Chapter 708: The Effects of the Divine Maiden’s Furnace; The Emergence of the Kunpeng Nest!

Heavenly Sword Sect.

Main Hall.

“What a grand flow of fortune! It’s a scene of prosperity, and it seems to be on the rise, too?”

The sect master of Heavenly Sword stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes deep and piercing, as if they contained two unmatched divine swords.

He wasn’t surprised by Zhao Mingchou’s report.

If Bihu Mountain’s luck were mediocre, that would be the real issue—something he hadn’t expected.

“What about Lu Changsheng? What can you tell me about him? Do you perceive any depth in him?”

The sect master of Heavenly Sword continued to inquire.

“Sect Master, this person has a Dao-Comprehending Artifact that conceals his energy and power; I’m unable to see through him. However, from my observations in Bihu Mountain, he is far from what he appears.”

Zhao Mingchou articulated his analysis.

He indicated that he couldn’t scrutinize Lu Changsheng in detail while at Bihu Mountain; his judgment was solely based on the Lu family’s feng shui, fortune, and the Lu clan’s juniors.

“Hmm, I understand now.”

The sect master of Heavenly Sword nodded, signaling Zhao Mingchou to step down, before exhaling softly and murmuring, “It seems my guess was right; Lu Changsheng is indeed a fortunate child born of the world’s qi.”

“Jiang Kingdom has already produced a girl of fortune like Qingluan Zhenjun, and now another Lu Changsheng emerges?”

A pond cannot raise a dragon.

The apparition of Qingluan Zhenjun alone was already astonishing.

And now to discover Lu Changsheng, a seemingly hidden dragon, was utterly unreasonable.

“Even if a calamity were to descend, accompanied by a great era, it shouldn’t lead to this, right? Is it possible that Jiang Kingdom will become a focal point for this impending calamity?”

The sect master’s eyes squinted slightly as he pondered continuously.

Calamities, great eras—talk of fortune was all ethereal and elusive, difficult to grasp.

This kind of matter he had only heard True Lord Xuanjian mention occasionally.

“I just don’t know what connection this man has with the city lord of Dameng City.”

He had long speculated about Lu Changsheng’s situation.

Zhao Mingchou’s words merely validated his suspicions.

Now he wanted to know what relationship Lu Changsheng had with the city lord of Dameng City and when their connection to the Immortal City sprouted.

Or whether this person was a pawn placed in Jiang Kingdom by the city lord.

Though the relationship between Heavenly Sword Sect and the Immortal City was friendly after the whale hunting banquet,

how could they fully trust a mysterious “Nascent Soul cultivator” with unknown origins to be stationed in Dameng City?

After thinking for a long while, the sect master of Heavenly Sword decided to report this matter to True Lord Juejian.

Normal trivial matters naturally didn’t need to be reported to the True Lord.

But Lu Changsheng, as a Core Formation cultivator, had already gained the qualification to enter the purview of Nascent Soul True Lords.

Especially since he had connections with the Immortal City!

Three months later.

Bihu Mountain.

Sumeru Cave Heaven.

“Although the effect of this Divine Maiden’s Furnace is mediocre and not suited for direct combat, it is still a mid-grade spirit treasure.”

“If I encounter danger, I can directly use it to counteract divine abilities and treasures.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the completed Divine Maiden’s Furnace in his hands, nodding with satisfaction.

A product from the system is sure to be a quality item.

Despite its underwhelming effect, the material and refinement method of the Divine Maiden’s Furnace were top-notch.

With Lu Changsheng’s current physical strength, he could smash it out and easily kill numerous cultivators, severely injuring any Nascent Soul True Lord.

“Sumeru.”

Lu Changsheng lifted his gaze and lightly called out to the void.

Just as his voice fell, a dazzling burst of golden and jade light swept down like a colorful veil.

As the light faded, a figure emerged—disheveled hair, pale complexion, clad in dark soft armor, curvaceous and graceful.

It was none other than Shadow, captured by Lu Ping’an.

Though her magical power was sealed and restrained by the Beast Taming Ring, she had already awakened, yet was unable to use her strength or magical energy.

Shadow’s eyes, like dark night stars, glanced at Lu Changsheng before lowering her head in silence.

Given Lu Ping’an’s strength, the methods of restraint upon her, and the ceaseless imprisonment, she had come to terms with reality, knowing her inevitable fate—she merely wished to alert the Holy Maiden through suicide.

But in her current state, she couldn’t even manage to do that.

“Shadow, my friend, do you have anything you wish to say right now?”

Lu Changsheng looked down at her from above and asked faintly.

Silent and with a resolute mindset of death, Shadow tightly pressed her lips together.

“Whoosh!”

Lu Changsheng flicked his finger, sending a stream of magical energy into the Beast Taming Ring fastened around her white neck.

She trembled as though struck by lightning, let out a low moan, and then collapsed to the ground like a cat, utterly powerless.

“You.”

Shadow glanced at Lu Changsheng with a pale, soft face and an icy, resentful gaze.

She realized she had become a prisoner, ultimately swallowing her words and keeping silent in resignation.

Lu Changsheng clicked his tongue, reflecting that cultivating a Core Formation cultivator into a death soldier was indeed no small feat for the strength of Beast God Mountain.

He didn’t have the leisure to engage in a game of detective with her. A jade furnace resembling a divine maiden rested in his palm.

“Buzz buzz buzz—”

The Divine Maiden’s Furnace seemed to be a divine maiden soaring into the sky, emanating mysterious and brilliant radiance, forming waves of profound undulations.

Then the lid opened, and a dreamlike mist poured out, enchanting and beautiful, directly enveloping Shadow, pulling her into the furnace.

“Buzz!”

With a soft sound, the lid closed, and the Divine Maiden’s Furnace, gleaming with a crystalline sheen, returned to Lu Changsheng’s hand.

Lu Changsheng circulated his Yin-Yang magical energy, beginning to invoke the power of the desires within the Divine Maiden’s Furnace.

Inside was a vast space, resembling an open grand hall.

As Lu Changsheng activated the Divine Maiden’s Furnace, streams of light woven from the desires surged from all directions, like tidal waves, submerging the powerless Shadow curled on the ground.

“Cave Heaven treasure!”

Shadow didn’t understand what was happening, but upon seeing the Divine Maiden’s Furnace and the unfamiliar scene before her, she realized she had been imprisoned within a Cave Heaven treasure.

The intertwining light stemming from the desires evoked a strange emotion within her, as if her soft armor were about to burn.

“This can’t go to waste.”

The Divine Maiden’s Furnace’s invocation of the desires not only interfered with her emotions and thoughts but also produced power that would incinerate and decompose any foreign objects on her.

This dark soft armor on Shadow was a treasure; if it were reduced to ashes by the Divine Maiden’s Furnace, it would indeed be a waste.

As Lu Changsheng’s thought moved, the dark soft armor, clothes, and Beast Taming Ring all flew to the side, revealing a body as beautiful as ivory.

I must say, Shadow’s figure is superb.

Previously, covered in soft armor, she had a graceful silhouette, delicate and alluring.

Now without the restraint of the dark soft armor, her breathtaking figure was elevated, rivaling even Nangong Mili.

“What a waste not to have any children.”

Lu Changsheng glanced at her snowy, perky backside, sighing in reflection.

Yet this woman relates to Beast God Mountain and still holds great value.

“Mmm~”

Under the power of the desires, Shadow gradually succumbed, her eyes becoming hazy, unable to act independently as her soul and body trembled.

But without the restraint of the Beast Taming Ring, a power from deep within her began to awaken.

Moments later, with an enchanting catlike cry, her flawless, fair body became entwined with wisps of black mist, her form arching gracefully as if it had elongated sensuously.

Her exquisitely delicate pale face gradually sharpened, showing several black patterns resembling a cat’s face, with two fluffy black cat ears standing prominently at the sides.

“???”

Lu Changsheng was taken aback at Shadow’s transformation.

What kind of technique is this? Is she trying to tempt me?

How does she know this would work on me? However, upon seeing Shadow turn into a catgirl, her eyes clearing a bit as she struggled desperately, Lu Changsheng realized this was a secret technique of Beast God Mountain.

The Black Crow True Person he had slain and True Lord Tiancang had unleashed similar techniques before.

“Beast God Mountain, merging beasts with oneself to cultivate through demonic beasts—is indeed interesting.”

Lu Changsheng contemplated the sensual, graceful catgirl form of Shadow, clicking his tongue as he thought of Xu Ruoyin using the fusion technique with the Heavenly Phoenix.

I must admit, this experience is quite pleasant.

After observing for a moment, Lu Changsheng set the Divine Maiden’s Furnace aside, allowing her to struggle.

As a mid-grade spirit treasure, even a simple activation was beyond a Core Formation cultivator of the third level to break free.

While she struggled in despair and fear, her mind would become increasingly susceptible to influence, leading her to sink deeper into desperation and lose herself.

Soon after, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged, placing the demonic materials collected from the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons and the spiritual materials from the Five Poisons Sect around him, beginning to cultivate the Brahma Demon True Form.

“If only I had a few more Buddhist Bone Sarira, that would be perfect.”

Currently, Lu Changsheng was ample in demonic and beast-related materials but severely lacked Buddhist Bone Sarira and other spiritual materials from the Buddhist path.

Though his daughter, Lu Linghe, possessed a quasi-fourth-grade sarira.

Yet under the influence of this sarira, she was gradually shifting her usual cultivation of the ‘Vajra King Curse’ and ‘Zen Dream Bodhi Technique’ toward the Buddhist path of the Vajra Bodhi cultivation.

In this situation, how could he reclaim that sarira? He wished he could get a few more Buddhist Bone Sarira for his daughter.

“Just spending a little more time.”

Taking a deep breath, Lu Changsheng collected himself and began circulating the ‘True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons,’ causing Buddhist light to radiate around him as demonic energy flowed, making the cave resound with demonic howls and enchanting Buddhist chants that were profoundly mystical.

On the battlefield of Liangyue.

A base city of Beast God Mountain.

“Three years ago, the clan guardian spirit beast of the Talisman Lu Family, [Nine Nether], was attacked, and the Lu family supported and repelled the enemy.”

“After Lu Qingshan, the Talisman Lu Family gained another Core Formation true cultivator.”

The Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain lounged lazily against her spiritual pet, the Howling Moon Wolf, her long, fair legs resting atop her left, displaying her exquisite, unshod, alluring feet.

“So Shadow is injured and hiding in Jiang Kingdom, unable to return?”

The Holy Maiden gazed towards her maid standing not far away, her exquisitely beautiful face radiating nobility and majesty, imbued with an inherent authority that was menacing without anger.

“Your Highness, according to our covert investigations, she has searched meticulously in Bihu Mountain and White Tiger Mountain but hasn’t seen any sigils left by Lady Shadow. Therefore, it can’t be ruled out that Lady Shadow is in grave danger, having fallen into the hands of the Talisman Lu Family or Azure Cloud Sect.”

The maid knelt on the ground, not daring to look up at the Holy Maiden, speaking in a hushed tone.

“If it is grave danger, Shadow’s spirit beast is [Ethereal Cat]. If she attempts to flee, she could easily escape from fellow cultivators of the same rank, employing secret techniques, even confident in escaping from mid-Core Formation cultivators’ hands, unless the Azure Cloud Sect uses late-Core Formation strength; otherwise, capturing Shadow would be impossible!”

As her personal guard, no one understood Shadow’s combat capabilities better than her.

“Investigate! Continue the search. If Shadow has fallen into the Azure Cloud Sect’s hands, she will most likely be appearing in the hands of the Yue Kingdom’s immortal sect, which is impossible to be without any action! So Shadow most likely hasn’t fallen into the Azure Cloud Sect!”

“This Talisman Lu Family also raises suspicion—a mere century-old family has produced four Core Formation cultivators, gather their detailed information for me!”

The Holy Maiden’s eyes were cold and profound; she licked her vibrant red lips, stating coldly.

Core Formation cultivators rank high wherever they are.

If the Azure Cloud Sect has captured Shadow, they will likely trade her to the Yue Kingdom and then the Yue Kingdom will use her as a bargaining chip to exchange for hostages from Beast God Mountain.

Thus, she turned her gaze towards the Talisman Lu Family.

Regardless, in a century, a mere family producing four Core Formation cultivators makes absolutely no sense! There’s definitely an issue!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Celestial Lotus Sect, in the disciples’ trial secret realm.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”

The mountain forest was caught in a tempest, making the trees rustle.

Nangong Yaoyao, looking weary, landed and began casting formation flags to lay down a temporary formation.

At that moment, she seemed to sense something and abruptly turned her head.

Then, before her, a stunningly beautiful woman with a long, ethereal body, glowing with a hazy holy light, approached, bearing a similar aura.

“Senior Sister?”

Nangong Yaoyao’s heart jolted in surprise, feeling no joy—only wariness.

Yet, she feigned a cheerful and pitiful expression on her face.

“Junior Sister.”

Ouyang Ni smiled gently, her voice warm, like the soothing winds of spring caressing Nangong Yaoyao’s heart, melting away her fatigue, wariness, and dread.

Without hesitation.

Nangong Yaoyao transformed into a blur, becoming a streak of light that shot through the air.

“Boom!”

However, mere breaths later, a figure akin to a soaring dragon descended upon the heavens, sending Nangong Yaoyao flying as she coughed up blood.

“Aren’t you aware of what I might have done to offend you, Brother Zhao?”

Regaining her balance, Nangong Yaoyao’s voice was pitiful as she spoke.

“Sister, drop that act. You know Master only requires one disciple. So… between us, there can ultimately only be one left.”

Ouyang Ni approached gracefully, clad in a white lotus-flower skirt, her appearance reminiscent of an immortal fairy untouched by the earthly realm.

Yet her words unleashed invisible silver needles aimed at Nangong Yaoyao.

“Sister, while Master may have this intent, he might be intentionally testing us. As sisters, we should unite now, and we can always settle the score later. Moreover, I’ve never had any thoughts of competing with you, Senior Sister.”

With a gentle lift of her jade hand, Nangong Yaoyao deployed a lotus artifact, her face brimming with sincerity.

Yet, even though Ouyang Ni was a woman, seeing her sister appear so delicate and pitiful authentically softened her heart a fraction.

Pausing for just a moment, she turned to the man next to her and said, “Why aren’t you moving swiftly?”

The man beside her spoke little, brandishing a spear, his entire being akin to a dart released from its bow, rushing forward toward Nangong Yaoyao with overwhelming pressure.

“Sister, this isn’t about my choice to partner with you but about how fast you’ve grown!”

Ouyang Ni gazed at her sister with a tone of regret, teetering between pity and reluctance.

Faced with both of their assaults, Nangong Yaoyao retreated step by step, her complexion growing pale.

At that moment, she formed seals with her hands, and her lotus artifact suddenly erupted into a blazing sun, transforming into a blazing Golden-Winged Roc that unleashed a scorching storm, sweeping in all directions.

“Run!”

Without hesitation, Nangong Yaoyao and the bewitched Ji Shaoyi fled in a frenzy from their pursuers.

“This is the Golden-Winged Roc’s Heavenly Sun Divine Ability from the Daylight Golden Crow Sect! Those who can cultivate this ability are by no means unremarkable!”

“There were rumors that the Daylight Golden Crow Sect’s prodigy, Ji Shaoyi, had fallen in the ‘Fusang Secret Realm.’ Now it seems he’s probably been bewitched by my sister.”

Ouyang Ni gazed at her vanishing sister with a hint of apprehension in her eyes.

Nangong Yaoyao escaped to the shores of a desolate lake, signaling Ji Shaoyi to wait outside while she laid down a simple formation to calm her chaotic magical energy.

Looking at her reflection in the lake, which appeared much more mature than in her earlier years, Nangong Yaoyao felt a wave of nostalgia. She murmured softly, “Mother, Yaoyao misses you so much.”

In her earlier days at the Five Poisons Sect, though she had been sensible and mature, with her mother and Meng Xiaochan’s care, she had remained a carefree girl, surrounded by their love.

Upon arriving at the Celestial Lotus Sect, though she possessed a master at the Nascent Soul stage and encountered a broader world, she could no longer enjoy life as freely as before.

Just a moment later, the softness and longing in her eyes vanished.

Her breathtakingly beautiful face radiated a cold nobility as she swallowed a medicinal pill, swiftly recovering from her injuries.

During this disciples’ trial, her goal was not merely to make it through; she aimed for exceptional results.

Only then could she catch up to her several senior sisters.

Starry Sea.

These days, the Starry Sea has been exceptionally lively.

The long-rumored Kunpeng Nest has appeared!

A cataclysmic celestial phenomenon caused this legendary secret realm to manifest directly in countless people’s sights.

Yet such a top-tier secret realm is destined to be beyond the reach of minor cultivators, nor can a single faction seize it.

Not only the major human factions in the Starry Sea but also many sea tribes and transforming beast kings have gone to seize it.

Even so, numerous Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators flocked to investigate, hoping to sift through the chaos for opportunities or fortunes.

Upon hearing this news, Lu Quanzhen guessed that a shocking battle would erupt in this sea, leading to rivers of blood, yet he still chose to go.

To tread the path of immortality, if one doesn’t fight for opportunities or act boldly, what could they achieve but hard cultivation?

Spending half a month, he gradually approached the area where the Kunpeng Nest emerged.

Before getting close, he sensed the confrontation of Nascent Soul-level cultivators from afar.

The sea was littered with many corpses, most of them beast carcasses, blood-red and drifting.

“A Nascent Soul-level secret realm?”

Lu Quanzhen came here specifically to determine whether this secret realm had any conditions, such as only allowing cultivators below Nascent Soul to enter.

Yet given the current commotion, this realm is likely a Nascent Soul-level secret realm.

“With my strength, if I enter a Nascent Soul-level secret realm, I fear I would be dead ten times over.”

Although Lu Quanzhen had some confidence in his strength, he didn’t dare intervene in Nascent Soul-level secret realms.

After all, there’s a significant difference between daring to gamble and courting death.

However, recalling the cultivation method he practiced, he didn’t directly give up and waited on the sidelines.

Watching the intensity of the Nascent Soul battle subside, he began to approach.

After a considerable time, Lu Quanzhen spotted a towering stone precipice standing deep within the sea and murmured, “Is this the Kunpeng Nest?”