wouldn’t even qualify to attempt forming a Golden Core.

Reflecting on this for a moment, Lu Changsheng refocused his energy, holding the flawless body before him, activating the Sun and Moon Reincarnation Sutra to stabilize Chu Qingyi’s condition and prepare her for forming a new Golden Core.

Thankfully, with True Lord Tianyuan’s Nascent Soul origin and the dense spiritual energy of the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus, it was possible.

Otherwise, this endless expenditure might even have exhausted him.

Meanwhile.

In the Luoyun Mountain Range.

“What!? Qingyi’s severely injured, and she was rescued by a sword cultivator, now missing?”

Upon hearing True Person Lingfeng, Yun Wanshang’s expression turned cold, her colorful, flowing robe stirring in the air, releasing an overwhelming aura that seemed to freeze the very air.

This situation had been a collaborative effort from the Four Great Immortal Sects.

Now that True Person Lingfeng, Tiger Roar Cultivator, and the Sunset Glow Sect’s Golden Core cultivator had exited the secret realm, Yun Wanshang’s disciple Chu Qingyi was the only one with unexpected circumstances, leading to her rage.

Moreover, they had previously confirmed during discussions that the secret realm didn’t have any significant risks, merely serving as a containment for the demonic cultivators.

Now that the battle had ended, yet they tell her that her disciple was severely injured, rescued by someone, and her life was uncertain?

And with the secret realm collapsing, where could she possibly be rescued to!?

“What!?”

“Is she a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator?”

The surrounding Golden Core cultivators from the Four Great Immortal Sects were aghast at the change in Yun Wanshang’s aura, their expressions filled with shock.

There were nine stages of the Golden Core, and each step represented a significant barrier.

Particularly after reaching the middle stages of the Golden Core.

More than ninety percent of Golden Core cultivators never reach the late stages during their lives.

Even though the Four Great Immortal Sects had quite a few Golden Core cultivators, those who had reached the late stage could be counted on one hand.

Among the Golden Core cultivators of the Four Great Immortal Sects, Yun Wanshang was considered relatively young.

Yet she had broken through to the late stage of the Golden Core!

This was truly astonishing!

“So Caiyun Zhenren has broken through to the late stage of the Golden Core!”

A Golden Core cultivator from Azure Cloud Sect was stunned.

While others might not know.

But as someone from Azure Cloud Sect, he knew that Yun Wanshang was still a few years away from reaching two hundred.

Two hundred years old was considered quite young for a Golden Core cultivator.

So she had a high probability of breaking through to Nascent Soul in the future!

“With this kind of talent, even if she doesn’t reach Nascent Soul, Caiyun Zhenren could still reach the Golden Core’s great completion stage…”

He looked at Yun Wanshang with delight.

With her strength and talent, this was naturally excellent news for Azure Cloud Sect.

However, thinking about Chu Qingyi’s situation, his heart sank.

“Caiyun Zhenren, when the secret realm changed…”

At that moment, True Person Lingfeng began to explain the situation in the secret realm.

Although the three of them had exited the secret realm, their faces were all pale, their breaths weak.

“Hmph! If something happens to my disciple, all of you will have to answer to me!”

Yun Wanshang snorted coldly, speaking straightforwardly.

Even though True Person Lingfeng was a Golden Core cultivator from Heavenly Sword Sect, she didn’t give him any face.

“Caiyun Zhenren, please calm down. No one could have predicted this outcome.”

Knowing their fault, True Person Lingfeng spoke politely. “Perhaps you should return first and check on Fairy Qingyi’s Soul Lamp? If it’s still intact, the situation might not be too bad. If it is, I’ll report it to the True Lords and see if we can find her.”

“Very well.”

Yun Wanshang knew there was no point in remaining angry and that finding a way to locate Chu Qingyi was what mattered most.

If Chu Qingyi was indeed lost in the void, only an intervention from a Nascent Soul True Lord could bring her back.

But considering the recent battle where True Lord Xuanjian and True Sword ambushed True Lord Tiansha, exhausting themselves greatly, they might not be able to venture into the void anytime soon.

At this thought, she remembered Lu Changsheng.

She had invited him to come to the Heavenly Yuan Secret Realm, and now that the secret realm had collapsed and many cultivators had died, she grew concerned.

“Hmm?”

Yun Wanshang scanned the area with her Divine Sense but couldn’t find Lu Changsheng, a sense of unease rising in her heart.

If Lu Changsheng had perished in the secret realm, she wouldn’t know how to face Xiao Xiyue.

“Has anyone seen Lu Changsheng?”

She asked the Foundation Establishment disciples of Azure Cloud Sect.

“Lu Changsheng!?”

The disciples were startled and confused by her sudden inquiry.

Some didn’t know who Lu Changsheng was.

Others wondered why Yun Wanshang would care about a random cultivator like him.

“Does Caiyun Zhenren mean the Lord of Bihu Mountain, the Dual Talismans Master, Lu Changsheng?”

One disciple stepped forward and responded respectfully.

“Yes.”

In her elegant and royal multi-colored dress, Yun Wanshang nodded slightly.

“Reporting to Caiyun Zhenren, during the secret realm’s collapse, Lord Lu was escaping but was suddenly pursued by a Golden Core cultivator. He then disappeared.”

The disciple reported respectfully.

“Chased by a Golden Core cultivator and then disappeared!?”

Yun Wanshang’s heart sank deeply upon hearing this.

With the secret realm shattering into pieces, the chances were high that anyone still inside would be lost in the void.

Even if Lu Changsheng had hidden prowess and immense fortune, getting lost in the void would be incredibly dangerous.

“When the secret realm breaks apart, there’s a chance he could be teleported out…”

Yun Wanshang tried to comfort herself.

But the thought of him being chased by a Golden Core cultivator cast a heavy weight on her heart.

“Why was Lu Changsheng being chased by a Golden Core cultivator?”

Yun Wanshang asked further.

“Caiyun Zhenren, we don’t really know.”

The disciple replied respectfully.

Yun Wanshang fell silent for a while. Then, she lifted her hand, and a cloud-patterned, colorful handkerchief appeared, transforming into a cloud of multi-colored mist.

She landed gracefully on the mist, turning into a flash of radiant light as she dashed into the nine-layered Heaven Gale and disappeared.

“Why would Caiyun Zhenren ask about this Lu Changsheng?”

“Yes, why would Caiyun Zhenren care about this random cultivator?”

Someone asked curiously at that moment.

“This Lu Changsheng is no ordinary person. He recently advanced to a Tier Three Talisman Master, and it’s said that he once saved Junior Sister Xiao Xiyue long ago, which is why Caiyun Zhenren values him and made him a guest elder of Azure Cloud Sect.”

An informed person quickly explained.

“I see.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. With such talent in talisman-making, it’s a pity that Lu Changsheng died in the secret realm.”

“I guess he got his secret realm qualification from Caiyun Zhenren. That explains her concern.”

“Hahaha, who would have thought Lu Changsheng actually died in the secret realm?”

Some muttered among the group.

People like Sima Qiuhua and Song Cheng felt joy within their hearts upon hearing of Lu Changsheng’s supposed death.

Sima Qiuhua, especially, couldn’t wait to share this news with his family.