Chapter 678: Accounting for the Harvest!

“I happened to encounter the opening of the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands in the Endless Desert and witnessed a Nascent Soul cultivator capture Ping’an before entering the secret realm.”

“Given the circumstances I couldn’t intervene so I could only follow them into the secret realm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded in response.

“What was this secret realm like? Did you encounter any dangers Young Master?”

Ling Zixiao who enjoyed reading and learning about the cultivation world

Had little information about the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands and was naturally curious.

“It was similar to most secret realms like a small world but I didn’t enter the central core area to compete for opportunities so I’m not entirely sure.”

Lu Changsheng smiled gently raising his hand to project scenes from the Mirage Domain before them.

Ling Zixiao gazed at the images with bright beautiful eyes.

“As for dangers there were indeed some.”

Lu Changsheng held his wife’s fair delicate hand as they arrived at the City Lord’s mansion tower recounting his experiences in the secret realm.

He mentioned encountering True Lord Mingsha from the Yin Ghost Sect.

Though this person had only broken through to Nascent Soul realm a dozen years ago he wielded the sect’s treasure the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool making him formidable in both offense and defense.

Moreover his blood pool could summon a fourth-rank Ghost King though the cost was too great to use carelessly.

“If not for that blood pool I would have slain him then and there. Afterward he called for True Lord Tiancang from Beast God Mountain and True Lord Yunmei from the Barebody Sect. If Qingluan Zhenren hadn’t appeared I would have had to risk using the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror against them.”

Lu Changsheng recalled with a sigh.

If he had unleashed the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror at that time the commotion would have drawn the attention of many Nascent Soul cultivators making the situation extremely dangerous.

While sharing this with his wife besides casual conversation between spouses he also mentioned Qingluan Zhenren to prepare for the future.

Even though Ling Zixiao knew Lu Changsheng was safe hearing about three Nascent Soul cultivators attempting to kill him still made her anxious and worried for her husband.

After all these were three Nascent Soul True Lords!

But when she heard about Qingluan Zhenren’s appearance her heart skipped a beat. She looked at her husband with bright eyes and asked “Did anything… special happen between you and Qingluan Zhenren in the secret realm?”

“???”

Lu Changsheng was stunned.

Was this really how his wife saw him?

In such a dangerous secret realm how could she think about romance first?

He immediately spoke seriously “The secret realm was dangerous there was no time for romance!”

“Besides Qingluan Zhenren was heading to the central area to compete for core opportunities. When she invited me I declined.”

Lu Changsheng explained with a solemn expression.

“I was just asking~”

Ling Zixiao smiled softly nestling in Lu Changsheng’s embrace before asking “Did you just wait for the secret realm to end then?”

“Yes.”

Lu Changsheng nodded continuing to share other experiences from the secret realm such as seeing a prodigy controlling thirteen puppets and puppets similar to the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet.

“As expected of a Nascent Soul level secret realm the cultivators who dare enter are all extraordinary.”

Ling Zixiao remarked knowing that Core Formation cultivators entering the realm were at least at the late stage.

Such strength in the Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world was already among the top below Nascent Soul realm with only a handful in the entire kingdom.

“What about the Heavenly Sword Sect and Qingluan Zhenren did they gain anything in the secret realm?”

She continued asking.

“I’m not sure about the Heavenly Sword Sect but Qingluan Zhenren must have obtained some top-tier opportunity she was surrounded by five Nascent Soul cultivators”

Lu Changsheng said.

“Five Nascent Soul cultivators!?”

Ling Zixiao’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise.

Each cultivation realm was like crossing a heavenly moat.

At the Qi Refining stage fighting five opponents with sneak attacks special treasures or talismans was still feasible.

By Foundation Establishment facing five opponents was extremely impressive befitting a top genius!

At Core Formation fighting five opponents was almost unheard of.

As for fighting five opponents at the Nascent Soul realm it was beyond her comprehension.

After all anyone who could break through to Nascent Soul was already a genius or prodigy with a superior Golden Core.

“Qingluan Zhenren’s spirit beast had advanced to fourth rank and she had five hundred Qingluan dao soldiers which allowed her to hold out against five Nascent Soul cultivators. Otherwise one person couldn’t possibly last that long against five Nascent Soul cultivators.”

Seeing his wife’s surprise Lu Changsheng smiled and explained.

“That’s still amazing.”

Ling Zixiao remarked in awe.

With Qingluan Zhenren displaying such impressive combat prowess even the Heavenly Sword Sect would likely be unsettled.

“Then did Qingluan Zhenren escape the danger?”

Ling Zixiao continued asking her husband.

As someone from a wandering cultivator background she felt great admiration and even some worship for Qingluan Zhenren who was both female and from a similar background.

“She escaped.”

Lu Changsheng said squeezing his wife’s jade-like hand.

“As expected of Qingluan Zhenren to escape from five Nascent Soul cultivators.”

Ling Zixiao softly exclaimed her admiration for Qingluan Zhenren growing even stronger.

“Though Qingluan Zhenren escaped she’s now surrounded by many Nascent Soul cultivators and has fled far from the Jiang Kingdom. She won’t return for some time.”

Lu Changsheng gazed at the distant scenery wondering when he would meet Qingluan Zhenren again.

Such a strong independent woman filled him with a desire to conquer and challenge to completely subdue her.

“Fled from the Jiang Kingdom?”

Ling Zixiao was surprised then asked curiously “How do you know?”

“When the five Nascent Soul cultivators were hunting Qingluan Zhenren True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Mingsha joined in blocking the secret realm’s exit. I had grudges with them and since Qingluan Zhenren had helped me before I lent a hand.”

“So in the coming time I need to keep a low profile and can’t appear in public view as Yangming Zhenren anymore.”

Lu Changsheng explained sheepishly knowing his intervention had been quite risky.

“Hmph I knew it.”

Hearing this Ling Zixiao let out a displeased huff knowing her husband would surely find ways to pursue women outside.

Though she knew a Nascent Soul cultivator like Qingluan Zhenren wouldn’t be easy to win over.

“It’s fine that husband helped Qingluan Zhenren but please be more careful when traveling outside. Otherwise your concubines and I will worry about you.”

Knowing Lu Changsheng responded better to gentleness than force she softened her voice after showing a bit of displeasure.

“I understand I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Lu Changsheng held his wife’s jade hand his heart softening as he asked “Zixiao how are the preparations for the Whale Hunting Banquet going?”

“Everything has been arranged we’re just waiting for your approval.”

For such important matters she naturally had everything prepared.

“In that case let’s set the date for… one year from now.”

Previously Lu Changsheng would have sent out invitations immediately.

But considering the events in the Mirage Domain with Qingluan Zhenren and Mingyang Zhenren the Heavenly Sword Sect’s attitude toward him might change so he wanted to increase his strength as much as possible.

During this time he planned to reforge and upgrade his life-bound treasure the Yin-Yang Chart and immediately break through to fourth-rank body refinement.

This would give him more confidence when facing the Heavenly Sword Sect’s probing.

“One year from now? Isn’t that too long?”

Ling Zixiao asked.

Due to the Mirage Domain this banquet had already been delayed for over a year waiting another year seemed excessive.

“My body refinement has reached its peak and I can break through to fourth rank at any time. Considering the Heavenly Sword Sect might try to test me then I want to breakthrough to fourth-rank body refinement first.”

Lu Changsheng knew it was a long delay and people might even suspect he’d been injured in the Mirage Domain hence the postponement.

But regardless the longer he delayed the more advantageous it would be for him.

“Fourth-rank body refinement!?”

Ling Zixiao was shocked not expecting her husband to be on the verge of fourth-rank body refinement.

The current environment wasn’t conducive to body cultivation becoming increasingly difficult at higher levels basically relying on resource accumulation.

Breaking through to fourth-rank body refinement might even be harder than reaching Nascent Soul.

But thinking of her husband’s situation she immediately understood.

After all Lu Changsheng hadn’t even reached Nascent Soul yet with fourth-rank body refinement he could already kill Nascent Soul cultivators if he reached Nascent Soul with fourth-rank body refinement…

“Husband focus on your breakthrough I’ll handle these matters properly.”

Ling Zixiao immediately said cheerfully.

“Good.”

After talking with his wife Lu Changsheng didn’t rush to catch up with Hong Lian Nangong Mili Meng Xiaochan and others instead he quietly left the Immortal City arriving at the Layer of Nine Heavens’ Gale.

The Da Luo Sword Embryo appeared in his hand as his blood energy and magical power roared forth slashing forward fiercely.

“Whoosh!”

The brilliant sword light instantly carved out an ink-black void rift endless chaotic currents surging forth.

“Hum!”

The Misty Dust Banner appeared radiating five-colored divine light enveloping Lu Changsheng before he stepped into the Great Void.

“Still quite strenuous.”

Lu Changsheng felt the heavenly wind currents from all directions and silently mused.

He knew he needed to break through to Nascent Soul or condense a domain to roam the Great Void for short periods.

Raising his hand he retrieved the storage rings and storage pouches from True Lord Tiancang and the Purple-robed Elder from within the Heavenly Yuan Lotus.

“Hum!”

He unleashed his Taiyi Spirit to erode away the restrictions on the storage rings and magical storage items.

“Hmm? Tiancang isn’t dead?”

Lu Changsheng felt True Lord Tiancang’s storage ring was more stubborn frowning as he guessed True Lord Tiancang was still alive.

When True Lord Xuanjian had chased after Tiancang and Yunmei Lu Changsheng had thought they would be killed by him.

“With his physical body destroyed and Nascent Soul essence burned it’ll take decades to recover. Even if he possesses another body to cultivate again and recovers his strength he won’t be a threat.”

Lu Changsheng knew when Nascent Soul cultivators possessed new bodies to cultivate again their strength would greatly decrease unless they had top-tier opportunities like True Lord Tiansha.

Given True Lord Tiancang’s current displayed strength if it dropped another level he wouldn’t be worth mentioning.

Moreover possession and recultivation needed time at least decades by then he wouldn’t need to worry.

“Hum!”

After a while the restriction light dispersed and Lu Changsheng extended his divine sense into them.

He immediately saw many precious materials superior Spirit Stones and top-tier artifacts.

He didn’t look further immediately finding all tokens identity tablets communication talismans and such letting the void currents sweep them away.

This was the simplest and most direct way for Nascent Soul cultivators to clean up evidence.

Throwing things into the Great Void others couldn’t find any traces or information.

“Superior Spirit Stones third-rank puppets top-grade third-rank spirit wood thousand-year bell stone milk Cyan Flame Fruit”

Lu Changsheng shook his head looking at True Lord Tiancang’s storage ring.

Compared to True Lord Loushan True Lord Tiancang’s wealth was clearly a level lower.

Especially since his Nascent Soul had fled taking his life-bound treasure the Silkworm Robe with him.

Otherwise even if damaged this spiritual treasure could be reforged into a top-tier magical robe or even a pseudo-spiritual treasure robe.

“Hmm this is… a Fu Ling Flower? Truly what I’ve been searching for all along.”

At this point Lu Changsheng opened a brocade box seeing a snow-white flower with layered petals delicate and soft like a lotus and lily radiating a faint fragrant crystalline flower.

This flower besides being a main ingredient for the Seven Apertures Spirit Pills was also a main ingredient for Heaven Mending Pills.

Lu Changsheng had been missing one ingredient for refining Heaven Mending Pills this Fu Ling Flower.

He had planned to try exchanging for it through high-level cultivator trading meetings like this Whale Hunting Banquet but unexpectedly obtained it from True Lord Tiancang.

“Not bad after finishing everything I can spend some time refining Heaven Mending Pills.”

His children’s Spirit Root quality from early years was quite average even poor.

So Lu Changsheng had long wanted to refine several batches of Heaven Mending Pills to improve his children’s Spirit Root quality.

But Heaven Mending Pills’ ingredients were rare with poor cost performance.

“What’s this?”

Lu Changsheng continued searching seeing a head-sized golden stone like some rare crystal ore yet also like a spirit eye stone wreathed in faint spiritual energy.

After examining it for a while unable to determine what it was Lu Changsheng put it in his storage ring planning to ask Hong Lian later.

After all there were some gains from True Lord Loushan and the puppet man earlier that Lu Changsheng didn’t recognize all planned to be identified by Hong Lian later.

No choice cultivation was too fast his cultural knowledge was still lacking needing time to accumulate.

After clearing True Lord Tiancang’s storage ring using void currents to erase all restrictions and auras from the magical treasures Lu Changsheng looked at the Purple-robed Elder’s storage ring.

He could see this Purple-robed Elder’s storage ring was much richer than True Lord Tiancang’s.

Moreover inside were many miscellaneous precious materials and spiritual materials obviously this person had killed many Core Formation cultivators in the secret realm.

“Dragon Scale Fruit Five Elements Spirit Fruit Black Flood Dragon Wood Thunder Wood Flame Yang Red Jade…”

Lu Changsheng saw many rare precious materials normally difficult to find.

For fruits like Dragon Scale Fruit and Five Elements Spirit Fruit he didn’t feel much.

But things like Black Flood Dragon Wood Thunder Wood Flame Yang Red Jade and such could all be used to craft talisman skins or magical treasures.

It could be said with this harvest Lu Changsheng had achieved complete freedom in magical treasures.

Not only could he craft a set of magical treasures for himself but also make one or two good magical treasures for all his wives concubines and children who broke through to Core Formation.

The only trouble was the time and energy cost.

Materials needed time to craft into magical treasures.

And finished magical treasures couldn’t be used externally all needed to be reforged and recreated.

“Sigh if only we had several third-rank artificers at home.”

Though Lu Changsheng himself was a top third-rank artificer.

But if relying on him alone or working with Hong Lian it would still take several years to craft everything.

He simply didn’t have that time and energy to handle these things.

After sighing slightly Lu Changsheng exhaled turbid breath and continued clearing.

“A sarira!”

Lu Changsheng opened a jade box seeing a thumb-sized sarira emanating faint golden light immediately brightening with joy.

Back when he took the Buddhist Bone Sarira from his daughter Lu Linghe to cultivate skills Lu Changsheng felt very guilty wanting to give his daughter some compensation find a few more sariras.

But sariras were very hard to find.

Unexpectedly he found exactly what he needed.

Though this sarira wasn’t as crystalline and pure as the Buddhist Bone Sarira he got from drawing lots.

But its flowing Buddhist light and energy was several times more magnificent than his Buddhist Bone Sarira possibly quasi-fourth-rank or even fourth-rank sarira.

“Little He will surely be very happy seeing this sarira.”

Though Lu Changsheng could use the sarira to cultivate the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons.

But he had no time or energy to cultivate step by step.

Moreover if helpful as long as it wasn’t urgently needed he chose to give it to his daughter as a gift.

“Indeed Nascent Soul cultivators are Nascent Soul cultivators precious materials normally hard to find can all be seen.”

After clearing the Purple-robed Elder’s storage ring and storage pouch Lu Changsheng felt very pleased.

He felt though this secret realm trip was dangerous the gains were unprecedentedly rich.

After clearing most things Lu Changsheng brought out the Da Luo Sword Embryo using the Misty Dust Banner to leave the Great Void then flew toward the Immortal City of Damengze.

Meanwhile at Beast God Mountain.

In a cocoon cave dwelling wrapped in white silk threads.

A Nascent Soul homunculus soaking in a pool of multicolored liquid suddenly opened its eyes shocked and angry saying “This is… my magical treasures storage ring’s restrictions have been erased! Yangming Zhenren isn’t dead!”

This white tender Nascent Soul spirit body was True Lord Tiancang.

Earlier in the Mirage Domain he had his physical body destroyed by Lu Changsheng escaping through Nascent Soul departure.

But outside lurking Nascent Soul cultivators killed indiscriminately regardless of identity so to escape he burned more Nascent Soul essence making his Nascent Soul spirit body extremely weak.

If not for his sect’s Grand Elder sensing an ominous feeling and coming to assist he and True Lord Yunmei might not have returned.

Now sensing his storage ring’s restrictions being erased thinking Yangming Zhenren wasn’t dead his heart filled with panic understanding why True Lord Mingsha was so afraid of Yangming Zhenren wanting to kill him in the secret realm.

Such a figure if not dead was truly unsettling!

“Given Yangming Zhenren’s condition when he erupted even if not dead he must be crippled it can’t be Yangming Zhenren it’s probably Qingluan Zhenren”

True Lord Tiancang comforted himself but thinking of his storage ring he still felt distressed.

Though he had many resources and precious materials stored in his cave dwelling.

But many rare items were carried with him now all becoming wedding clothes for others!