Chapter 715: Demonic Fetus Parasitism: Yan Lan’s Breakthrough!

Lu Quanzhen and Shi Hai True Lord, along with the Wu Gu Old Demon, journeyed onward, arriving at the magnificent ancient nest that resembled a Kunpeng.

The nest radiated a dazzling brilliance, sometimes gleaming gold like a divine peng, soaring through the starry river, looking down upon the heavens; other times, it appeared as a giant Kun, pitch black, sinking into the boundless sea, enveloped in chaos.

“Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art!?”

Lu Quanzhen noticed the golden nest ahead rippling with wisps of light, as if it was gathering various runes shaped like Kunpeng.

He didn’t recognize these runes, but felt an inexplicable familiarity.

It was as if the cultivation method he practiced resonated uniquely with these runes, creating a strange harmony between them.

“It’s said that some top-tier bloodline demon clans leave behind precious bones and true feathers infused with the laws of heaven and earth, illustrating the most primal techniques. Many human cultivators derive their techniques and divine abilities from these bone imprints and the patterns of birds and beasts, and the seals of dragons and phoenixes.”

“It seems the book ‘Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art’ that my uncle taught me is indeed related to the Kunpeng before me.”

Lu Quanzhen felt a sudden clarity as he gazed at the vast nest, watching the runes transition from gold to black, resembling a Kunpeng.

However, at that moment, he suddenly felt a chilling, overwhelming aura descend upon him. His face turned pale as blood energy and magical energy surged within him, prompting his skills to activate instinctively, but his magical energy stumbled, leaving his limbs cold and weak.

Opening his eyes, he saw eighteen ghostly maidens holding fans and basins, elegantly surrounding a magnificent gold-and-jewel-inlaid throne draped with fine curtains.

Through the embroidered curtains depicting ghostly figures, he could see a figure donning a jeweled crown, moving with an alluring grace.

The oppressive force he felt came from the master of this throne! “Who is this person?”

Lu Quanzhen was struck with dread.

He knew that the Kunpeng Nest not only hosted numerous cultivators vying for opportunities, but also many fierce birds and sea beasts.

Had it not been for Shi Hai True Lord and the Wu Gu Old Demon, he wouldn’t have made it this far.

Yet the owner of the throne dared to display such majesty in this secret realm.

Moreover, he couldn’t see through the eighteen maidens at a glance, suspecting that each possessed strength and magical energy not inferior to his own!

Just then, Shi Hai True Lord stepped forward and stood protectively in front of Lu Quanzhen, bowing respectfully to the throne, “May I ask what offense my junior has caused the Demon Concubine?”

“Demon Concubine! This person is the owner of the previous White Bone Palace, the Six Paths Demon Concubine!?”

As Shi Hai True Lord took a step forward, Lu Quanzhen felt his pressure lift, regaining some color in his face as he guessed the identity of the throne’s owner.

The top demon cultivator of the Starry Sea, partner of Six Paths Demon Lord, and the prior master of the White Bone Palace—Six Paths Demon Concubine! Lu Quanzhen’s heart tightened; he wondered why this Six Paths Demon Concubine had noticed him.

“Junior? I don’t recall you having a disciple in Shi Hai?”

A lazy, casual yet enchanting voice emerged from the throne.

“The Demon Concubine is occupied with many matters; perhaps you are unaware that this young friend was just recently taken as a named disciple by Shi Hai Dao Friend.”

The nearby Wu Gu Old Demon also chimed in to explain, as Lu Quanzhen’s fate was intertwined with theirs.

“Interesting, I didn’t expect that not only did you, Shi Hai, take in a disciple who practices demonic arts, but you also allied with Wu Gu.”

The Six Paths Demon Concubine chuckled softly, her beguiling voice eliciting unwanted thoughts.

Some Nascent Soul True Lords nearby glanced towards Shi Hai and the Wu Gu Old Demon, scrutinizing Lu Quanzhen.

At that moment, Lu Quanzhen felt like a fish out of water, as if his entire being was laid bare for all to see; the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art stirred instinctively within him.

“Heh, so it’s a Kunpeng demonic art.”

“A successor of the Kunpeng demonic arts? There’s no need for you to hide it, Shi Hai Dao Friend.”

“Wait, this kid’s Kunpeng demonic art is above average.”

The cultivators present were either Nascent Soul True Lords or metamorphosed demon kings, or fellow cultivators brought in by the Nascent Soul True Lords or demon kings; none were of ordinary caliber.

Thus, Lu Quanzhen’s Kunpeng demonic art was instantly recognized amongst the gathered cultivators.

Some cultivators, like the Wu Gu Old Demon, had considerable understanding of demonic arts and realized that Lu Quanzhen’s Kunpeng demonic art was outstanding.

“Since you are a successor of the Kunpeng demonic arts, go up and see if you can open this nest.”

The Six Paths Demon Concubine spoke from behind the gauzy curtains.

The relationship between the Kunpeng demonic art and the Kunpeng Nest was not a secret to the elite cultivators of the Starry Sea.

With the emergence of the Kunpeng Nest, some had quickly sought out several heirs of the Kunpeng demonic art, hoping to open the secret realm’s core opportunity through them.

Some factions had even been nurturing cultivators of the Kunpeng demonic art, anticipating the opening of the secret realm.

Seeing this, Shi Hai True Lord and the Wu Gu Old Demon exchanged glances, aware that, under these circumstances, they had no chance of seizing opportunities for themselves.

Moreover, whether Lu Quanzhen could actually unlock the ancient nest was still uncertain.

“Junior, go ahead, don’t worry; the old man and Shi Hai Dao Friend will keep an eye on you.”

The Wu Gu Old Demon spoke respectfully to the Six Paths Demon Concubine while addressing Lu Quanzhen solemnly.

Given the current situation, Lu Quanzhen had no choice but to move forward and study the ancient nest.

He observed several cultivators who, like the Wu Gu Old Demon, practiced fragmented techniques, infusing magical energy into the nest, and he followed suit towards the runes above.

“Vroom!”

As his magical energy flowed into it, the ancient nest suddenly burst forth in radiance, a blend of gold and black.

“Huh!?”

Instantly, many cultivators turned their gazes toward Lu Quanzhen, their eyes narrowing with excitement.

Although someone had previously shaken the ancient nest,

the disturbance caused by a Nascent Soul cultivator was not as significant as the one created by Lu Quanzhen, a Core Formation cultivator.

“Good, good! Well done, my good disciple! If you can open the ancient nest, I will definitely reward you richly!”

Seeing this, Shi Hai True Lord stepped forward and laughed heartily.

Although he hadn’t taken Lu Quanzhen as his disciple, he was merely claiming a nominal title.

Yet, with this nominal title, if the ancient nest opened, he could share in the opportunities.

“Even though this young friend has acquired true teachings of demonic arts, his cultivation level is too low; being just at the initial stage of Core Formation, he might not be able to open this nest.”

Someone interjected, realizing that the opportunity before them was not so easily unlocked.

“I possess a secret technique that can elevate this child’s cultivation to the late stage of Core Formation, if not half a step into the Nascent Soul realm; perhaps then he might be able to open this nest.”

At that moment, another Nascent Soul cultivator spoke, sending a chill down Lu Quanzhen’s spine.

He certainly had practiced life-burning secret techniques.

But now at the third stage of Core Formation, he could at most elevate to the mid-stage of Core Formation.

If he reached the late stage of Core Formation, he would likely face destruction of his foundation even if he survived.

As for half a step into the Nascent Soul, he would probably be left with nothing but bones.

“Hmph, what an interesting secret technique! Why don’t you demonstrate it yourself by raising your cultivation to the Nascent Soul late stage for me to see?”

Shi Hai True Lord, though indifferent to Lu Quanzhen’s life or death, naturally wouldn’t let go of the latter’s prospects concerning the ancient nest.

“In that case, let’s wait a bit more. There are numerous successors of the Kunpeng demonic arts within this secret realm. Once everyone gathers, we might be able to open this nest together.”

Just then, the Six Paths Demon Concubine spoke, her voice lazy and casual, yet seductively alluring.

Upon her remark, the cultivators present had no objections.

After all, everyone had entered the secret realm for the opportunities.

Seeing Lu Quanzhen as a glimmer of hope to unlock the ancient nest, they naturally wouldn’t turn against him.

“This young friend, could you share how you cultivated the Kunpeng demonic arts to such a level? It would help in unlocking the opportunities. Rest assured, you won’t be shortchanged!”

Another cultivator turned to Lu Quanzhen, eager to know how he had mastered the Kunpeng demonic art.

It was known that the Kunpeng demonic art had been passed down through the Starry Sea for many years and had lost much, now only possessing fragments.

Given this, the fact that Lu Quanzhen held true teachings of the demonic arts was astonishing.

“Please forgive me, senior; this technique concerns the inheritance of my sect, and I cannot divulge it.”

Lu Quanzhen replied coolly and solemnly.

His only reliance now was the ‘Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art’ related to this secret realm, believing that they wouldn’t harm him until the core opportunity was revealed.

But once he revealed the core secrets of the technique, risking replication would strip his knowledge of its value, bringing him disaster.

Moreover, speaking excessively may lead to mistakes! In front of so many Nascent Soul True Lords, lying was nearly impossible.

He had mastered the ‘Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art’ solely with the help of his father, Lu Changsheng. Revealing it would bring disaster to him and his family.

“This young friend hails from the Tianmo Sect? Does Public Yang wish to obtain the Tianmo Sect’s inheritance? Don’t you fear attracting trouble?”

The Wu Gu Old Demon chuckled ominously.

The mention of the Tianmo Sect caused the expressions of several cultivators to tense, clearly having heard of the sect’s reputation.

However, for them, that was about it.

At most, they’d be cautious when taking action against Lu Quanzhen to avoid any marks that might alert the Tianmo Sect.

Yet not far away, a scholar clad in robes glanced at Lu Quanzhen with newfound interest upon hearing the name of the Tianmo Sect.

Given Shi Hai True Lord, Wu Gu Old Demon, and the Tianmo Sect’s reputation, no one dared to trouble Lu Quanzhen.

Taking this opportunity, he examined the swirling runes of the ancient nest and the Kunpeng concept to corroborate his own technique.

As time passed, more and more cultivators arrived near the ancient nest.

Lu Quanzhen noticed many successors of the Kunpeng demonic arts.

Some, like himself, were unwilling, while others had come at a command.

However, there was one prerequisite: none of them had reached the Nascent Soul stage.

“That’s right, the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art is extremely difficult to practice. If it weren’t for my father’s help, I wouldn’t have truly mastered this method.”

“Most of these people practice the ‘Kunpeng Demon Art’. Even if they continued practicing, they could easily fall into demonic madness, strengthening the tribulation force, making it nearly impossible to reach the Nascent Soul stage.”

Lu Quanzhen’s expression remained calm as he pondered, continuously observing the situation, seeking opportunities to escape.

But in the Starry Sea, there was fundamentally no clear distinction between righteousness and evil.

For example, he saw several righteous cultivators showing no reluctance towards the Wu Gu Old Demon or that Six Paths Demon Concubine, having no thoughts of eradicating the demons.

Only some Nascent Soul cultivators harbored private grudges and exhibited hostility towards each other.

However, in the open space of the secret realm, under the public eye, these individuals put aside their private enmities, leaving Lu Quanzhen without any opportunities to escape.

“Shi Hai cultivates orthodox techniques and belongs to the righteous sect, yet he willingly collaborates with the Wu Gu Old Demon, addressing each other as friends—there is no bias between righteous and demonic.”

Lu Quanzhen felt helpless, unable to fathom how he could slip away right beneath the noses of the Nascent Soul cultivators given the current situation.

“I can only hope the nest opens soon, and opportunities manifest, leading them to start fighting and forgetting about me.”

“At that time, using my father’s Substitute Talisman and the treasure my uncle gave me, perhaps there’s a glimmer of hope.”

As Lu Quanzhen pondered this, Shi Hai True Lord stepped forward, patting him on the shoulder. “Good disciple, time’s almost up—get ready to proceed.”

Under the watchful eyes of multiple Nascent Soul cultivators, Lu Quanzhen and a group of those practicing demonic arts began channeling their magical energy towards the ancient nest.

“Vroom vroom vroom—”

They could see the ancient nest, transformed into an image of the divine peng and giant Kun, trembling as if the Kunpeng was roaring, resonating with the Dao.

All Nascent Soul cultivators were filled with excitement, their expressions expectant as they eyed Lu Quanzhen and the others.

But noticing the nest tremble felt slightly lacking, the Six Paths Demon Concubine in her distant throne extended a beautiful, slim hand akin to an exquisite piece of art.

Her hand was so lovely, not a single flaw could be found; her thumb and index finger bore a dark and blood-red ring respectively.

The middle finger, ring finger, and pinky were adorned with what seemed like a bone-like, jade-like protective covering resembling a young snake, adding a touch of alluring charm to her delicate hand.

At that moment, the snake-like protective covering looked as if it had come to life, flicking its tongue, emitting a crimson sheen, and then a burst of blood mist rapidly surged towards the cultivators of the demonic arts.

Lu Quanzhen suddenly felt something rush into his body, making his blood energy and magical energy surge uncontrollably, as if propelling some kind of blood-burning secret technique.

He turned his head to look, but the Wu Gu Old Demon merely scolded, “You still can’t focus on your practice!”

Lu Quanzhen’s expression darkened; he instantly guessed that a certain demonic secret technique was being used on him by the Nascent Soul cultivators.

Not just him, but all the cultivators seeking to open the ancient nest were enduring the same.

While he’d anticipated this, being treated like this still left Lu Quanzhen’s expression grim.

As the ancient nest trembled more vigorously, the Nascent Soul cultivators began to unleash their techniques, attempting to force the ancient nest open.

Half an hour passed.

“Roar!!!”

The phantom of the Kunpeng in the ancient nest roared towards the sky, its divine might sweeping across the heavens, causing many in the arena to tremble and even kneel.

This power was too terrifying; even Nascent Soul True Lords found it hard to endure.

“What’s going on? Is the Kunpeng still alive?”

A Nascent Soul cultivator trembled as he spoke.

Countless years have passed; even if it is said that the Kunpeng transcends Nascent Soul cultivators, it should be no more. Why does such terrifying energy linger?

If that Kunpeng were still alive and they intruded upon its lair seeking opportunity, would it not spell their doom?

In the next moment, the massive phantom of the Kunpeng vanished, and the ancient nest erupted with a resounding opening of a giant door.

“Huh? What’s going on here?”

“I understand now; this is the true lair of the Kunpeng, infused with its energy, revealing a glimpse of its divine spirit.”

In an instant, everyone erupted in excitement, rushing towards the gigantic door.

Even those who earlier seemed indifferent and aloof among the Nascent Soul cultivators could not contain themselves at this moment.

After all, just the residual energy felt so immense; there might very well be opportunities for transcending into transformation into gods within the nest.

Even if they couldn’t transcend into gods, breaking through to the late stage of Nascent Soul would allow them to dominate the Starry Sea and the entirety of the Southern Desolation’s cultivation world!

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”

As the ancient nest opened, Lu Quanzhen immediately felt a wave of weakness wash over him.

Then, a piercing pain surged throughout his body, realizing it was the aftereffect of the previous demonic secret technique.

“Damn it!”

His face paled as he gritted his teeth, watching as the Nascent Soul cultivators entered the nest, searching for an opportunity to escape.

“Good disciple, are you all right?”

At that moment, Shi Hai True Lord appeared beside him, his powerful magical energy pouring into Lu Quanzhen’s body, stabilizing his piercing pain.

“This is the aftereffect of the secret technique. This pill can help alleviate your condition.”

Shi Hai True Lord tossed a pill into Lu Quanzhen’s mouth and then led him into the ancient nest.

Not only Lu Quanzhen, but all the successors of the demonic arts now felt like fish on a platter, being ushered into the nest.

The spiritual energy here was pure and rich, wafting through the air like a celestial realm. They could see some ethereal trees, tables, wine jugs, and cushions.

However, such treasures were being snatched away by a group of Nascent Soul cultivators.

After all, the trees, tables, and fine wines of a being like the Kunpeng were likely treasures, possibly comparable to some Nascent Soul cultivators’ Spirit Treasures.

“Boom boom boom!!!”

The battle in the arena was about to erupt, the terrifying energy of the Nascent Soul cultivators thrumming with menace.

Even Shi Hai True Lord radiated a terrifying aura akin to a mountain or sea, impossible to ignore.

Faced with this situation, Lu Quanzhen could only allow Shi Hai True Lord to bear the lead, not daring to move recklessly; otherwise, even the residual energy could injure him.

Yet everyone knew this was merely an appetizer; true conflict had not yet begun. Once a master appeared, they would stop raiding.

The diverse factions searched within the ancient nest, and after a while, someone spotted an ancient altar materializing in the void ahead.

The altar was grand and imposing, resembling a mountain, floating serenely.

“Over there!”

All of the Nascent Soul cultivators surged towards the altar.

They saw the altar shimmering with dazzling light, bursting forth divine radiance, as if displaying rare treasures.

Yet no one made any rash moves.

Most of the attendees were Nascent Soul cultivators or metamorphosed demon kings; having reached such levels, none were foolish enough to act impulsively.

They recognized that the altar held a sense of integration with the surrounding environment.

Any reckless actions would be deemed disrespectful and could potentially invite lethal threats! “Boom!”

Someone unleashed a Puppet Spirit, but as soon as it approached the altar, it was struck away by an overwhelming force.

“This power only isolates and repels; it shows that the Kunpeng has fallen, leaving the opportunities for its descendants.”

Someone utilized a Spirit Eye technique to inspect the altar’s unsealing barrier, then looked towards Lu Quanzhen and the other successors of the demonic arts, saying, “Let a successor of the Kunpeng demonic arts proceed.”

Hearing this, in an instant, a cultivator practicing the Kunpeng demonic art was pushed forward, his skills activated, successfully bypassing the altar’s power and stepping upon it.

“Good disciple! Hurry! If you can acquire treasure from above, I assure you that you will not be shortchanged; the Huaying Pill we agreed upon shall be yours!”

Seeing this, Shi Hai True Lord’s expression lit up in excitement as he promised rewards, grateful for having supported Lu Quanzhen all this way.

“Kid, I have a Tianying Fruit on my island, which will ripen in a hundred years. I will provide it for you; not only can it serve as a main ingredient for the Huaying Pill, but it can also be consumed directly as a top-tier Nascent Soul spirit object to enhance quality!”

The Wu Gu Old Demon also tempted Lu Quanzhen, enticing him with prospects.

Though he too knew of the Kunpeng demonic arts, he had only studied a few fragments, not mastering it.

Even if he could imitate parts of the Kunpeng demonic arts, he wouldn’t dare step forward; who could know what dangers awaited on the altar?

“Seniors, I’ve been affected by secret techniques, and my current state is weak. I don’t know what risks the altar might pose. Could you kindly lend me a few valued treasures for protection? I truly feel uneasy otherwise.”

Lu Quanzhen glanced at the altar, feeling conflicted.

He didn’t know the risks associated with the altar.

But if treasures were retrieved from the altar, a battle among Nascent Soul cultivators would surely ensue! Whether Shi Hai True Lord and Wu Gu Old Demon would still protect him was uncertain, and escaping the secret realm alive would be difficult.

Seizing the opportunity now to request several treasures could prepare him for the imminent battle, enhancing his survival chances.

Shi Hai True Lord and Wu Gu Old Demon both appeared displeased.

They had already provided Lu Quanzhen with several treasures for protection, yet he was bold enough to request more.

Nevertheless, during this critical moment, they were not petty; each granted him a treasure.

“Seniors, I’ve been affected by secret techniques, leading to chaotic blood energy and magical energy; these treasures are difficult to mobilize. Do you have any fourth-tier puppets or talismans?”

Lu Quanzhen guarded his heart, wary of the treasures given by the two; he intended to toss those treasures into the sea the moment he got the chance.

Hence, compared to artifacts, he preferred puppets, talismans, and genuine treasures.

“Kid, don’t push your luck!”

The Wu Gu Old Demon replied in a cold tone, clearly realizing Lu Quanzhen’s intentions.

This kid was quite clever, obviously making preparations for an escape route.

Although they had fourth-tier talismans, their numbers were limited, needing them for the upcoming conflict.

“Junior is merely trying to survive.”

Lu Quanzhen’s face turned stern as he said.

“This is a fourth-tier [Eternal Golden Light Talisman], sufficient to block one Nascent Soul technique.”

“This [Lingxu Huanyuan Pill] can quickly help restore your injuries.”

Shi Hai True Lord said with a warm smile, handing Lu Quanzhen a fourth-tier talisman and a pill.

Seeing this, the Wu Gu Old Demon also produced a fourth-tier talisman from his storage ring, giving it to Lu Quanzhen.

Once he swallowed the pill and gripped both talismans in hand, Lu Quanzhen took a deep breath and approached the altar.

His ‘Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art’ instinctively activated as he neared the altar, piercing through an invisible barrier, step by step advancing.

He walked cautiously, disregarding Shi Hai True Lord and Wu Gu Old Demon’s urging gazes, allowing those ahead of him to take the lead.

“If I somehow obtain some rare treasures, perhaps I can persuade someone here to protect me.”

Lu Quanzhen calculated in his heart, mistrusting Shi Hai True Lord and Wu Gu Old Demon, hoping to secure a promise from a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Sadly, in the Starry Sea, there was no clear distinction between righteousness and demonic nature; he lacked knowledge about the Nascent Soul cultivators and had no idea who could trustworthy.

As time progressed, the events took an unexpected turn.

All those practicing Kunpeng demonic arts successfully ascended to the altar’s highest point without incident.

Before the altar lay an array of rare treasures: crimson, glittering fruits that gave off a sweet scent; a treasure fan shimmering with five-colored rays; an ancient cauldron flowing with golden dragon Qi; bone talismans pulsing with the energies of yin and yang; and porcelain vials filled with pills and precious blood. In that moment, everyone’s hearts raced as they gazed at the treasures before them.

“Hurry up, my good apprentice!”

Shi Hai True Lord and some others down below urged frantically, eager to rush up to the altar themselves.

But Lu Quanzhen and the others exchanged glances, their expressions wary.

“We’re all in this together; there’s no need to fight over it. There are enough treasures for everyone to choose from.”

A practitioner of demonic arts spoke up.

“Exactly, let’s each pick our own treasures.”

They attempted to distribute themselves, but no one made a move. They feared that any action might trigger the altar’s defenses, bringing disaster upon them.

Yet under the pressure from those below, a coldly stunning woman with long hair finally moved, directing her gaze toward the golden dragon Qi ancient cauldron and drawing it into her hands with her magical energy.

Nothing happened, and in an instant, a scramble for treasures began.

Seeing this, Lu Quanzhen rushed forward, eyeing a bone talisman radiating five-colored light and a blue porcelain vial adorned with tree-like patterns.

On one hand, among this group, he was at the initial stage of Core Formation, making him less competitive.

On the other hand, the bone talisman and pills could potentially be of great use, helping him escape with his life!

However, just as everyone was seizing their treasures, the altar suddenly trembled violently. The sky erupted with streams of gold and deep black light, resembling the shadow of a massive Kunpeng.

Following that, a black hole appeared in the spot where the altar had stood, its ominous sounds echoing like a roaring demon—a chilling, terrifying sight! “What’s happening?!”

Everyone in the area was horrified, but Lu Quanzhen and the others had no time to think further before they were swallowed by the black hole of the altar.

The black hole was deep and dark; Lu Quanzhen and the others were sinking continuously, their Core Formation-level magical energy proving utterly ineffective.

As they fell, they seemed to hear resentful wails echoing around them, entering a hellish realm.

After what felt like an eternity, they slammed into the ground, their bodies on the verge of breaking, their bones cracking painfully, blood seeping from their wounds.

“Where is this place?!”

Everyone looked around in alarm; the ground was littered with eerie white bones—some human, others from savage beasts and avian demon kings.

Not far from this ghostly domain lay a resplendent pool of crystalline blood radiating a sacred aura.

Golden light shimmered from within the pool, forming runes shaped like the Kunpeng, coiling around a giant egg that was several dozen feet in size.

This giant egg was half radiant gold, half deep black, covered in rugged and mysterious patterns, embodying both the grandeur of the Kun and the sacredness of the divine.

Lu Quanzhen and the others sensed an astonishing vitality emanating from this egg, feeling as though a colossal ancient beast was looming over them, making resistance impossible.

“Could this be a Kunpeng egg?”

“The Kunpeng is a true spirit-level beast; if we could obtain a Kunpeng egg, wouldn’t we be able to hatch a Kunpeng hatchling?!”

Someone said, their expression fervent. But as soon as the words were out, the egg’s surface shimmered with flowing patterns, forming intertwining runes that transformed into swirling black holes.

In an instant, all the practitioners’ powers began to involuntarily channel toward the giant egg.

“This Kunpeng egg is problematic!”

“It wants to swallow us whole!”

“A trap! This secret realm is a trap designed to feed the Kunpeng egg by luring in us demonic cultivators!”

“The Kunpeng has a true spirit-level bloodline, making it hard to hatch. Thus, it uses this method to harness the energies from practitioners—it’s gained vitality but has yet to emerge!”

Despite previous experiences of letting other Nascent Soul practitioners manipulate them without resistance, these cultivators understood this was a situation not to be taken lightly.

After all, they were all Core Formation elders with considerable knowledge.

Instantly, they realized the true nature of the Kunpeng giant egg and guessed that the secret realm and techniques were a trap. They tried to struggle and flee, but their powers were still uncontrollably rushing into the egg.

“Damn it!”

Lu Quanzhen’s Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art was also completely out of his control.

Since he had fully mastered the technique and condensed the Kunpeng Demon Body, this egg desired him even more.

He hurriedly crushed the Eternal Golden Light Talisman that Shi Hai True Lord had given him, his body enveloped in a layer of golden light.

Yet, the swirling black light generated by the Kunpeng giant egg continued to gnaw away at his golden light, and it wouldn’t be long before it broke through.

Without hesitation, he shattered the fourth-tier talisman given to him by Wu Gu Old Demon, but the mysterious runes surrounding the Kunpeng egg managed to neutralize that talisman’s attack.

He then tried using a third-tier Substitute Talisman given to him by his father from years ago, but it had no effect whatsoever.

“Is the heavens trying to destroy me?!”

Lu Quanzhen’s complexion darkened significantly.

Although he still had some tricks up his sleeve, realizing even the fourth-tier talisman couldn’t affect the giant egg made him understand that activating it would be useless.

Watching the golden light on his body continue to dissipate, he saw some practitioners already being consumed by the giant egg, their magical energy, flesh, and essence reduced to bones. He pondered desperately how to break free.

But after thinking endlessly, he found that under absolute power, his methods were completely ineffective.

He didn’t give up, summoning the Burning Life Explosion secret technique, but his powers remained uncontrollable.

He tried activating the bone talisman he had received earlier, and yet as the light began to bloom, the runes from the blood pool surged forward to suppress it.

Lu Quanzhen quickly realized that this was a meticulously set trap, with top-tier formations to prevent anyone from harming the Kunpeng egg.

“Bang!!!”

The next moment, the golden light enveloping him shattered entirely. He felt as if not just his flesh, magical energy, but even his soul was about to be consumed by the black hole whirlpool of the giant egg.

No, this egg seemed even more eager for his soul!

Just when Lu Quanzhen’s world suddenly went dark, with oppressive fog enveloping him and his soul being pulled to its demise, a difficult-to-describe pure spiritual energy suddenly surged from the depths of his sea of consciousness, stabilizing his awareness.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

Lu Quanzhen regained his clarity, but was still puzzled about the situation.

The Kunpeng giant egg also seemed taken aback, unsure of what was happening, before it resumed pulling with immense force, attempting to extract Lu Quanzhen’s soul.

A heart-wrenching pain surged through his soul.

Yet from deep within his soul, another stream of pure energy emerged, aiding in stabilizing his consciousness.

“Roar!”

The Kunpeng giant egg seemed enraged as a shadowy juvenile Kunpeng emerged from the black whirlpool, opening its massive mouth to devour Lu Quanzhen whole.

In an instant, Lu Quanzhen felt all around him becoming sticky and thick, as his body began to dissolve—this Kunpeng wanted to tear apart and consume his soul.

“Damn it!”

Knowing his body would surely be obliterated, Lu Quanzhen’s eyes flashed with a fierce determination. In that moment of the Kunpeng’s continued assault on his soul, he unleashed a secret technique! Demonic Fetus Parasitism Technique!

His uncle, Qu Changge, had given him a number of things back then.

Though he had only received the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art as a technique, he also possessed a jade slip containing more powerful demonic techniques that he could only unlock after his Core Formation.

This Demonic Fetus Parasitism Technique was among the many top-tier secret methods recorded inside! It allowed a Core Formation practitioner to convert into a demonic fetus, enabling parasitism and possession!

Having achieved Core Formation, Lu Quanzhen opened the jade slip and had previously contemplated this technique through the Nine-eyed Bodhi Seed.

After all, though this technique was ruthless and costly, with the risk of failure leading to someone else reaping the benefit, it could provide a fallback in life-and-death situations.

Now, in this dire predicament, he directly activated this still-limited technique! “Buzz!”

Lu Quanzhen utilized the nearly fourth-tier Substitute Talisman from his mind, channeling its power as his remaining body transformed into a demonic fetus, rushing into the Kunpeng hatchling to parasitize and take over.

However, this Kunpeng hatchling had an incredibly vigorous life force and was very resilient. In Lu Quanzhen’s current condition, successfully taking over was little more than a dream.

“Damn it, damn it!” he roared in anguish, attempting to parasitize the young Kunpeng.

The hatchling inside the egg let out a pained growl.

It was inherently flawed, relying on the numerous methods set up by the elder Kunpeng. After years of nurturing, it only just gained its new life, not particularly powerful.

Having just consumed Lu Quanzhen’s memories, it had also suffered serious damage from a terrible rule power, significantly exhausting its strength.

This left it unable to completely annihilate Lu Quanzhen’s demonic fetus parasitism.

“Let’s both take a step back!”

After struggling for quite a while, Lu Quanzhen appeared to merge mentally with the young Kunpeng and communicated that he only intended to parasitize temporarily; he had no desire to overpower it completely.

Though the juvenile Kunpeng was still young and a bit naive, it possessed quite a bit of knowledge through memory inheritance and had devoured the souls of other practitioners, understanding that Lu Quanzhen was not quite right.

In the face of this inexplicable parasitism, plagued by pain, it nevertheless nodded in agreement, asking what Lu Quanzhen required to ensure his departure.

“A great elixir!”

Lu Quanzhen was currently low on essence and magical energy—nearly on the verge of collapse. If he failed in parasitism, he would be reduced to ash, facing only a dead end! He could barely parasitize this young Kunpeng only because it had swallowed him into the giant egg; otherwise, he would be unable to breach such absolute defenses.

Given the circumstances, abandoning the Kunpeng hatchling was impossible. He hoped to regain enough energy through it to recover and later find a way to escape.

Sensing Lu Quanzhen’s desperate and frenzied mental essence, the juvenile Kunpeng let out a low growl, distributing some of the vast energy from the Kunpeng giant egg to him.

In an instant, the transformed Lu Quanzhen received a replenishment, instinctively operating the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art.

To his surprise, this technique flowed with an unprecedented smoothness as he practiced it.

In fact, as he operated the technique, it continuously corrected itself, or perhaps even interrelated more closely with him.

“So this is the true Kunpeng inheritance!”

While practicing the technique, Lu Quanzhen, through his parasitism within the Kunpeng hatchling, began to grasp the runes on the Kunpeng giant egg.

These runes intertwined with those of the blood pool shaped like the Kunpeng, resembling a flurry of flying birds and fishes soaring through the void, forming an incredibly profound Kunpeng law.

Meanwhile, above the black hole.

With the altar’s sudden change, all practitioners of the Kunpeng Demon Art were dragged into the black hole. The unseen forces around the altar roared to dissipate, and all the treasures on the altar scattered in all directions. All the Nascent Soul practitioners in the area immediately sprang into action, launching into fierce competition for the treasures.

As for the practitioners of the demonic arts who had fallen into the black hole, some sensed the aura of great horror swirling within and chose not to look. They continued to seize chances, fighting for the treasures.

Jiang Kingdom.

Immortal City of Damengze.

News of the emergence of the Da Mengze secret realm spread rapidly, and in less than a month, Core Formation practitioners from the four great sects came to the City Lord’s Mansion to inquire about the secret realm.

However, now that the Immortal City of Damengze was viewed as a Nascent Soul-level power by the four great sects, the visiting practitioners were exceedingly courteous, merely asking whether they would cooperate in its development.

For instance, the sects could send people to assist in exploration and clearing the land. As the chief steward of the Immortal City, Ling Zixiao did not act too domineeringly; he simply indicated that the secret realm had not yet been fully opened and that discussions on cooperation and exploration could wait, suggesting the guests rest in the city first.

Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng received news that Yan Lan had advanced beyond the False Core stage.

As the first of his minor wives to break through, Lu Ancestor felt it necessary to pay her a visit.

When he arrived at Yunmeng Mountain, many practitioners had already gathered here.

This was quite normal.

For Lu Changsheng, advancing beyond the False Core stage was unremarkable.

But for Jiang Kingdom practitioners and the scattered cultivators in the Immortal City, it was indeed a big event, and many came to pay their respects.

“Greetings, True Lord Changsheng!”

“We’ve come to meet you, Lord Lu of the Immortal City!”

Though Lu Changsheng rarely showed his face, nearly all the practitioners of the Immortal City recognized him. Seeing him appear here, they quickly bowed and speculated on the purpose of his visit.

Was he recruiting newly advanced False Core practitioners, or perhaps to congratulate her?

Upon seeing Lu Changsheng, Yan Lan swiftly exited her cave abode and invited him to rest inside.

“What’s going on here? Just walked right in?”

“Wait, this woman seems to be the head of Yanyu Market, Yan Lan, one of True Lord Changsheng’s minor wives!”

“What? The minor wife of the City Lord?”

“Has the minor wife of the True Lord already broken through beyond the False Core?”

“Five years ago, it seems True Lord Changsheng bought a third-tier Demon Core at the Immortal City auction—could it have been for this head of the market to break through?”

Though Yan Lan was a market head, the Immortal City was still quite distanced from Azure Cloud area, and thus, her name wasn’t widely recognized.

However, now that she had advanced past the False Core and emerged with the identity of Lu Ancestor’s minor wife, many people began to speculate about her status.

“City Lord Lu is indeed generous, granting a third-tier Demon Core to his minor wife to help her break through to the False Core.”

“Indeed! I thought True Lord Changsheng would keep that Demon Core as a family treasure, perhaps cultivating a future False Core practitioner or refining artifacts; I didn’t expect he’d give it to his minor wife.”

“It’s no wonder he’s the most passionate man in Jiang Kingdom! Not only did he help his wife Lu Miaoge acquire the Condensing Crystal Pill, but now his minor wife can also obtain a third-tier Demon Core and push toward the False Core stage.”

“If only I could marry True Lord Changsheng!”

“Who’d give me a third-tier Demon Core as a dowry? I’d immediately marry him!”

In a short time, news of Yan Lan’s breakthrough became the talk of the town in Immortal City of Damengze, alongside the emergence of the Da Mengze secret realm.

Moreover, word spread throughout the Azure Cloud area and even the entire Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

Unlike True Cores, those who just breached the False Core stage must stabilize their foundations decisively to prevent magical energy disorder or backlash from the Demon Core.

So, after congratulating Yan Lan and spending a moment of intimacy, Lu Changsheng reminded her to stabilize her cultivation before leaving the cave.

As he awaited the opening of the Da Mengze secret realm, Lu Changsheng found it inconvenient to enter critical refinement or cultivation, so he returned to the City Lord’s Mansion and resumed his usual work drawing top-tier third-tier talismans.

Just then, he suddenly sensed something amiss regarding the Lu Family Record.

The record retained spiritual clarity even when a name was possessed through soul searching, alerting him to potential danger.

“Quanzhen!”

Through the family record, he instantly realized that his son, Lu Quanzhen, was under threat from some soul-searching technique.

Whether through soul search or possession, reaching this level was exceedingly perilous.

“Quanzhen just advanced to the third level of Core Formation; how could he be targeted by soul searching?”

Lu Changsheng’s expression darkened.

He attempted to calculate the situation surrounding his son and perceived that the information was shrouded in uncertainty.

Remembering his previous experience with his son, Lu Ping’an, he had studied the family record to ensure it blocked outsiders, but it wouldn’t shield himself as the family head.

Thus, the obscured information didn’t stem from interference of the family record but from deeper issues.

Not to mention, a mere third-tier talisman surely wouldn’t have such an effect! Lu Changsheng pressed a drop of his blood from his fingertip, and then tapped his storage ring to retrieve a vial inscribed with Lu Quanzhen’s name. A drop of blood flew out, serving as a medium for divination.

“External interference is isolating the heavens, clouding the secrets.”

After a long while, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, his face pale as he murmured, “Could Quanzhen have entered a secret realm?”

After refining the divination up to third tier, he gained deeper understanding, learning that not all divination had direct outcomes; some could only be inferred through adjacent deductions and analyses.

With a situation like Lu Quanzhen’s, he had to either obtain a treasure like the Heavenly Yuan Lotus to suppress the heavenly secrets or enter a secret realm, or it could be a hidden dwelling of a high-level destiny master.

Out of these three possibilities, Lu Changsheng leaned more toward the idea that his son had entered a certain secret realm.

“A secret realm…”

Yet for Lu Changsheng, being in a secret realm was the most troublesome.

After all, most secret realms isolate the world and make divination exceedingly difficult.

With his son now under the threat of soul searching, it implied he had likely fallen into some practitioner’s hands, leaving his chance of escaping the secret realm slim.