Chapter 648: The Terrifyingly Insightful Qingluan Zhenren!

When Lu Qingshan and Lu Chensha arrived at White Tiger Mountain with Master Canglang, Lu Xuanyu and the Nine Nether Hound sensed the pressure of a Core Formation cultivator and immediately flew out on a ray of light.

“What a fierce beast!”

Master Canglang’s eyes lit up when he saw the massive, pitch-black Nine Nether Hound, its body powerful and its head terrifyingly ferocious. He couldn’t help but exclaim.

As a Beast Spirit Sect cultivator raised around spirit beasts, Master Canglang could discern a lot just from the creature’s appearance and build.

Especially since his own life-bound spirit beast was a Canglang, he was well-versed in the traits of wolf-type demon beasts.

“This demonic energy…”

Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing that this spirit beast was no simple creature—far stronger than the Flame Lion he had slain.

“Uncle Chensha,”

Lu Xuanyu cupped his hands slightly toward Lu Chensha, then glanced at Lu Qingshan and Master Canglang with a look of surprise and uncertainty.

He had seen Lu Qingshan before, but the faint pressure of Core Formation coming from him made it hard to believe his eyes.

“This is Brother Qingshan, Lu Qingshan. He joined the Golden Sun Sect in the Yue Kingdom, so he hasn’t been around much. Now that he’s broken through to Core Formation, he’s come home to visit. He heard that the Nine Nether Hound reached the third rank, so he came to check it out.”

“This is Master Canglang from the Beast Spirit Sect. When he heard about the Nine Nether Hound, he wanted to see it for himself. Auntie sent me to escort him here.”

Lu Chensha immediately introduced them, explaining the reason for their visit.

“Uncle Qingshan… Lu Qingshan!”

When Lu Xuanyu realized this Core Formation cultivator was indeed Lu Qingshan, he was shocked. He quickly bowed and greeted him: “Lu Xuanyu greets Uncle Qingshan and Master Canglang.”

He then gestured toward the Nine Nether Hound, saying, “This is the Nine Nether.”

The Nine Nether Hound, as a third-rank demon king, had some intelligence. It glanced at the two of them indifferently but made no aggressive moves.

However, Master Canglang sensed a fierce and murderous aura from the hound’s eyes.

“This demon king is so obedient in front of a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, without displaying any of its usual dignity. Yet, when it looked at me, there was clear hostility. But toward Lu Qingshan and Lu Chensha, it showed no such animosity.

“Could this beast recognize friend from foe through the Lu family’s bloodline?”

Master Canglang was filled with doubt, intrigued by the Nine Nether Hound’s behavior and wanting to investigate further.

But the beast’s aura was beyond what he expected, and with a Lu family sword cultivator who could slay third-rank demon kings standing nearby, he hesitated to ask too many questions.

So, given the circumstances, he quickly inquired about the Nine Nether Hound’s condition and, after offering three bottles of pills suited for spirit beasts as thanks, took his leave.

As Master Canglang flew away on his divine rainbow, Lu Qingshan chuckled softly and asked, “Xuanyu, are Little Zhu’er and Little Qi here as well?”

Lu Xuanyu knew he was asking about his aunts, Lu Qingzhu and Lu Qingqi, and informed him that they had stayed at White Tiger Mountain for a while but had since gone to Flower Fruit Mountain.

“Got it.”

Rather than getting acquainted with the Nine Nether Hound, Lu Qingshan turned into a streak of sword light and headed straight for Flower Fruit Mountain to find his sisters.

When he arrived at Flower Fruit Mountain, he saw Lu Qingzhu and Lu Qingqi picking fruit with Meng Xiaochan and Lu Linghe.

“Brother! Brother!”

Lu Qingzhu and Lu Qingqi were overjoyed to see Lu Qingshan and excitedly rushed over to him.

After catching up with his sisters for a bit, Lu Qingshan’s gaze fell on Meng Xiaochan and the others, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Although Meng Xiaochan’s aura was well-hidden, making it difficult for ordinary people to gauge her cultivation, as a top-tier sword cultivator with a keen sword heart, Lu Qingshan immediately sensed that she was a Core Formation cultivator.

And something about her aura felt off.

“Why is there a Core Formation cultivator here at Flower Fruit Mountain?”

Lu Qingshan was a bit surprised, then looked at the eleven or twelve-year-old girl next to her, whose face was as delicate as a porcelain doll.

Though she was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, there was something indescribable and mysterious about her aura.

Lu Qingzhu introduced Meng Xiaochan, explaining that she was their aunt, ‘Meng Xiangzi,’ and the three girls were their younger sisters: Lu Linghe, Lu Baixi, and Lu Mengchan.

“…”

Lu Qingshan was well aware of his father’s situation.

After being away for decades, it was perfectly normal to return home and find a bunch of siblings he hadn’t met before.

He just didn’t expect that one visit to Flower Fruit Mountain would introduce him to a Core Formation aunt.

“If I keep visiting different places, spending a year or two at home, won’t I end up meeting ten or eight Core Formation aunts?”

Though Lu Qingshan wasn’t the most outgoing person, he didn’t act distant either. He cupped his hands slightly toward Meng Xiaochan and took out some trinkets from his storage ring to give to his three younger sisters as gifts.

Among the three, Lu Linghe was the most lively and outgoing, while one had a cold, distant expression, and the other seemed timid and shy.

Fortunately, Lu Qingzhu and Lu Qingqi were quite familiar with the three girls and helped to introduce them.

The next day, news of Lu Qingshan, the wandering son of the Lu family, breaking through to Core Formation and slaying a third-rank demon king to celebrate spread like wildfire, becoming the talk of the town.

If this had happened in an ordinary family, people would have been amazed, calling the Lu family blessed for producing such a dragon among men.

But for the Talisman Lu Family, many other families were left speechless.

Just a few months ago, the Lu family of Bihu Mountain had produced a third-rank demon king, shocking many.

And now, only two or three months later, another Core Formation cultivator had emerged from the Lu family, and he even had the achievement of slaying a third-rank demon king. What kind of luck is this?

Even if the Lu family had great fortune and their ancestral tomb was glowing with gold, there should be limits, right?

Sure, the wars in Jin and Yue have led to more Core Formation cultivators in recent years, but this Lu family situation is just absurd.

Soon after, people began digging into Lu Qingshan’s background.

It turns out he’s the son of Changsheng Zhenren and Lu Miaohuan, a lady of the Lu family from Qingzhu Mountain.

When he was young, he was noticed by Immortal Tian Yuan from the Golden Sun Sect and taken as a disciple.

After joining the sect, he quickly stood out and became a true disciple of the sect.

During the Five Sect Tournament in the Yue Kingdom, he claimed first place and accompanied his master, Immortal Tian Yuan, to the Heavenly Sword Sect to challenge the sword. He fought invincibly among his peers and left a ‘Lu’ character on the Heavenly Sword Monument.

Afterward, he went on to slay four top-tier geniuses from the Liang Kingdom, defeating False Core cultivators while still in Foundation Establishment. His achievements were astonishing!

Now, at the age of eighty, he has broken through to Core Formation, likely forming a high-grade Golden Core!

This kind of growth and these accomplishments have left many in awe. No one expected the Talisman Lu Family to have such a monstrous genius.

Even without Lu Changsheng or Lu Miaoge, just this one proddgy could ensure the family’s prosperity for centuries to come.

“Breaking through to Core Formation at eighty—this speed must be among the best in the history of the Jiang Kingdom!”

“Slaying False Core cultivators in Foundation Establishment, and now, just after breaking through to Core Formation, he has slain a third-rank demon king. His record is truly that of someone invincible among his peers. He’s like a young True Lord Juejian or True Lord Xuanjian. If he doesn’t meet an untimely end, he’ll be an unbeatable sword cultivator!”

“What kind of luck does Lu Changsheng have to have such a monstrous son?!”

“Husband and wife in Core Formation, father and son in Core Formation—what a sight to behold. The Talisman Lu Family must be the number one family in the Jiang Kingdom now.”

“I used to think the Xu Family of Beast Tamers was the Lu family’s biggest rival. But at this rate, could the Lu family surpass even the Azure Cloud Sect?”

“This Lu Qingshan is a core disciple of the Golden Sun Sect in the Yue Kingdom. He’s just visiting home; he won’t stay permanently.”

“Damn, after seeing the Lu Ancestor, I finally understand the meaning of ‘the more, the merrier.’ I’m going home to make some babies!”

In the past, only the top forces knew that Lu Changsheng had a genius son in the Golden Sun Sect.

Now, the entire cultivation world of the Jiang Kingdom knows.

And more than that, people now realize that this son isn’t just a genius—he’s a true monster of talent!

The Lu family, which had just quieted down, was once again the subject of countless discussions.

With Lu Qingshan’s story out, people also began speculating about the other Lu family members.

For example, the eldest son, Lu Ping’an, who had been missing for over a decade; Lu Wangshu, the daughter of Changsheng Zhenren and Xiao Xiyue; or Lu Chensha, who could control second-rank spirit beasts while still in Qi Refining.

As the digging continued, names like Lu Xingchen, Lu Qingxian, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Qingxian were also brought up.

While these individuals might not be as monstrous as the earlier ones,

they were already exceptional by the standards of most Foundation Establishment and False Core families.

“Qingshan has broken through to Core Formation!?”

Aside from Bihu Mountain, the Lu family of Qingzhu Mountain was the most elated by the news of Lu Qingshan’s breakthrough.

After all, Lu Qingshan carried the bloodline of Qingzhu Mountain! His breakthrough to Core Formation brought great honor to them.

Moreover, unlike Lu Ping’an, who was not close to Qingzhu Mountain, Lu Qingshan had been raised by the Lu Ancestor, Lu Yuanshan Ding, and still had childhood friends there.

Even the name ‘Qingshan’ came from Qingzhu Mountain.

Not disappointing Qingzhu Mountain, Lu Qingshan returned not long after and visited with his sisters to pay respects to their grandfather, leaving behind a generous amount of cultivation resources.

Though few knew about the resources, just the closeness and blood ties made many other families envious of Qingzhu Mountain’s Lu family.

Some couldn’t help but wonder why their family couldn’t have an in-law like Lu Changsheng and grandchildren like his.

Where there is joy, there is also envy.

“Lu Qingshan…”

At Azure Cloud Sect, the Sect Leader, who had been overwhelmed with work, couldn’t help but rub his temples.

Seeing the Talisman Lu Family produce yet another monster like Lu Qingshan gave him a headache.

As the Sect Leader, he was well aware of Lu Qingshan’s situation.

But Lu Qingshan’s attempt to break through to Core Formation had been kept under wraps by the Golden Sun Sect, so he hadn’t paid much attention.

Now that he looked closer, he was dumbfounded.

An eighty-year-old Golden Core cultivator, a prime candidate to become a Nascent Soul cultivator, and favored by True Lord Hunyuan of the Hunyuan Sect—he was one of the most important seeds in the Yue Kingdom.

Even without the connection to Xiao Xiyue, just Lu Qingshan alone made it impossible for the Azure Cloud Sect to move against the Talisman Lu Family.

After all, only those in the upper echelons of the sects understood just how monstrous Lu Qingshan was.

As long as he didn’t meet an untimely end, even if he never reached Nascent Soul, he’d be an invincible sword cultivator, much like the early days of True Lord Juejian.

No one would want to make an enemy of him.

Not to mention, the Jiang and Yue Kingdoms were allies, and Lu Qingshan had the backing of both the Golden Sun Sect and the Hunyuan Sect.

“What kind of child did Lu Changsheng raise?”

The Azure Cloud Sect Leader sighed deeply, feeling like the Talisman Lu Family had become an increasingly difficult force to deal with.

The only consolation was that Lu Changsheng was focused on the Immortal City of Da Mengze and hadn’t aggressively expanded the family’s power or taken over other families’ spiritual lands.

Otherwise, if things continued like this, he really wouldn’t be able to sit still.

Still, after thinking it over, he decided to head to Caiyun Peak to have a chat with Xiao Xiyue and see if he could get a read on Lu Changsheng’s intentions.

While the Jiang Kingdom was abuzz with talk of the Talisman Lu Family and its many prodigies, a piece of news that most cultivators couldn’t access reached the higher echelons of the Jiang Kingdom.

It was said that Yangming Zhenren had a close relationship with the Five Poisons Sect Master, and the two had ventured into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons together, possibly forming some kind of alliance.

Given Yangming Zhenren’s history in the pioneer wars, the Jiang Kingdom’s higher-ups were quite familiar with his name.

Now, seeing this news, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease, wondering why Yangming Zhenren was getting involved with the demonic path of the Jin Kingdom.

And this news came from none other than the Yin Ghost Sect, one of the three great demonic sects of the Jin Kingdom.

Heavenly Sword Sect.

“Yangming Zhenren and the Five Poisons Sect Master have formed a close relationship and ventured into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons together.”

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect narrowed his eyes as he read the report in his hand.

This was undoubtedly a major development.

Although the news came from the Yin Ghost Sect and lacked credibility,

with the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands about to open, this information was worth pondering.

After thinking it over for a moment, he reported the news up the chain.

“We need to be cautious of this individual.”

Some time later, True Lord Xuanjian issued a directive.

At this stage, he didn’t mind if the Jiang Kingdom gained another Nascent Soul cultivator or two.

But if it were a Nascent Soul cultivator who could rival Nascent Soul cultivators even while still in Core Formation, that was a different story.

Especially since Yangming Zhenren had close ties to Qingluan Zhenren!

In the Immortal City of Qingluan.

Although Qingluan Zhenren rarely involved herself in the city’s affairs, any matter involving Nascent Soul cultivators had to be reported to her immediately.

Yangming Zhenren and matters related to the Immortal City of Da Mengze had been on Qingluan Zhenren’s radar for some time.

“Yangming Zhenren and the Five Poisons Sect Master have ventured into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons together.”

Qingluan Zhenren narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the jade slip in her hand, her eyes gleaming like stars, deep in thought.

Though the information was uncertain and debatable, it reminded her of many things, and some of her suspicions seemed to be confirmed.

Seven years ago, she had gone to the Immortal City of Da Mengze to set up a fate-related arrangement and met Yangming Zhenren’s Dao companion, ‘Li Muwan.’

At that time, Li Muwan had claimed that she did not belong to this era and had only come to find her husband.

If Qingluan Zhenren was interested, she could look into the ancient records of Central State and learn about the deeds of the Saint King of the Great Qian Dynasty, and she would understand Yangming Zhenren’s background.

Over the years, Qingluan Zhenren had searched through many ancient texts.

Finally, two years ago, she had come across a rare ancient book in a Nascent Soul-level trading event that contained a few sentences about the Saint King of the Great Qian Dynasty.

It mentioned that in ancient times, the Great Qian Dynasty of Central State had produced a Saint King.

This individual possessed a unique Dao body that allowed him to break through realms through Dual Cultivation and was known for producing offspring with extraordinary talent, resulting in countless descendants.

There were no further details in the text.

Qingluan Zhenren had searched through more ancient records but found no additional information on the Saint King.

However, based on the little she had learned, she began to compare Yangming Zhenren, the City Lord of Da Mengze, and the Master of Bihu Mountain, Lu Changsheng. The more she thought about it, the more shocked she became.

Lu Changsheng, the Master of Bihu Mountain, was famous in the Azure Cloud Sect for his many wives and children, a topic of much gossip.

But as time passed, people started to notice that Lu Changsheng seemed to possess a special reproductive physique. Not only did his children have a much higher probability of Spirit Roots than normal, but they were also exceptionally talented, producing figures like Lu Ping’an, Lu Qingshan, and Lu Wangshu.

Aside from his identity as the Master of Bihu Mountain, Lu Changsheng had two other identities: the City Lord of Da Mengze, who had a mysterious Dao companion named ‘Li Muwan,’ and Yangming Zhenren, who was involved with the Heavenly Spider Emissary of the Five Poisons Sect and had two exceptionally talented children.

Whether there were more identities, Dao companions, or children, Qingluan Zhenren did not know.

But from the information she had, it was clear that in all his identities, this man had many Dao companions and many children.

She suspected that Yangming Zhenren might have inherited a Dao body similar to that of the Saint King of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Now, with the news of Yangming Zhenren’s close relationship with the Five Poisons Sect Master, her theory seemed more plausible. She believed that Yangming Zhenren’s cultivation method was closely tied to Dual Cultivation and that he might even be trying to use it to break through to Nascent Soul!

“If this person truly hails from a holy land in Central State and possesses a supreme Dao body, he shouldn’t need to spend so much time and effort to reach Nascent Soul.”

“Besides, when I invited him to the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, he showed no interest at all, as if he already had an opportunity for Nascent Soul.”

Qingluan Zhenren murmured to herself, feeling confused.

After pondering for a long time, she recalled her encounters with Yangming Zhenren.

When they first met, she had given him the Heavenly Phoenix Feather, believing it was a fated encounter.

But now, thinking back, she wondered if it had really been that simple.

With so many hidden cards, Yangming Zhenren had handed over the Heavenly Phoenix Feather with a calm and indifferent demeanor, asking for only three favors in return. Could it really have been that straightforward?

Even as a Nascent Soul cultivator, Qingluan Zhenren couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine upon reflecting on the matter.