Chapter 688: Once Again Encountering the Shadow Sect, the Whale Hunt Banquet!

The Three Treasure Incarnation went to visit his daughter, Lu Wangshu, while the other children stayed at home. His real self continued chatting with Hong Lian and Ling Zixiao.

At that moment, Lu Changsheng suddenly remembered that during his attempt to break through to the fourth stage of body refinement, ten descendants at home had successfully established their foundation and earned a lottery chance. He silently thought, “System, draw the lottery.”

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have won a Dao-Comprehending Artifact: the Bi Luo Xuan Guang Fan!]

[The reward has been issued to the system space. The host can check it at any time.]

A vibrant fan appeared from the lottery board, shimmering with deep blue hues, reminiscent of a peacock fanning its tail.

Lu Changsheng took a glance at it.

A mid-grade Dao-Comprehending Artifact.

Once activated, it could create Bi Luo Xuan Guang to dazzle others’ souls, or transform into Bi Luo Tian Feng to slice through flesh, allowing its user to escape via wind.

Undeniably, this was a top-quality artifact.

But for Lu Changsheng, that was all it was.

Nowadays, regular lottery draws were only useful if luck was on his side and he came across extraordinary treasures or heavenly materials. Otherwise, apart from cultivation techniques, other skills, artifacts, and pills were now useless to him.

“Time flies by so fast.”

Looking at the Bi Luo Xuan Guang Fan in the system space, Lu Changsheng felt a wave of nostalgia.

He still remembered when he had just started his cultivation journey, any Dao-Comprehending Artifact he obtained would just gather dust while he practiced the Hundred Refinements Body Technique.

Almost a hundred years had passed now, and such artifacts had become beneath his notice; he could smash them with a single punch, only suitable for providing for his wives and children.

Meanwhile, the Three Treasure Incarnation arrived at his daughter Lu Wangshu’s small courtyard.

There, a young woman in a pink and white skirt was resting her chin on her hand, absentmindedly toying with a talisman brush.

The platinum-colored third-grade talisman brush was skillfully twirled between her slender fingers, resembling a graceful butterfly in flight.

Upon seeing the Three Treasure Incarnation in a blue robe, her eyes sparkled with joy, and she exclaimed, “Dad, you’re done with your business?”

“Mm.”

The Immortal City of Damengze fell within Lu Changsheng’s awareness, so the Three Treasure Incarnation and his real self were indistinguishable, allowing him to multitask effortlessly.

He reached out and gently tapped his daughter’s smooth forehead, saying, “I told you to focus on practicing your talismans. Why are you daydreaming all the time?”

“Hmph! It’s not like I’m not worried about you!”

Lu Wangshu frowned, casting a displeased glance at her father before asking seriously, “Dad, did you really kill a Nascent Soul True Lord?”

“What do you mean by ‘killing a Nascent Soul True Lord’?”

Lu Changsheng pretended not to know.

“Stop trying to fool me! I heard about it. The Mirage Domain opened not long ago.”

Lu Wangshu stood gracefully, her delicate chin raised slightly, resembling a noble swan.

“What does Yangming Zhenren killing a Nascent Soul True Lord have to do with me? Focus on your talisman practice!”

Lu Changsheng stated directly, preparing to check his daughter’s understanding of the Nine-Nine Profound Talisman Sutra and third-grade talismans.

Noticing that his daughter still looked curiously inquisitive, Lu Changsheng considered her passed challenge and began to explain.

He had to admit that Lu Wangshu’s talent in Talisman Art had never disappointed him.

If it weren’t for her insufficient cultivation level, she could definitely stably draw third-grade mid-grade talismans.

Her understanding of the ninety-nine special spiritual patterns from the Nine-Nine Profound Talisman Sutra had already reached the Core Formation level.

What she needed to do next was to quickly elevate her cultivation level to the peak of Foundation Establishment in preparation for the Immortal Golden Core.

Under normal circumstances, with Lu Wangshu’s Spirit Root talent, even possessing a Blood Talisman Spirit Body and the Nine-Nine Profound Talisman Sutra, achieving the Immortal Golden Core would still be challenging.

But with the Condensing Crystal Pills and Five Elements Spirit Fruits Lu Changsheng had prepared, if she was willing to invest some time, it wouldn’t be a big problem.

“Dad, how did I do?”

Seeing that she passed, Lu Wangshu’s exquisite face lit up with a charming smile. A few loose strands of hair fell across her forehead, giving her a playful and lively appearance.

“Very good! Our Wangshu is the smartest!”

Lu Changsheng chuckled, amused.

“Dad, do you still think I’m a kid?”

Lu Wangshu replied, feeling somewhat exasperated as she inquired about the Mirage Domain.

Even though as his children they shouldn’t pry too deeply into their father’s affairs,

she couldn’t help but feel concerned, thinking of how her father risked everything for a woman outside.

“The Secret Realm was nothing much. I sensed that your older brother was in danger and unintentionally entered the Mirage Domain, so I had to go in.”

Lu Changsheng could naturally understand what his daughter wanted to know and spoke softly.

“Older brother?”

Lu Wangshu’s eyes widened as she realized this aspect.

Upon understanding the situation and knowing her father was not as gravely injured as rumored, she felt relieved but then asked, “What about that Qingluan True Lord?”

“In the Secret Realm, they helped me. I have enmity with True Lord Mingsha and True Lord Tiancang, so I obviously chose to reciprocate.”

Lu Changsheng flicked her smooth forehead again, signaling her not to worry about such matters.

“I told you not to hit my head.”

Lu Wangshu pouted and then asked her father if he had obtained any suitable treasures, including the fourth-grade talisman he had promised her.

Lu Lingxiao had been training in the Immortal City for these past years with ample resources and guidance from Hong Lian, making remarkable progress, nearly reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Even though preparing for Core Formation required several years of accumulation, breaking through could still happen within ten years.

Meanwhile, she had focused on Talisman Art over the years, remaining stuck at the seventh layer peak of Foundation Establishment, with Core Formation still far out of reach.

“I was busy this time, but I obtained plenty of fourth-grade materials. I can forge you a suitable fourth-grade talisman, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.”

Although Lu Changsheng had collected several fourth-grade talismans from True Lord Loushan and the others,

not all of them were appropriate for Lu Wangshu’s spiritual guidance for her Life Talisman.

He needed to convert his Yin-Yang magical energy into the Nine-Nine Profound Talisman Sutra’s energy and refine specific talismans according to that.

As for other heavenly materials, he had plenty, but none that seemed particularly fit for his daughter.

However, seeing the pleading expression on his daughter’s face, he flipped his palm to reveal ten High-Grade Spirit Stones.

The substantial gains from the Secret Realm made Lu Changsheng far more generous than usual.

Mainly because the Three Treasure Incarnation’s Storage Pouch contained few heavenly materials and only some basic supplies.

“Thank you, Dad!”

Seeing this, Lu Wangshu beamed with joy, her smile as bright as spring flowers, and two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks, resembling a carefree and playful girl, far removed from her earlier pitiful mood.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

The Whale Hunt Banquet began.

Although Lu Changsheng had intended to just hold a small banquet to express his attitude and host a trading event,

the fact that it was his first official appearance as the Lord of Dameng City meant that Ling Zixiao prepared a very grand event.

A year and a half prior, he had invited several spiritual chefs to prepare the blood and flesh of the fourth-grade Void Kun as the banquet’s centerpiece.

Moreover, the drinks also came from the near fourth-grade spiritual wine he had received from Tianyuan True Lord.

Fortunately, the number of high-level cultivators attending wasn’t too many. With excellent food and wine, it was manageable, or else it would have been difficult to arrange such a high-level event.

As the deputy city lord of the Immortal City, Lu Changsheng entered the banquet hall early to receive guests, spotting many familiar faces among the Core Formation cultivators.

The Azure Cloud Sect’s sect master, True Lord Liu Yun, came personally.

Lu Changsheng exchanged pleasantries with this Azure Cloud sect master.

In the rear hall, Lu Changsheng’s real self chatted with Hong Lian as he observed the arriving Core Formation True Lords with the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror in hand.

Normally, using divine senses or spirit eye techniques to peer into others’ affairs would be considered taboo.

But if your strength far exceeded theirs, causing them to remain completely unaware, that was another matter.

“Tsk tsk tsk, it seems everyone is intentionally concealing their cultivation levels.”

Through the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, Lu Changsheng noted that the rumored Core Formation level six Azure Cloud Sect master had already broken through to the peak of Core Formation level seven.

Previously, when he visited the Azure Cloud Sect, due to sealing his blood and magical energy, he hadn’t seen through the other’s cultivation.

“Is this the most beautiful woman in Jiang Kingdom?”

Lu Changsheng then turned his gaze to a graceful and enchanting woman with a cloud hairstyle pinning back her hair like a celestial maiden, her facial features like a painting, wearing a veil that slightly revealed her fair skin, exuding an ethereal and transcendent quality.

This woman was none other than the new sect leader of Mirage Sect, Qinqing Fairy, who had earned the title of ‘Fairy of the Qin’ in her early years.

After breaking through to Core Formation, she was praised by admirers as Jiang Kingdom’s most beautiful woman.

However, with the help of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, Lu Changsheng assessed Qinqing Fairy’s actual appearance and found her beauty to be remarkable, albeit not quite deserving her title setting her apart from others.

Both Yun Wanshang and the recently advanced Xiao Xiyue were no less beautiful than Qinqing Fairy.

However, considering that in the cultivating world, upon reaching the Core Formation level, most cultivators focused primarily on their crafts, while the Mirage Sect specialized in musical skills, excelling in dancing, charm, and using beauty to captivate others, their vanity regarding appearances was heavily emphasized.

“If it were Meioge or Xiyue competing for the title of Jiang Kingdom’s most beautiful woman, it would be a disgrace to their statuses.”

Even though he couldn’t directly assess Qinqing Fairy’s Core Formation rank,

by examining the magical energy, Lu Changsheng judged that her Core Formation level was likely only of the fifth or even sixth grade.

“I wonder how proficient the Mirage Sect is at musical skills?”

Lu Changsheng gazed at the elegant and noble Qinqing Fairy, whose enchanting beauty filled his mind with classical appeal yet remained alluring, curious to see if she could teach his daughter, Lu Baixi.

After all, this girl had inherited techniques related to music from her White Myth bloodline.

Lu Changsheng continued to observe the guests through the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror.

Just then, he noticed a serious-looking middle-aged man in a black robe with a formidable aura, his brow slightly furrowed.

As the Whale Hunt Banquet permitted anyone with Core Formation prowess to attend, there were still some loose cultivators.

This individual was a rogue cultivator known as “Xing Yin Ju Shi,” at the early stage of Core Formation.

However, through the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror’s initial probing, Lu Changsheng immediately sensed something was off.

Or rather, under the preliminary inspection of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, he simply could not determine this person’s true power.

This was highly unusual! With the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, he could usually identify even the magical energy and abilities of late-Core Formation cultivators at a glance.

“Is this person a Nascent Soul cultivator?”

Lu Changsheng’s gaze narrowed slightly as he communicated with the spirit of the artifact, Ah Wu, to find out if it could discern whether the man was genuine or fake.

“Buzz!”

The Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror trembled lightly, and streams of light flowed through the mirror, resembling the sun and moon switching their movements, reflecting the universe.

“No, he’s not.”

Ah Wu’s emotionless voice echoed, then the magical energy connected with Lu Changsheng, sharing the situation of the black-robed man.

“At the peak of Core Formation!”

Lu Changsheng was taken aback, realizing the level of this black-robed man and feeling quite surprised.

It’s important to note that in the entire Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world, cultivators at the peak of Core Formation were extremely rare.

Aside from himself, almost all had renowned names from the Four Great Sects.

The appearance of this individual did not resemble any Core Formation True Lord from those Four Great Sects.

“Wait a minute. This magical energy feels strangely familiar.”

Lu Changsheng observed the black-robed man, suddenly feeling that his magical energy seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t pinpoint it.

“What’s wrong, husband?”

Hong Lian noticed Lu Changsheng’s solemn expression and his use of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, prompting her to ask.

“I see someone who’s not right.”

Lu Changsheng stroked his chin, still pondering where he had previously encountered this magical energy.

“Not right?”

Hong Lian had long surmised that the incident of killing the fourth-grade transforming demon had raised significant attention, potentially attracting scrutiny from other cultivation powers beyond the Jiang Kingdom.

Upon hearing Lu Changsheng mention this, she began to suspect the possibility.

“The Shadow Sect!”

After some time of contemplation, Lu Changsheng finally recalled why this magical energy felt somewhat familiar.

Twenty-one years ago, under his identity as the master of Bihu Mountain, he had broken through to Core Formation in the Immortal City of Damengze.

Then, when he returned to Bihu Mountain with his wife, Lu Miaoge, and daughter, Lu Wangshu, he had noticed a spiritual mark on his daughter’s body that had led to an ambush by a Core Formation cultivator.

Afterward, through the Six Desire Heart Demon Technique, Lu Changsheng learned that the individual was called “Zhe Gu,” hailing from the Shadow Sect of Yan Kingdom.

Their objective in visiting Jiang Kingdom was primarily to gather intelligence, carry out infiltrations, and assassinate cultivators.

In the subsequent years, Lu Changsheng had not heard any information regarding the Shadow Sect, thinking that matter had passed.

He never expected that a member of the Shadow Sect would appear in Jiang Kingdom, at the Immortal City of Damengze.

“Is this person here as Zhe Gu, or is it due to my action of killing the fourth-grade demon?”

By employing the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, Lu Changsheng could tell that this member of the Shadow Sect was highly adept at disguises.

Not only did he possess magical techniques that could conceal his aura, but he also likely had corresponding artifacts.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to see through his situation.

“All I want is to live peacefully and develop my family. Why must they continually disturb me?”

Lu Changsheng sighed softly, feeling a sense of frustration akin to a tree longing for peace but beset by winds.

“But since you seek death, don’t blame the city lord for being ruthless!”

Using the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror to scan the guests in the front hall, Lu Changsheng intended to see if there were any individuals harboring malicious intents among them.

Having slain a fourth-grade demon, he wouldn’t mind killing a chicken to warn the monkeys! After about half an hour, sensing that the main hall had gathered nearly enough people, Lu Changsheng felt a surge of Nascent Soul energy. He smiled calmly, turning to Hong Lian, saying, “The main guest has arrived. Let’s go.”

This Nascent Soul energy wasn’t concealed, but neither was it displayed.

From the subtle sharpness of the sword Qi, he could tell it came from the Heavenly Sword Sect! “Mm.”

Hong Lian and Lu Changsheng clasped hands, walking side by side toward the main hall.

As the two stepped into the main hall, the previously lively and bustling space fell instantly into silence.

All eyes turned to Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian.

“Greetings, City Lord and City Lord’s Wife!”

The cultivators in the hall turned towards Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, cupping their fists in salute.

Though they were all Core Formation cultivators, the two in front of them were beings who had slain a fourth-grade transforming demon! Several male cultivators shot admiring glances at Hong Lian but dared not stare too long.

“Is this the Lord of Dameng City?”

True Lord Juejian looked at Lu Changsheng, who approached in a flowing black robe, his face handsome and elegant.

He looked like a mortal, without a trace of magical energy.

However, upon closer inspection, his tall and sturdy figure seemed to be sheathed in an ethereal garment, making him impossible to perceive.

“Has this Lord of Dameng City already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?”

Although True Lord Juejian didn’t invoke the spirit eye technique, his vision and perception as a sword cultivator far exceeded those of his peers.

Yet, he could not see through this Lord of Dameng City’s true essence.

Not only Lu Changsheng.

The city lord’s wife, although only at the sixth layer of Core Formation,

radiated an alluring beauty, and her body glimmered with vague light, as if infused with immortal charm and a tranquility from years of experience, leaving a profound, transcendental impression.

“Greetings to both of you.”

Though True Lord Juejian was a sword cultivator, he was not unaware of social niceties as he slightly bowed his head toward Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, presenting a prepared generous gift.

After all, the Whale Hunt in the Immortal City had drawn quite some attention. Even if the two before him were just Core Formation cultivators, they still held a right to converse with him and call him a fellow daoist.

“It is an honor for my city to welcome True Lord Juejian’s esteemed presence!”

Lu Changsheng returned the gesture politely and then looked around at the other cultivators in the hall, saying, “I also welcome all of you fellow daoists to my Immortal City of Damengze.”

As he spoke, he and Hong Lian took their seats at the main table, signaling the banquet to officially commence.

“The purpose of this banquet, as you all know, is”

“Since my wife and I are new arrivals in Jiang Kingdom, we thought to take the opportunity to get acquainted with other fellow practitioners and exchange insights on cultivation, as well as host a trading event.”

Lu Changsheng held up a wine cup, smiling as he spoke.

“Naturally, naturally!”

“We are most willing!”

Some cultivators spoke up while others remained silent.

“Why do you two fellows reign over Dameng City after coming to Jiang Kingdom?”

At this moment, a plain-looking man clad in a black sword robe, with sharp features that seemed to hide an unparalleled sword, asked the question.

At his words, the hall fell silent, glances shifting toward two.

Aware that the Heavenly Sword Sect harbored reservations toward the newly established Dameng City,

they certainly recalled how, thirty years prior, the Penglai City’s master suddenly returned from his Nascent Soul cultivation, significantly impacting the Jiang Kingdom’s political landscape.

Now, the couple overseeing Dameng City had discreetly disappeared after the Whale Hunt, reemerging as new masters capable of slaying fourth-grade demons. The Heavenly Sword Sect, the Jiang Kingdom’s hegemony, would not easily remain complacent.

What the cultivators hadn’t expected was that True Lord Juejian would be so direct, getting straight to the point.