Chapter 596: Red Lotus: How Many Preparations Did My Husband Make in His Past Life?

Da Mengze.

A hazy mist swirled like a dream over this vast, boundless body of water.

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian arrived at the deep sea where the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale resided. Lu Changsheng snapped his fingers and confidently called out:

“Come out, Splitting-Sea Profound Dragon!”

“Splash, splash, splash—”

The previously calm sea trembled, sending ripples across the surface.

As the water began to boil, it surged violently in all directions, creating wild waves.

A massive dark shadow loomed beneath the water, making it seem like the whole ocean was being torn apart.

Then, a gigantic figure covered in dark scales and sharp fins emerged, its body gleaming coldly under the sun and mist.

With the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale’s appearance, the surrounding waters suddenly took on a mysterious and terrifying aura.

“Husband, is this… your new Spirit Pet?”

Hong Lian gazed at the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale with a mix of astonishment and apprehension.

On the way here, Lu Changsheng mentioned that his Spirit Pet encountered danger in the sea eye, and he was heading over to see if he could hunt or drive away two demon kings.

Yet, it turned out that Lu Changsheng’s new Spirit Pet was such a terrifying top-tier demon king!

Even though she had witnessed many of Lu Changsheng’s baffling and extraordinary feats, Hong Lian was still shocked.

“This Beast may not have the aura of a True Spirit, but its bloodline is definitely Heavenly Grade, possibly even top-tier!”

As a Nascent Soul True Lord and Fourth-Tier Beast Taming Master in her past life, Hong Lian’s sharp eyes quickly discerned the grade of the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale’s bloodline from its appearance and aura.

“Indeed, this is my new Spirit Pet, the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale.”

“I had it stay at the sea eye’s spiritual veins, guarding it to prevent traffic between the Star Sea and this side of Da Mengze.”

“But now, two demon kings appeared at the sea eye and injured it, so I’m planning to go check things out.”

Lu Changsheng, dressed in a dark brocade robe, stood tall and smiled as he spoke.

Chatting as he held Hong Lian by her jade-like hand, they moved from the Golden-Winged Roc to the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale.

Although the Golden-Winged Roc possessed the fastest speed in the world,

the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale was much more convenient within Da Mengze.

“Splitting-Sea Profound Whale…”

Hong Lian murmured, unfamiliar with the name.

That was expected.

With so many varieties of Beasts, even though she was a Fourth-Tier Beast Taming Master, it was impossible to know them all.

Especially given that her home in the Northern Plains was so far away from the Southern Wilderness.

“Husband certainly didn’t have such a Spirit Pet early on. He must have acquired it after coming to Da Mengze.”

“But to tame such a high-level demon king is impossible. Could it be another contingency he prepared in his past life?”

Hong Lian glanced at the heroic-looking Lu Changsheng standing beside her.

This idea was the only explanation she could come up with.

“Just how many contingencies did my husband plan in his past life?”

At that moment, Hong Lian was utterly shocked.

On Bihu Mountain, he had subdued the family’s spiritual land with the Sumeru Tree King.

Now in these boundless waters of Da Mengze, in no time at all, he had acquired the Ocean’s ruler!

And the materials for the Condensing Crystal Pill he obtained earlier? He could immediately refine a Condensing Crystal Pill.

“Could all these plans be under his control, where he awakens his True Spirit and retrieves the contingencies he prepared in his past life?”

“Could it be that he hasn’t fully awakened his memories to fetch everything, so as to better experience life and comprehend the Dao of Heaven and Earth!?”

Hong Lian pondered further.

The more she thought, the more convinced she became.

“Yes, that must be it. From his usual actions, it’s clear that Husband isn’t fixated on his cultivation and realm. He’s not obsessed with it and spends little time on cultivation, focusing more on everyday life.”

“It seems this is his way of remaining connected to his emotions, so he doesn’t lose himself in the pursuit of cultivation.”

“Marrying and having children might not be like the Holy King of the Central Plains, but more of using family, wives, and children as emotional anchors. Treasuring emotions while being indifferent to cultivation, to better experience the myriad aspects of life and comprehend the Dao of Heaven and Earth!?”

Hong Lian was astounded, increasingly finding this idea breathtaking.

Although she had been a Nascent Soul stage cultivator in her past life, Lu Changsheng’s means had far surpassed her understanding, even her imagination.

She believed that even Divine Transformation True Venerables didn’t possess such methods!

“So many contingencies—this isn’t just about experiencing the world of mortals, but truly playing with the world! If anyone dares to disturb this peace, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

At this moment, Hong Lian continued to imagine, further elevating Lu Changsheng in her heart.

“What’s wrong?”

Lu Changsheng already knew that Hong Lian liked to imagine and speculate on his situation.

Seeing her spacing out, looking at him with increasing reverence, he was a bit puzzled.

He didn’t know what she was imagining this time.

“It’s nothing.”

Hong Lian quickly gathered herself, smiling softly and elegantly, no longer overthinking it.

No matter what means Lu Changsheng had, it was beyond her to speculate.

Right now, she just wanted to be a good wife and mother.

Yet, thinking that she and Lu Changsheng still didn’t have children, Hong Lian felt a bit anxious.

She inwardly blamed her body, created from the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Embryo, for being exceptional but making it difficult to conceive.

Typically, cultivators with bodies formed from the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Embryo are wholly dedicated to cultivation and rarely care about children.

“Splash, splash, splash—”

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian stood side by side on the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale, enjoying the sea breeze and chatting lightly, as if they were on a leisurely outing.

She had to admit, riding the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale was quite a pleasant experience.

It felt somewhat like standing on a battleship’s deck.

Lu Changsheng had even tried out its stomach chamber.

It was like a closed-off meditation chamber.

Adding a spring of Spirit Eye Spring, one could live there for quite some time.

But hiding in the stomach chamber was nothing compared to the free-spirited feeling of riding on the whale.

“Buzz!”

Suddenly, a surge of spiritual power entered Lu Changsheng’s body.

“Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer… It’s Qingshan, isn’t it?”

Judging by this spiritual power, Lu Changsheng knew immediately that one of his children had broken through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.

Earlier, his daughter Nangong Yaoyao’s rapid progress had misled him, but this time, he was confident it was his son Lu Qingshan.

[Name: Lu Qingshan]

[Lifespan: 71/208]

[Talent: Fourth-Tier Spirit Root, Metal-attribute spiritual body (Mid-Grade Spirit Body)]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer]

[Talent: Sword Dao Compatibility (102%)]

“Indeed, it’s Qingshan.”

Lu Changsheng confirmed as he glanced at the system interface.

But when he saw Lu Qingshan’s talent bar, his eyebrows furrowed.

“What’s going on? How did Qingshan’s Spirit Root upgrade to Fourth-Tier?”

Lu Changsheng seldom paid attention to his children’s development.

Even when sensing a Spirit Root stir, he rarely gave it much thought.

So, he had no idea how his son Lu Qingshan’s Spirit Root had changed.

“The Heavenly Restoration Pill, perhaps?”

There weren’t many spiritual elixirs in the world capable of enhancing Spirit Roots.

The most well-known of these was the Heavenly Restoration Pill.

Over the years, Lu Changsheng had been collecting the auxiliary herbs for the Heavenly Restoration Pill.

But the materials needed for this pill were even rarer than those for the Condensing Crystal Pill.

Even though he owned the primary ingredient, the Heavenly Restoration Ganoderma, he hadn’t managed to gather everything.

“Did Qingshan obtain this opportunity by himself, or was it a reward from the sect?”

“If it’s a sect reward, that means the Golden Sun Sect sees him as a top-tier seed.”

Generally speaking, it’s rare for any faction to collect the materials and refine the Heavenly Restoration Pill.

After all, few cultivators with poor Spirit Roots but exceptional talent exist.

The Heavenly Restoration Pill can significantly improve mid-lower-tier Spirit Roots, though it has limited effects on high-tier Spirit Roots.

As for Heavenly Spirit Roots and Earthly Spirit Roots, taking a Heavenly Restoration Pill is unnecessary and merely wasteful.

This makes the pill extremely cost-ineffective, which is why it’s rarely seen on the market.

“With Qingshan breaking through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, it’s about time I visit the Yue Kingdom.”

The Yue Kingdom is at war with the Liang Kingdom, leaving his children little time to return, so Lu Changsheng planned to take his wives, Lu Miaoge and Lu Miaohuan, toovisit them.

Though his wife hadn’t said much, ever since the two kingdoms went to war, she frequently worried about the news, concerned about their children far away in the Yue Kingdom.

Now that Lu Miaoge was preparing to foom her Golden Core, a visit to their children would ease her worries and help her focus.

Besides, with Lu Qingshan reaching the ninth layer, he too needed to prepare for Golden Core Formation, making it the perfect time to deliver him a Five Elements Spirit Fruit.

As for the Condensing Crystal Pill, Lu Changsheng believed he needn’t worry.

The Golden Sun Sect would undoubtedly have that covered.

But a Five Elements Spirit Fruit was something the Golden Sun Sect would likely find hard to procure.

When chatting with Xiao Xiyue earlier, she mentioned that this fruit was incredibly precious and scarcely seen on the market. Whenever it appears, it is immediately snatched up.

After cultivating a batch of Five Elements Spirit Fruit, Lu Changsheng had his wife, Qu Zhenzhen, cultivate a second batch.

Other than tasting one with his wife, he still had five Five Elements Spirit Fruits saved, enough to give one to Lu Qingshan.

“Husband, what is it?”

Hong Lian noticed Lu Changsheng deep in thought and asked with concern, sensing something had happened.

“It’s nothing, let’s go inside and rest.”

Lu Changsheng laughed softly as he gazed at Hong Lian’s flawless beauty, producing the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus.

Riding on the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale was indeed slowing down their journey.

It was better to rest and cultivate in the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus.

Lu Changsheng had come this far because of his unwavering diligence!

One month later.

Inside the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus, the sound of cracking bamboo rang out.

Hong Lian’s luxurious, elegant locks swayed gently, strands of black hair cascading like waterfalls.

Her jade-like form, as if sculpted by a master, outshone even the finest white jade.

Her soft, alluring body emanated a charm beyond words, every curve mesmerizing.

Her flawlessly tender skin glistened under a sheen of sweat, smoother and more delicate than the finest white jade.

Her untainted beauty, as radiant as the moon, now glowed with a faint blush, adding an even more fetching allure.

Droplets of sweat trailed down her flushed face, slipping onto her graceful collarbone and over her perfectly shaped curves, or falling onto the grass below, releasing bursts of fragrance.

After a long time, the two rested quietly in each other’s embrace, savoring the post-event tranquility.

“Let’s go; we’re almost at the sea eye.”

Lu Changsheng playfully toyed with Hong Lian’s delicate feet.

Her feet, with their delicate arches and ten beautifully dainty toes, resembled budding flowers—clean, ivory-white, and irresistibly charming.

“Mmm~”

Hong Lian responded softly. Soon, the two dressed neatly, refreshed and invigorated, as they walked out of the Heavenly Yuan Imperial Lotus.

They surveyed the area, and after assessing the situation, Lu Changsheng used his Magical Ability, Reversal Yin-Yang Glazed Wall, to conceal their forms and auras. He then signaled the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale to lure out the two demon kings.

Even though he was unbeatable under the Nascent Soul,

it’s tough to fight deep in the ocean, especially with the mist over Da Mengze causing interference, so he couldn’t just dive into the ten-thousand-fathom deep sea to fight.

By luring the two demon kings to the surface and ambushing them, he would have a better chance.

“Roar!”

The Splitting-Sea Profound Whale let out a low growl, releasing its terrifying aura as it shot towards the sea eye.

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian ascended to the surface, waiting for the two demon kings.

They’d planned this battle long in advance—Lu Changsheng, the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale, and the Golden-Winged Roc would engage head-on,

while Hong Lian would use the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman to suppress and harry from the sides.

After all, Hong Lian was at the peak of the fourth layer of Golden Core Formation, so there was no need for her to take unnecessary risks.

If she got injured, it wouldn’t be worth it.

As time passed,

the previously calm sea suddenly began to tremble, boiling and roaring, as if a mighty force was stirring beneath the waves.

“They’re here!”

Lu Changsheng gestured to Hong Lian to get ready.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

The sea roared, waves crashing and colliding like massive tsunamis, creating a massive black vortex, almost swallowing everything within a hundred-mile radius.

For a moment, the sea fell into chaos and fury.

“Roar!”

Then, the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale burst from the water, followed closely by the hulking forms of two enormous Beasts, causing terrifying spatial ripples.

“What kind of Beasts are those?”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes glowed as he observed the two demon kings.

“They seem to be Void Kun, a top-tier sea beast that controls the power of the void—very tricky to deal with!”

Hong Lian examined them carefully, her expression turning serious.

“Void Kun!? Excellent, excellent!”

Lu Changsheng’s expression lit up with joy.

Apart from avenging the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale, his trip here was also based on the whale’s description that both demon kings were whale species.

He was curious to see if these two demon kings could be of use to his son, Lu Quanzhen.

Unexpectedly, he found that both demon kings were actually Kun species!

Such Beasts were probably carriers of Kunpeng bloodline!

“Roar, roar, roar—”

As Hong Lian said, these two Void Kun were incredibly powerful in battle.

The Splitting-Sea Profound Whale could only flee from them—it couldn’t face them head-on, and it quickly sought its master, Lu Changsheng, for help.

“Hong Lian, be careful!”

Lu Changsheng stepped forward, breaking through the Reversal Yin-Yang Glazed Wall. The Nine Treasures Dao Bone on his chest pulsed, his blood and power roaring as his cultivation quickly rose to the ninth layer of Golden Core Formation!

Next—

“Boom!”

A Dao Diagram of intertwining black and white yin-yang energy appeared, radiating rays of light. The Sun God Fish and Moon God Fish swam within, blotting out the sky, attempting to trap the Void Kun.

However.

“Boom!”

The two Void Kun, enveloped by spatial ripples, slammed into the invisible barrier of the Yin-Yang Diagram and then phased through it, continuing their assault on the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale.

They had chased the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale for so long, then lost it, and were furious.

And now, for it to dare provoke them again, it was courting death. The Void Kun wanted nothing more than to devour the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale!

“What!?”

Lu Changsheng’s expression became tense.

He knew that his Yin-Yang Diagram had been upgraded to almost the level of a top-tier Magical Treasure, with enhanced power and effects.

Yet, against these two Void Kun, it was ineffective.

“If it were just one top-tier demon king of the third realm, I could barely suppress it, but with a near-fourth-realm demon king, there’s no way to hold them, especially with both using spatial magic!”

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng made a quick decision and said to Hong Lian, “Hong Lian, let’s kill the weaker one first!”

As he spoke, a golden light shot out from the Heaven and Earth Binding Shadow Belt, emitting an overwhelming terrifying aura.

“Screech!”

The Golden-Winged Roc, glowing like molten gold, radiating a thousand beams of light, charged at the third-realm top-tier Void Kun.

“Husband, their spatial abilities are unpredictable. Be careful.”

Hong Lian warned, before casting the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman. It lit up in five-colored rays, suppressing the third-realm top-tier Void Kun.

This Ancient Talisman had a suppressive effect on Beasts and could weaken their power by about thirty percent!

“Got it!”

Lu Changsheng’s Spiritual Energy roared. The Wuxiang Treasure Wheel appeared in his mind, his Qi Sea Dantian roared, and yin-yang energy surged from his acupoints, forming a massive yin-yang hand.

The hand continued to grow, its veins becoming increasingly clear, ultimately reaching over a hundred feet in size.

As his late-third-realm body’s vitality awakened and he utilized the Wind Thunder Wings, a white projectile flew out from his acupoint, transforming into a figure identical to him in every aspect.

“Yin-Yang Grand Capture!”

As Lu Changsheng’s massive hand descended to capture the Void Kun, his Three Treasures Avatar also wielded his technique, pressing down on the third-realm Void Kun.

“Huh!?”

Hong Lian, who had been suppressing the Void Kun with the Ancient Beast Taming Talisman, was stunned when she saw this. She didn’t understand what was happening.

How was there another Lu Changsheng?!

While it was true that many magical abilities could create avatars or doppelgangers with about thirty or forty percent of the original strength,

Lu Changsheng’s clone was not only identical in appearance, but its Spiritual Energy was also exactly the same, making it impossible for her to tell them apart with a glance.

The only discernible difference was that this avatar had cultivation only in the sixth layer of Golden Core Formation, and it wore a simple Magical Robe.

Regardless, Hong Lian did not dare to lose focus now, and she continued to fully suppress the Void Kun.

“Roar, roar, roar—”

Both Void Kun realized what was going on and roared at the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale: “Black Whale, how dare you collaborate with humans!”

As Beasts, especially as intelligent demon kings, they had always despised humans.

They saw the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale as a traitor to their kind!

Roaring, the void around them rippled with spatial distortions, causing Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian to feel an immense pressure, as if they had sunk into a quagmire, being squeezed and compressed.

“This is a Spatial Magical Ability, only mastered by Nascent Soul True Lords!”

Lu Changsheng had encountered a similar technique in the Heavenly Yuan Secret Realm, wielded by the demon corpse of True Lord Tianyuan.

He knew this was a power controlled only by Nascent Soul True Lords or particular cultivators with Spatial Spirit Bodies or Void Spirit Roots.

“Luckily, this is only a near-fourth-realm beast. If it were fourth-realm, it would be more terrifying than the Deep Sea Demon Whale King!”

The Nine Treasures Dao Bone at Lu Changsheng’s chest pulsed through him like a volcanic eruption, emitting thunderous booms as he struggled against the spatial constraints. All his efforts were aimed at the lower-realm Void Kun.

“Roar!!!”

The Splitting-Sea Profound Whale raised a tide of waves and, injuring itself, attacked the lower-realm Void Kun.

Though the Void Kun were strong,

one-on-one, the third-realm Void Kun was no match for the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale!

Especially when it was five against one!

“Roar, roar, roar—”

The near-fourth-realm Void Kun roared, creating layers of spatial waves that disrupted the world, causing the Yin-Yang Diagram, the Golden-Winged Roc, and the Yin-Yang Grand Capture to falter and tremble.

Even with this instability, the joint attack incapacitated the third-realm Void Kun.

“Boom!”

Realizing it was no match for the three humans and two beasts, the near-fourth-realm Void Kun let out one last roar. As its body became slightly illusory, it drove spatial ripples across the sea, seeming to sink into nothingness.

“It’s trying to escape!”

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng immediately fully activated the Yin-Yang Diagram, trying to seal the area.

“Boom!”

However, the Void Kun’s spatial power was unmatched. Crashing into the Yin-Yang Diagram, it shattered the boundaries Lu Changsheng had set.

Both the Golden-Winged Roc and Splitting-Sea Profound Whale attempted to pursue.

“Forget it.”

But Lu Changsheng shook his head after seeing this and decided to let it go.

Being a master of spatial powers, now that it was in the deep sea, not even his Spirit Downfall Talisman could guarantee a clean kill.

Even if it were defeated, they would suffer heavy losses.

Besides, his Three Treasures Avatar could only hold the third-realm Void Kun for so long.

“Husband, such demon kings are exceedingly vengeful. Now that it escaped, it may seek revenge later,”

Hong Lian softly voiced her concern, gazing at the retreating Void Kun.

Demon kings were even more vengeful than humans. They never let go of grudges.

“No matter. If it dares to return, it will never leave again.”

Lu Changsheng calmly declared.

Unless this Void Kun broke through to the fourth realm, it wouldn’t be their match.

But breaking through to the fourth realm wasn’t easy.

By the time it managed that, Lu Changsheng might have already reached Nascent Soul.

“However, its spatial magic is indeed extraordinary!”

Had it not been for the Void Kun’s spatial magic preventing the Yin-Yang Diagram from sealing it, Lu Changsheng would have kept it here.

After all, he had a trick up his sleeve.

He had the top-tier third-realm poison he crafted from the Five Poison Sect’s toxins during his trip to the Jin Kingdom.

However, this near-fourth-realm Void Kun had very high poison resistance.

It would take considerable time before the poison began to take effect.

“Juggling two tasks at once is still a bit tricky,”

Lu Changsheng remarked as he glanced at his Three Treasures Avatar.

Although he had reached this level, multitasking was no issue, whether with two, three, or even four tasks simultaneously.

However, having two versions of himself battle each other felt a bit strange and uncomfortable.

With a thought, the Yin-Yang Sphere he had been controlling fell into his hand. The Three Treasures incarnation reverted to a snow-white pill and returned to his Qi Sea Dantian for nurturing.

Though it hadn’t been long, the Three Treasures incarnation had already used up half of its Spiritual Energy while fighting with all its might.

If they kept going like this, it would be hard to maintain.

“Let’s move on. We should check if these two Void Kun have anything of value.”

Lu Changsheng poured his Spiritual Energy out like a river, reinforcing the seal over the Void Kun he had in hand, then suppressed them back into the Wuxiang Domain. Afterward, he entered the Seagate with Hong Lian and the Splitting-Sea Profound Whale to investigate further.

Although the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had been taken by Meng Wuhen and his wife before, and the Seagate had already been combed through.

These two Void Kun had made this place their lair, so they might have brought some of their treasures here.