Chapter 658: Counting Gains: The Shock of the Four Great Sects

As the Three Treasure Incarnation and Lu Miaoge patrolled the Immorral City, Lu Qingshan, Lu Qingzhu, Lu Qingqi, and Lu Qingsong approached.

“We greet Changsheng Zhenren! Miaoge Zhenren!”

The other cultivators, upon seeing the two, bowed respectfully.

Although Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge’s performance in thh previous battle was only average,

the City Lord’s recent kill of a Fourth-Rank Demon King naturally elevated Lu Changsheng’s status as the vice lord of the Immortal City.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly at the gathered crowd, then turned to Lu Qingshan and asked, “How did you feel facing the beast tide?”

“The Fourth-Rank Demon King is terrifying.”

Lu Qingshan replied.

When he faced the Angry Sea Spear Shark and the Eight-Legged Demon Fish, both late-stage Third-Rank Demon Kings, he only felt fear.

But the moment the Void Kun appeared, he truly understood the horror of a Fourth-Rank Demon King.

Just its aura left him utterly powerless!

“Hehe, cultivation is a step-by-step process. This Void Kun has only recently broken through to the Fourth Rank; its innate abilities haven’t been fully developed, otherwise it would be even more troublesome.”

Lu Changsheng chuckled.

“Just broken through to the Fourth Rank?”

Lu Qingshan’s eyes narrowed slightly, deducing its strength to be comparable to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

In the early stages, demon beasts rely on their physical bodies and tenacious life force to surpass cultivators of the same rank.

However, at the Nascent Soul level, cultivators possess abilities that far surpass those of Demon Kings, no longer at a disadvantage, and even holding certain advantages.

Of course, at this level, Demon Kings would also develop their abilities based on their bloodline inheritance and techniques, so victory still depends on their foundation.

“Dad, I heard from Lingxiao that this Immortal City belongs to us?”

At this moment, Lu Qingshan finally voiced the confusion he had been holding back.

“Shouldn’t you have some guesses in mind?”

Lu Changsheng replied with a teasing smile.

“Guesses.”

Lu Qingshan indeed had a suspicion that the City Lord of Da Mengze was also his father.

But why were there two of them?

An external incarnation?

That seemed too absurd! Lu Qingqi, looking at the two enigmas, excitedly grabbed Aunt Lu Miaoge’s wrist and asked, Aunt, what’s the name of that spell you used earlier?”

During the previous battle, she recognized the Sun’s Annihilation Divine Light that Lu Changsheng had used, which was the same technique her brother Lu Qingxian had displayed years ago.

But compared to the Sun’s Annihilation Divine Light, she preferred her aunt’s Taiyin Ferrying Robe.

If she could learn that ability, she could take her brother along to punish evil and promote good in the future! “That spell is called the Taiyin Ferrying Robe.”

Lu Miaoge answered gently..

“Aunt, can I learn this spell? I saw brother use it before, and I want to learn yours!”

Lu Qingqi said, her face full of hope.

“Hmm.”

While it’s true that one can decipher the principles of a spell at advanced levels and transform it into techniques,

Lu Miaoge’s mastery of this aaility was entirely due to Lu Changsheng gathering it for her using the Taiyi Spirit and Taiyi Water Technique.

“This is a divine ability that can only be cultivated after Core Formation. Once you break through to Core Formation, your father will teach you.”

Lu Changsheng said to his daughter.

“Core Formation.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqi’s expression drooped like a wilted flower.

At her age, while she had the potential to push for Core Formation, she had no confidence whatsoever.

After all, from what she had seen and heard, breaking through to Core Formation required not only talent but also great opportunities, immense willpower, and perseverance.

Aside from her family background and decent talent, everything else seemed just average.

Seeing his daughter so disheartened, Lu Changsheng felt a pang of frustration and said, “As long as you practice diligently every day, breaking through to Core Formation will not be difficult in the future.”

Though his daughter only had a Fourth-Rank Spirit Root, she was influenced by Lu Miaohuan, and her physical body, meridians, and dantian were naturally more resilient than others. If she worked hard, she still had hope for Core Formation.

“Really? But it just feels so hard.”

Lu Qingqi responded.

Though she knew her father was powerful, the environment she lived in made her see Core Formation True Monarchs as incredibly lofty figures.

“It’s just Core Formation; what’s so hard about it? As long as you practice seriously, once you break through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, I can get you the Condensing Crystal Pills and other items for Core Formation.”

Lu Qingshan said, raising an eyebrow at his sister.

“Eh, thank you, brother! I’ll definitely work hard!”

Lu Qingqi beamed at her brother, imagining herself as a Core Formation True Monarch, her excitement palpable.

Lu Qingshan smiled, then turned to Lu Qingsong, who looked slightly older than him, and said, “Qingsong, you should also spend more time on your cultivation.”

Though the Condensing Crystal Pills were rare,

with Lu Qingshan’s strength, as long as he shone in the upcoming Liangyue War, it wouldn’t be hard to secure a few.

Lu Qingsong smiled wryly.

If his sister Lu Qingqi still had hope for Core Formation, he, with a Seventh-Rank Spirit Root, had little chance of achieving it.

But he still quietly thanked Lu Qingshan, “Thanks, brother, for your kindness.”

Seeing Lu Qingsong like this, Lu Changsheng patted his shoulder, signaling him to assess the situation of the various islands after the beast tide attack.

While the Immortal City bore the brunt of the beast tide’s assault, surrounding areas would still suffer some damage.

“Qingsong, I’ll go with you.”

Seeing this, Lu Qingshan joined Lu Qingsong to prevent him from encountering danger and to hunt down some demon beasts along the way.

Just then, Lu Changsheng transmitted a message to his son Lu Lingxiao.

“Xiao’er, you and Da Hei should gather the demon beast corpses and cores we previously killed, then take Da Hei to Da Mengze to clear out the treasures in the demon beasts’ lairs.”

The vast expanse of Da Mengze posed a significant challenge for cleaning up the battlefield compared to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

Many of the demon beast corpses had sunk to the ocean floor.

Moreover, many demon beast lairs were located in the deep sea, making cleanup time-consuming and labor-intensive, even with the Abyssal Sea Whale King.

“Understood, Father!”

Busy, Lu Lingxiao looked over and responded immediately.

His companion, Lu Wangshu, saw Lu Lingxiao preparing to leave the city and hurriedly asked what was happening before rushing to find Lu Changsheng.

“Dad, I’m going with Lingxiao!”

Lu Changsheng chuckled at his daughter’s eager expression and said, “Alright, you can go with Xiao’er.”

“Dad, should I hide my identity? Like pretending to be the Grand Princess of the Immortal City?”

Lu Wangshu, knowing the need for discretion, said obediently.

Normally, it was no problem for Lu Wangshu to be with Lu Lingxiao, the young lord.

But going out with the Abyssal Sea Whale King required a bit of concealment.

Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then handed a jade pendant to his daughter and said, “In that case, you should hide your identity a bit.”

“Okay!”

Lu Wangshu took the jade pendant and quickly changed her appearance.

In the cultivation world, disguise was an essential skill for every cultivator.

Having spent years in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, Lu Wangshu naturally mastered this art.

Once finished, the siblings dove into the deep sea with the Abyssal Sea Whale King amidst the astonished and respectful gazes of countless people, starting to gather corpses and cores.

Watching the Immortal City begin to methodically wrap up the aftermath, Lu Changsheng devoted himself fully to dual cultivation with Hong Lian.

Several days later, Lu Changsheng rose from bed, refreshed and dressed in his robes.

His Chaos Body’s healing ability was astonishing.

The minor aftereffects of using the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror had nearly healed completely.

This made Lu Changsheng realize that with the full activation of the Immortal City’s formation, even veteran Nascent Soul cultivators could be killed!

“Hong Lian, you should rest well.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the enchanting Hong Lian, her delicate form resting on the bed, and said gently.

“Mm~”

Although Hong Lian appeared somewhat weak and frail, her complexion had certainly improved significantly since before.

However, her spiritual body wasn’t as resilient as Lu Changsheng’s and would require a long time to fully recover.

After leaving the cave, Lu Changsheng lightly clapped his hands, causing a pile of materials to appear before him.

These had fallen from the realm of the Void Kun.

At that time, the situation was urgent, and he hadn’t done a detailed check.

“One piece, two pieces, three pieces… Wow, a total of seven pieces of Void Crystal!”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes immediately fell on the shimmering silver-white Void Crystals, pulsating with spatial fluctuations.

Years ago, he had taken three Void Crystals from the Void Kun’s lair; one large piece was used to upgrade the Inconceivable Treasure Wheel, one traded to Qingluan Zhenren, and he had only one left to comprehend the power of the void.

Now with seven more Void Crystals, not only could he use them to barter with Nascent Soul cultivators, but they could also help him refine the realm.

After all, he had previously been exhausted from shattering the void and gathering void fragments to refine the realm.

Apart from the Void Crystals, of the remaining heavenly treasures, only one, the Sea Marrow Crystal, seemed decent; the rest were all of average value.

It could only be said that the Void Kun had just advanced to the Fourth Rank and lacked sufficient foundation.

“If only I could cultivate a Void Kun to refine the Void Crystals!”

Lu Changsheng sighed, looking at the Void Crystals in his hand.

He made his way to the rear hall.

The Golden-Winged Roc was still feasting on the Angry Sea Spear Shark.

It must be said, such massive sea beasts are quite filling.

Lu Changsheng gazed at the Void Kun’s corpse, which was sealed by the formation.

Although the skin and flesh were severely damaged under the power of the Sun’s Divine Light,

Lu Changsheng had stopped the onslaught in time, leaving some intact areas suitable for refining Fourth-Rank Talisman Skins.

He summoned the Da Luo Sword Embryo, carefully slicing away the portions of the Kun’s skin that could be used to create talisman skins.

Then, a round, crystal-clear, pale blue Demon Core, radiating the essence of the void, appeared in Lu Changsheng’s hand.

Holding this Demon Core, Lu Changsheng’s Chaos Body’s spatial origin stirred with a strange sensation.

“With this Demon Core, not only will comprehending the power of the void and gathering void fragments become easier, but my Ethereal Body also has a chance to advance further and be completed!”

Lu Changsheng’s expression was one of joy.

His rapid comprehension of the void’s power was closely tied to the Ethereal Body’s potential.

If he could find a way to refine this Fourth-Rank Demon Core’s void essence or use it to create a top-tier artifact to nourish himself, he might just succeed in completing the Ethereal Body.

Not far away, the Golden-Winged Roc gazed at the Demon Core with its golden vertical pupils filled with longing.

Ignoring its gaze, Lu Changsheng directly stored the Demon Core in a brocade box, planning to use it later for refining a spiritual treasure embryo or to comprehend spatial power.

However, seeing the Roc’s eager look, he decided to share a bit of flesh with it.

After all, the Abyssal Sea Whale King had tasted a fourth-tier Demon Core and a fourth-tier Stone Dragon Heart, yet the Golden-Winged Roc had never had a good meal.

After that, Lu Changsheng didn’t proceed with further dissection.

He planned to use the essence blood of this Void Kun to cultivate the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons.

If he continued to dissect, too much damage would lead to the loss of its original spirit.

“It’s a pity Ping’an isn’t home; otherwise, I could have used the essence to help him break through. That would be much more efficient.”

Lu Changsheng thought of his eldest son, Lu Ping’an.

Previously, he had broken through to the late stage of the third tier, making him capable of handling the essence of a fourth-tier demon king.

If he could utilize this essence, the Hundred Refinements Body Technique could break through to the twelfth layer, reaching near the fourth tier, allowing Lu Changsheng to directly challenge the fourth tier in body refinement.

“Should I cultivate first or check on Ping’an?”

Thinking of his son Lu Ping’an, Lu Changsheng paused for a moment.

If it weren’t for the sudden beast tide, he would have already rushed to Yue Kingdom and Wu Kingdom to find his son Lu Ping’an.

After all, the Nascent Soul possession and subsequent breakthroughs had left him a bit worried.

But now, with the situation in Immortal City so chaotic, he couldn’t leave without concern.

Moreover, even if the Void Kun’s corpse was sealed by formations, it couldn’t avoid losing spiritual essence.

“System.”

Lu Changsheng opened the system and glanced at his son Lu Ping’an’s interface. There were no issues with his lifespan. After thinking for a moment, he decided to cultivate first and deal with the aftermath once Hong Lian’s injuries healed.

With Hong Lian stationed in Immortal City, unless a Nascent Soul True Lord intervened, everything should be fine.

Besides, the situation in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands was heating up. True Lords like Qingluan Zhenren from the Heavenly Sword Sect were likely not in Jiang Kingdom, heading to the Endless Desert to await the secret realm’s opening.

Lu Changsheng didn’t immediately enter seclusion for cultivation.

First, he helped Lu Miaoge nourish her body ann restore her magical power, then informed her and Ling Zixiao that he would be entering seclusion for a while.

Anything happening in Immortal City would be their responsibility; they could notify him of any issues.

“Don’t worry, my lord.”

Ling Zixiao, with her hair elegantly styled and a graceful smile, reassured him.

After giving his instructions, Lu Changsheng went to the back hall, his gaze landing on the corpse of the Void Kun before entering its massive body.

Navigating through various blood vessels and organs, he saw the heart still brimming with vitality and raised his hand to make a slit.

“Pfft!”

Hot, boiling blood burst forth like a fountain.

Under normal circumstances, cultivating the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons wouldn’t require such dark methods.

But for maximum efficiency, Lu Changsheng chose to cultivate right beside the heart of the Void Kun’s body.

“Boom!”

As the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons began to circulate, countless fine golden Sanskrit and dark, eerie demonic patterns appeared on Lu Changsheng’s body.

The two energies intertwined, as if a Buddha and a demon were present, chanting scriptures to protect him while refining the Void Kun’s essence blood.

At the same time, a three-headed, six-armed phantom of a Buddha and demon emerged, chanting serene Buddhist chants while also letting out terrifying roars, helping Lu Changsheng refine the essence of the Void Kun.

Just as Lu Changsheng began his secluded cultivation, news spread throughout the Vast Sands about the couple who killed the fourth-tier demon king in Immortal City.

“What? They hunted a fourth-tier demon king!?”

“The city has changed hands! The new lord and his wife not only repelled the beast tide but also killed a fourth-tier demon king and two late-stage third-tier demon kings!”

“Could it be that the lord of Immortal City is also a Nascent Soul True Lord like Qingluan Zhenren?”

“So that golden divine light illuminating the world came from the lord!”

“This is terrifying! The heavens in Jiang Kingdom are about to change!”

This news was so shocking that the Vast Sands erupted into discussion, countless people speculating.

After all, news of hunting a fourth-tier demon king was earth-shattering! The sensational news spread quickly, and major factions sent people to guard Immortal City, with the four great sects being the first to send information back to their respective sects using secret treasures.

“The lord of Immortal City practices dual cultivation and possesses a near-fourth-tier spiritual beast, along with top-tier treasures, hunting the fourth-tier Void Kun!”

When the leaders of the four great sects received this news, they were left speechless, their minds shaken.

If it weren’t for the urgency of the news, they wouldn’t dare believe it, knowing their stationed elders wouldn’t use fake information.

Whether it was the lord of Immortal City’s strength, the near-fourth-tier spiritual beast, the fourth-tier beast tide, or the top-tier treasures, every piece of news was sensational!

“What a tumultuous time! Truly a tumultuous time!”

“Could it really be true that chaos breeds heroes? The cultivation world is about to plunge into chaos, ushering in a brilliant era!”

“First, it was Qingluan Zhenren, then Yangming Zhenren, and now a lord of Immortal City. What’s happening in Jiang Kingdom?”

“Has it finally affected Jiang Kingdom?”

The leaders of the four great sects were well-informed and had been aware of the turmoil in the Southern Desolation cultivation world.

They knew that the Jiang Kingdom, due to its relatively good geographical position, had remained stable.

But now, with the emergence of such astonishing individuals, it signaled that Jiang Kingdom could hardly remain peaceful.

“What is the background of these two lords of Immortal City?”

The leader of Qingyun Sect stared at the information in the Jade Slip, deep in thought.

The information in his hands not only recorded the couple’s hunt of the fourth-tier demon king but also details about Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge..

It indicated that both were in Immortal City and that their combined cultivation techniques were somewhat similar to the treasures of the lord.

He suspected that Lu Changsheng’s relationship with the lords of Immortal City was not so simple and might involve certain connections.

“It seems there might be some truth to this. No wonder the lord of Immortal City is willing to hand over the city to Lu Changsheng in the future, which is why Lu Changsheng is so devoted to Immortal City.”

The leader of Qingyun Sect secretly speculated.

He had dealt with Lu Changsheng a few times and knew that the latter had devoted most of his time and energy to Immortal City.

Moreover, he had stated that when the lord of Immortal City left Jiang Kingdom, he would be the first heir of the city.

At that moment, the leader of Qingyun Sect felt fortunate for choosing to cultivate a closer relationship with Lu Changsheng earlier.

Otherwise, he would have offended Immortal City for no reason.

However, after a moment’s thought, he headed to Rainbow Cloud Peak to inquire if Xiao Xiyue knew anything about Immortal City.

He asked her to come to Qingyun Hall when Lu Changsheng returned, as he had matters to discuss with him.

Heavenly Sword Sect.

After receiving this news, the sect leader of Heavenly Sword Sect wore a grave expression. After a moment of shock, he reported the news to True Lord Juejian, who was stationed in the sect.

“Near fourth-tier demon beast, top-tier treasure, hunting a fourth-tier demon king!”

Even though True Lord Juejian was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he couldn’t help but be astonished by this news.

The Void Kun was a rare spatial beast, wielding the power of the void.

Such a beast is hard to catch, let alone kill.

Thus, the significance of Immortal City hunting a fourth-tier demon king was immense, indicating that this treasure was capable of threatening Nascent Soul cultivators, even those who have transcended into spiritual forms!

“I wonder if this lord’s treasure is a top-tier spiritual treasure or a one-time secret treasure?”

True Lord Juejian’s eyes darkened, deep in thought.

If this lord of Immortal City possessed a treasure akin to the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool of the Yin Ghost Sect, it would be quite troublesome.

As long as he held the position in Immortal City, relying on the city’s formation and this treasure, even a Nascent Soul True Lord might not be his match and could even meet their demise! If it were merely a one-time treasure, the threat would significantly decrease.

However, he leaned toward the former.

If it were merely a one-time treasure, they wouldn’t dare to be so public about it.

“Or could they be after the Demon Core of this Void Kun as materials?”

Nascent Soul cultivators can initially grasp the power of the void.

Thus, the materials from the Void Kun’s Demon Core would be highly valuable to Nascent Soul True Lords, as it could help them better control the power of the void and refine spatial treasures to enhance their combat strength.

After pondering for a long time, True Lord Juejian looked at the sect leader of Heavenly Sword Sect and said, “Tie Jian, send someone to reply to this lord of Immortal City. We will definitely attend the whale hunting banquet.”

Although this news was astonishing, making him restless, True Lord Xuanjian had recently gone to the Endless Desert to await the opening of the Mirage Domain.

He needed to maintain his position in the sect and couldn’t visit the lord of Immortal City right away.

Moreover, the lord had already taken the initiative to host a banquet, indicating that they didn’t need to rush over and risk offending him.

“Understood.”

The sect leader of Heavenly Sword Sect cupped his hands in agreement, knowing it was best to wait for True Lord Xuanjian to return before making any decisions.

True Lord Xuanjian was not only powerful but also influential, and he understood the art of divination.

He could deduce the situation of these two new lords based on the battle conditions.

As news of the lord of Immortal City hunting a fourth-tier demon king shook Jiang Kingdom.

In Liang Kingdom, Beast God Mountain.

In the Hall of the Sacred Moon.

“Holy Maiden, please let me go! I promise I’ll be your loyal servant!”

A burly middle-aged man, bound by runic chains, knelt on the stone platform, looking at the woman before him with fear in his eyes.

Following the man’s gaze, one could see a pair of long, powerful, and beautifully shaped legs, glistening like jade.

These legs were truly exquisite, unmatched in the world. Not only were they long and stunning, full of strength, but they also glimmered like mutton fat jade, with smooth and beautiful lines, every curve just right, making it hard to look away at first glance.

The owner of these legs, whether intentionally or not, wore only a deep purple short skirt that boldly revealed her beautiful legs.

“A dog? You think you deserve that?”

The owner of those beautiful legs was tall and athletic, dressed provocatively, with only a deep purple tube top covering her upper body.

Her fair arms, beautifully rounded yet exuding strength, lay bare, revealing a smooth and delicate abdomen that gracefully outlined her curves.

Though her chest was wrapped in a purple bandeau, it was undeniably eye-catching, as if it wanted to break free.

Looking at the middle-aged man ensnared by the runic chains, she scoffed with disdain. Her long leg swept out, a deep purple light swirling as she kicked him, causing him to spit blood and fly backward.

“You’er.”

With her chin slightly raised, she parted her crimson lips to utter those two words, her exquisite face radiating confidence, nobility, and pride.

“Roar!”

Nearby, the dark purple wolf stood tall, letting out a low growl before lunging at the middle-aged man.

Watching this unfold, she licked her red lips, her cold and profound gaze adding a hint of enchantment to her already stunning features.

Then, she turned and walked away, her long, alluring legs swaying gracefully, her flowing dark purple hair billowing wildly behind her, embodying a wild and untamed spirit!

“Your Highness, the Saint!”

Just as she was about to exit the great hall, a subordinate rushed over to report. He knelt down, and upon seeing his Saintess’s unmatched legs, he couldn’t help but dry his throat, quickly averting his gaze. “Your Highness, I’ve gathered some news. A Core Formation family in the Jiang Kingdom, known as the Talisman Lu Family, has raised a third-tier Dark Moon Wolf. This wolf seems to have an ancestral bloodline or a mutation, breaking through to the third tier in under a hundred years, and its combat power is astonishing.”