Chapter 637: The Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons and the Divine Cauldron of Gu!

As the two took their seats, Lu Changsheng couldn’t shake an odd feeling as he looked at the Five Poisons Sect Master, who resembled a porcelain doll with her delicate, childlike features.

Though he knew better than to judge a cultivator by their appearance in the world of immortality, and he was aware that the master before him was a Nascent Soul True Lord, it was still hard to reconcile with her cute, almost doll-like looks.

She reminded him of his daughter when she was younger, stirring a nostalgic sense of ease despite himself.

Thankfully, the incongruity of her demeanor and gaze constantly reminded him that this was no child—this was a Nascent Soul elder, far from the adorableness of his daughter.

“I came here today to take Mili and Minghuang with me,” Lu Changsheng said, cutting to the chase.

Not knowing much about the Five Poisons Sect Master’s personality and wary of revealing any insecurities in a long conversation, Lu Changsheng went straight to the point with his purpose.

“Nangong Mili is one of our Heavenly Spider Emissaries. Since Daoist Yangming has become her Dao companion, you’re already considered part of the Five Poisons Sect. Why the need for such formal distance?”

The Five Poisons Sect Master’s voice was soft, almost frail, but it carried undeniable authority.

Lu Changsheng smiled slightly. “I have no intention of opposing the Five Poisons Sect. I’d be more than happy to maintain friendly relations with your sect.”

His tone was calm, not hostile. Lu Changsheng had never been one to harbor visceral hatred toward the demonic path.

Had it not been for the issues surrounding Lu Quanzhen, he would never have gone seeking trouble with the Yin Ghost Sect.

This time, coming to the Five Poisons Sect, he had the aim of a peaceful negotiation in mind.

“In that case, why take our Heavenly Spider Emissary away? If you’re willing, the doors of the Five Poisons Sect will always be open for you—as a respected guest elder, or perhaps even something more,” offered the Five Poisons Sect Master with a faint smile.

She was making an overture to recruit him.

“I’m used to my freedom and dislike constraints, but if the sect master ever has a use for me, I’d be glad to lend a hand,” Lu Changsheng politely declined.

“Mili is one of the five great emissaries of our sect. Her departure would greatly impact our operations.”

The Five Poisons Sect Master’s voice was serene yet firm, leaving no room for argument.

She paused before continuing, “I also recall that the Heavenly Spider Emissary has a disciple named Meng Xiaochan, who is one of our direct disciples. You’ve taken her with you already, and now you want to take another of our key figures? Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Lu Changsheng expected this. He clasped his hands in an apologetic gesture. “Meng Xiaochan had ties to me. I owe you and your sect an apology for that.”

“But if I’m determined to take Mili and Minghuang with me, what would it take for the sect master to agree?”

He knew full well coming in that it wouldn’t be as simple as a few gentle words to take away Nangong Mili and his son Lu Minghuang.

“What relationship do you have with the Heavenly Sword Sect? And why did you help Jiang Kingdom?”

The sect master didn’t answer directly, instead posing her own question.

“I needed a fourth-grade demon core to refine a Dao-Comprehending Artifact, and the dual-headed flood dragon in Jiang Kingdom’s Venomous Dragon Pool had just what I needed,” Lu Changsheng calmly explained.

“The dual-headed flood dragon’s core,” murmured the Five Poisons Sect Master with a slight nod as though she’d expected this information.

She had learned through various intelligence channels that the Heavenly Sword Sect had been selling the flood dragon’s core, and it wasn’t surprising that it had landed in his hands.

“As for Minghuang, as your child with the Heavenly Spider Emissary, I have no objections to you taking him,” the sect master finally stated.

“However, Nangong Mili is one of our most valued emissaries. If you take her away, what will become of the Five Poisons Sect?”

Her voice remained calm but carried the steady weight of authority.

Then she paused, changing her tone. “How about this, Daoist Yangming—travel with me to the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons for one item. Regardless of success or failure, you will remain a friend of the Five Poisons Sect.”

“Afterward, I’ll personally hand over the soul lamps of both the Heavenly Spider Emissary and her disciple, Meng Xiaochan.”

“Should you be interested, you could even become an esteemed guest of the Five Poisons Sect. I would gladly mediate and resolve your grievances with the Yin Ghost Sect.”

There was a distinct softening in the sect master’s voice as she extended this offer.

“The Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons?” Lu Changsheng’s vigilance spiked at the mention of that place.

Before he came, Hong Lian had warned him extensively about the Five Poisons Sect Master—a cultivator who specialized in poisons and gu might prefer subterfuge over direct confrontation.

“Indeed,” the sect master confirmed, her eyes reflecting both wisdom and experience far beyond her youthful features.

“An ancient battlefield—countless lives, both of the righteous path and the demonic path, were lost there in the war a thousand years ago. Many of our sect’s ancestors are buried within. I invite you to help recover an ancient treasure lost within the abyss.”

Her words were calm, but the gravity of her statement weighed heavily. The contrast between her childlike appearance and the authority in her demeanor never failed to unsettle Lu Changsheng.

“The War of Righteous and Demonic paths was almost a millennium ago. If this treasure has been lost for so long, why has your sect not retrieved it until now?”

Lu Changsheng frowned, finding the timing of her request suspicious.

“The Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons is extremely dangerous, filled with fourth-grade demonized beasts. Even I would not willingly step inside unless I had no choice.”

The Five Poisons Sect Master sighed, revealing a rare glimpse of her caution.

“You, a Nascent Soul True Lord, are hesitant, yet you want me—a mere Core Formation cultivator—to enter such a place?” Lu Changsheng shook his head, rejecting the idea outright.

He didn’t need to know every inch of the abyss to understand its peril. Even if she hadn’t set up a trap, it wasn’t a place he intended to walk into.

“While it’s true that you are only a Core Formation cultivator, you’re also well-versed in both body refinement techniques and possess that extraordinary Golden-Winged Roc. It gives you certain advantages, where others might falter.”

The sect master said, turning to glance at the magnificent golden roc resting nearby.

It was nothing short of impressive—a beast that had once tangled with the Heaven Corpse Sect Master’s life-bound corpse king and emerged evenly matched.

Back then, even the infamous Ghost Bat from the Yin Ghost Sect had suffered significant injuries from this bird!

Lu Changsheng remained silent, but his thoughts whirled as she continued. “Though I won’t push you into this, I must warn you. While we harbor no ill will towards you, the Yin Ghost Sect has been busy gathering information on your whereabouts.”

“Their Ghost King came to us seeking details through the Heavenly Spider Emissary.”

Seeing that Lu Changsheng was deep in thought, the sect master didn’t press further but quietly waited.

Damn it. Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes, the implicit threat in her words clear.

While the Five Poisons Sect Master might refrain from targeting him openly, the Yin Ghost Sect wouldn’t be so restrained.

Or rather, the only reason they hadn’t made a move yet could be that the Five Poisons Sect was blocking their path.

“Tell me more about the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons. I’ll at least need a rough idea.”

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe he’d walk out of here with both Nangong Mili and his son without paying some form of price.

“The Abyss is one of the forbidden zones from ancient battlefields.”

The sect master gave a succinct overview of the area—a wasteland steeped in demonic energy, filled with corrupt, demonized beasts and other things far worse.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators risked their lives venturing into the Abyss. From spirit warping to toxin-laden qi, the dangers were numerous.

“I approached you because you possess extraordinary abilities but haven’t yet attained the status of a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

“If I took a true Nascent Soul expert, they might grow greedy, and that could put me in a very vulnerable position.”

The sect master spoke plainly, not disguising her self-awareness.

After all, she had almost been killed by True Lord Xuanjian back when it was two against one in her early years.

She wasn’t under any illusions about her strength—Lu Changsheng had seen her in action during the frontier wars. There was nothing to hide.

“We’ll explore the Abyss for three months. Whether the treasure is found or not, our deal will be fulfilled after that.”

After some internal debate, Lu Changsheng decided to accept the offer.

Given her willingness to negotiate, if he continued to hold his ground without yielding, it would be impossible to achieve his goals.

Though the Abyss was treacherous, Lu Changsheng had faith in his current power and protective measures. Unless the Five Poisons Sect Master prepared an elaborate trap involving people like the Heaven Corpse Sect Master or the Yin Ghost Sect’s supreme elders, he felt confident in his chances of survival.

“Agreed,” Lu Changsheng said.

The sect master nodded slightly, stating that she would provide detailed information on the Abyss and deliver Meng Xiaochan’s soul lamp shortly.

Regardless of the outcome of their mission, she promised to give him the soul lamp of Nangong Mili as well.

If Lu Changsheng was willing, the Heavenly Spider Emissary could still serve the Five Poisons Sect, and he himself could become a distinguished guest.

“Sounds good,” he nodded.

With that, the two forged a spiritual contract, binding their oaths with a heart devil vow.

Yet, as the ceremony concluded, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but feel he’d gotten the short end of the stick.

Heart devil vows primarily serve as a hindrance during one’s Nascent Soul breakthrough, and since he was still in the Core Formation stage, he would very likely face a heart devil tribulation in the future.

The sect master, on the other hand, had already crossed that stage and wasn’t as constrained by such oaths, given her limited future potential.

Still, agreeing to such an oath was a sign of honor and mutual respect between cultivators.

If he were to object now, implying the sect master’s limited future prospects, it would have been a severe insult to her.

Though bound by their contracts, Lu Changsheng refrained from entering the inner grounds of the Five Poisons Sect, stating that he would first pay a visit to Nangong Mili before returning in seven days for the journey to the Abyss.

Not long after, a seductive figure dressed in luxurious violet robes emerged—Nangong Mili, her beauty captivating even among the finest.

She handed Meng Xiaochan’s soul lamp to Lu Changsheng before asking what had transpired between him and the sect master.

Lu Changsheng took off with her on the back of the golden roc and explained the agreement he had just made.

“The Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons?” Nangong Mili’s face grew pale with worry upon hearing his words, “There’s a seventy percent chance of death for Core Formation cultivators entering that place.”

“Mili, is there truly a treasure from your sect lost within the Abyss?” Lu Changsheng asked, trying to determine if the sect master’s words held any truth.

“I’ve heard rumors about the Gu God Cauldron being lost there. But whether that’s fact or myth, I’m not certain,” she responded, shaking her head slightly.

There was much about the Five Poisons Sect kept secret even from members like her.

Lu Changsheng nodded thoughtfully and continued asking about other matters. However, Nangong Mili could offer little more substantial, given the sect’s carefully guarded secrets.

Even so, she believed that the sect master truly had no desire to go against Lu Changsheng.

Years ago, her first question upon hearing about Lu Changsheng’s siege of the Yin Ghost Sect was whether this legendary Daoist could be brought to the Five Poisons Sect’s side.

Lu Changsheng nodded in acknowledgment, shifting the topic. “Does the sect master’s cultivation method match your own?”

“The sect master practices from the sect’s main codex, which contains many secret techniques,” Nangong Mili explained thoughtfully. “But I believe she obtained some kind of special opportunity at a young age.”

“There are even rumors that she ended up like this because of a particular method she used to break into Nascent Soul.”

While she couldn’t reveal too much about the sect’s most guarded secrets, she shared what she knew with Lu Changsheng.

“I see…”

Lu Changsheng nodded, well aware that cultivating to the Nascent Soul stage often required a combination of enormous luck and circumstance.

Though not a top-tier combatant, the Five Poisons Sect Master was still a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator—not someone to be underestimated.

Underestimating her might very well prove to be his downfall.

“Mili, I’ve missed you.”

After hours of conversation, Lu Changsheng leaned closer to Nangong Mili, whose stunning beauty made her seem even more captivating. With her arched eyebrows and soulful phoenix eyes, she exuded a dignified charm that sent ripples through his heart. He took her lips in a passionate kiss.

Years had passed since their last meeting, and now that Lu Changsheng was preparing to risk his life for her in the Abyss, Mili couldn’t help but feel her heart swell with gratitude.

“Kree!”

The golden roc, sensing Lu Changsheng’s will, seized the Huabao Lotus with its claws, soaring toward a secluded valley where the bird landed to stand guard quietly.

Sometime later, the sky darkened, and drizzle began to fall from the clouds above. Soon, the rain grew heavier, like serpentine torrents whipping the earth beneath. Trees in the distance rustled and swayed in the wind, their leaves shaking off droplets, while loose stones were flung into muddy pools, creating splashes that sounded sharp against the howling storm.

The golden roc’s feathers remained gleaming beneath the downpour, unaffected by the pounding storm, though the verdant Huabao Lotus it carried became soaked in the rain.

Who knows how long had passed, yet by the time the sun emerged, clearing away the thick clouds, the storm had given way to peaceful stillness.

Inside the Huabao Lotus, Nangong Mili, her curvaceous figure covered in a sheen of perspiration, rested in Lu Changsheng’s arms.

Her bare skin glistened with sweat, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, each panting breath more alluring than the last.

Especially tempting were her half-lidded phoenix eyes and her soft, trembling figure, which was practically begging to be tightly embraced.

The discarded mess of dark silk robes, her violet court dress, and her soft belly wrap strewn around them were all evidence of an intense, passionate reunion that had only just come to an end.

Lu Changsheng looked down at her tenderly, playing with her delicate feet in one hand while wiping sweat from her lustrous skin with the other. For now, he’d had his fill.

It had been so long since they last met, and naturally, Lu Changsheng had made sure to satisfy every ounce of Nangong Mili’s need for his affection.

That said, even Hong Lian, with her heavenly body, had trouble keeping up with him after years apart. What hope did Mili have of doing better?

“Do you plan on wearing me out completely?”

After some time, Nangong Mili finally caught her breath, her enchanting face flushed with more than just the aftermath of passion.

She’d always had difficulty handling Lu Changsheng’s strength back then, but now… this damned man had only grown stronger!

“Heh…”

Lu Changsheng chuckled to himself. Ever since long ago, he’d noticed that Nangong Mili might harbor certain ‘hidden tendencies’, so he made sure to go out of his way to indulge her particularly well.

“What’s going on with Minghuang? Don’t tell me this is your doing.”

It was then that Nangong Mili’s breath caught as she remembered their son. Eyes narrowing, she glared at Lu Changsheng, suspecting him of tampering somehow with their child.

She was sure that his oddities, from his golden eyes to his tendency to reject demonic energy, felt like they had Lu Changsheng’s handiwork written all over them.

“Minghuang…!”

Lu Changsheng suddenly remembered that he hadn’t even asked about their son yet. His eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong with our son?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know!”

Nangong Mili sneered, though when she moved to punish him with a playful pinch, she remembered just how infuriatingly tough his flesh was. Her soft jade-like fingers could only helplessly grasp him without inflicting harm.

“What the…?”

Lu Changsheng felt his eye twitch. This woman was asking for trouble, but he restrained himself for now, choosing to focus instead on their son.

Seeing that Lu Changsheng looked genuinely clueless, Nangong Mili bit her lip before explaining Minghuang’s condition in detail.

“Crystalline Gu, White Jade Cicada? Golden eyes, rejecting demonic energy, and a body stronger and more sensitive than most, with an affinity for fire attributes?”

Though Lu Changsheng wasn’t clear on what the White Jade Cicada actually was, upon hearing of their son’s golden eyes and rejection of demonic techniques, he immediately connected the dots.

Minghuang had inherited a portion of his own Chaos Body!

That golden-eye trait likely came from the latent effects of his ‘Dragon Roar Body’—just like his older brother, Lu Lingxiao, whose golden pupils were intrinsically attuned to elements like lightning and fire.

It might even be connected to the legendary ‘Fiery Eyes of Truth’ technique!

An ability that could reject demonic energies? That was almost certainly tied to the White Xi bloodline that ran through his veins.

Their daughter, Lu Baixi, had shown similar aptitudes.

“So, his talent for body refinement and fire attributes align perfectly with forging!”

If Lu Changsheng recalled correctly, this son of his had always shown remarkable skill at blacksmithing. If properly groomed, he could one day inherit the Divine Creation Refinement Art.

“Minghuang’s inherited some of my traits. This is a good thing.”

Lu Changsheng stated confidently, immediately seeing potential in fostering those traits further.

Even if his son didn’t possess a full spirit body, having inherited the Chaos Body from his father meant his potential could only soar higher.

“You say it’s a good thing, but not long ago you kept insisting he would be fine in the Five Poisons Sect.”

Nangong Mili huffed softly as she glanced at him, though she said no more. No matter how much she complained, this was still her predicament.

Despite being questioned and monitored by the sect leader, she still carried deep connections toward the sect she’d grown up in.

“How is it not a good thing? Minghuang can inherit my legacy and will walk a bright path ahead.”

Lu Changsheng patted her softly in reassurance, already planning to have his son inherit the Divine Creation Refinement Art.

While the basic refining techniques of the Divine Creation Art couldn’t compare to the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra, the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons, or even the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex…

If Minghuang could master it, Lu Changsheng would immediately supply him with three or five artifacts to begin training. With that, his battle prowess wouldn’t lag behind even someone like his daughter Lu Wangshu’s formation-based defenses.

After all, artifact-forgers weren’t just responsible for crafting tools. They also possessed formidable abilities when it came to wielding and controlling those artifacts in combat—just like practitioners of the Soldier-Permitting Secret Art or the Human-Weapon Union Technique.

“Hmph,” Nangong Mili could only shake her head with a slight frown.

Despite her exasperation, deep down, she knew he was right.

“If you don’t like Bihu Mountain, returning to the Five Poisons Sect in the future wouldn’t be an issue. Once I’ve broken through to Nascent Soul, you can do whatever you please.”

Lu Changsheng could sense that she didn’t seem too keen on moving to Bihu Mountain.

Which made sense—once they reached Jiang Kingdom, she would likely feel quite restricted.

Moreover, Nangong Mili’s personality wouldn’t mesh well with Lu’s family. Worst case scenario, she’d stir up turbulence that could disrupt the peace in his household.

If that was the case, once he reached Nascent Soul and gained absolute strength, letting her go back to Five Poisons Sect wouldn’t be an issue.

He might even be able to have the current sect master step down and let Nangong Mili take over, thus securing more influence in the demonic faction for himself.

Considering the looming rise of the seven demonic sects, having a foothold within such a faction could open up many information channels.

“Nascent Soul…”

Nangong Mili softly murmured, feeling the unshakable confidence radiating from Lu Changsheng’s casual words.

For countless Core Formation cultivators, the Nascent Soul stage remained a distant, almost unreachable goal. But for him, it seemed so effortless.

Lu Changsheng didn’t dwell much on that topic. He turned his attention back to Mili, continuing to inquire about her and their son’s well-being.

Relieved to learn that his son hadn’t strayed onto the wrong path, he exhaled a soft sigh.

Nangong Mili, too, knew that though Lu Changsheng didn’t care much about the demonic path, he was equally no fan of the more nefarious elements within it.

If she had raised their son leaning too far into those demonic practices, it might very well have earned Lu Changsheng’s ire.

And so, the couple spent the following days resting in the Huabao Lotus, lost in each other’s company as they discussed their future.

Before long, the seven days had flown by.

Lu Changsheng and Nangong Mili returned to the Five Poisons Sect, where he mentioned he’d see her again soon, after visiting their son.

Not long after, the childlike Five Poisons Sect Master appeared, exchanging a few final words with Lu Changsheng before setting off with him toward the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons.

Watching the two figures vanish into the sky, Nangong Mili couldn’t help but feel a lingering worry twist in her heart. At the same time, she thought back to the various women in Lu Changsheng’s life.

This bastard of a man—wherever he went, women seemed to follow.

As the intelligence reports had mentioned, even back during the Jiang Kingdom’s frontier wars, he had been called upon by Qingluan Zhenren for help! It was almost as if wherever a beautiful woman was involved, so too was this man.

Even though her sect master looked like a young girl, Nangong Mili’s brows furrowed slightly. “Couldn’t be, right…?”

Thinking of their childlike leader, Nangong Mili tried to shake off the absurd image in her mind. There was no way Lu Changsheng would stoop that low.

Besides, Nascent Soul True Lords didn’t sway so easily to tricks. Right?