Chapter 730: Moonmelt Isle, the Hidden Spirit Body!

Shen Yiren led Lu Changsheng to the heart of the Divine Maiden Palace to choose a Spirit Meridian Cave Abode.

The top-tier third-rank Spirit Meridian Cave Abodes near Shen Jianjia and Shen Yiren’s residences were all occupied so Lu Changsheng chose a more remote island for peace and quiet.

“Moonmelt Isle has been unoccupied for many years and now other than the spirit fields and spirit medicines there aren’t many people to take care of it.”

“Once the identity formalities are completed I’ll have Granny Ma provide some disciples for you to choose from as stewards and attendants.”

For a Core Formation True Lord like Lu Changsheng, the Divine Maiden Palace provides Spirit Meridian Cave Abodes that encompass an entire mountain peak or small island.

Not only can one cultivate daily but they can also open spirit fields, medicine fields and even raise a few spirit beasts.

Therefore in this situation the Divine Maiden Palace will also provide some disciples as stewards and servants to help handle trivial matters.

“I’ll have to trouble you then, Third Palace Mistress.”

Soon, Lu Changsheng and Shen Yiren arrived at Moonmelt Isle to inspect it.

The entire island spanned three to four miles and was planted with large silver maple trees. It had an overall milky-white appearance and at night it seemed to blend with the moonlight, hence the name Moonmelt Isle.

“Greetings, Third Palace Mistress, greetings, Elder Xuanmu!”

Under Shen Yiren’s guidance, Lu Changsheng took a general tour of the island. All the cultivators on the island knew that they had welcomed a late-stage Core Formation Guest Elder! Everyone looked at Lu Changsheng with utmost respect.

After confirming his residence, Shen Yiren took Lu Changsheng to process his identity token. During the process, she introduced him to the situation of the Divine Maiden Palace and introduced several of the Divine Maiden Palace’s deacon elders.

However at the Core Formation stage, most cultivators were either in closed-door cultivation or busy with affairs. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the Divine Maiden Palace, including Shen Yiren, only had three late-stage Core Formation cultivators holding down the fort.

“I must thank you for all your help today, Third Palace Mistress. Once I’m settled I’ll prepare a banquet and cook to express my gratitude.”

After finishing their business and seeing that it was getting late, Lu Changsheng smiled at Shen Yiren.

Through their interactions today, the two had naturally grown closer.

Therefore, to express his thanks, Lu Changsheng didn’t offer gifts but instead prepared to host a banquet and cook himself to further close the distance between them.

Although his spirit chef skills were only at the second-rank top-tier.

Aside from a professional third-rank spirit chef, this level was more than enough.

If he displayed third-rank spirit chef skills it would be too much.

“My friend Xuanmu, you are also skilled in the art of spirit cuisine?”

Shen Yiren’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise.

Although the art of spirit cuisine was widespread, not many high-ranking cultivators would waste time on it.

Even she only spent a little time on it when she was free, gradually developing an interest and using it to cultivate her temperament.

“You flatter me, Third Palace Mistress.”

Lu Changsheng smiled gently and said, “It’s just that in my early years when I was out hunting demon beasts, I did a little research to satisfy my own appetite. Then I usually used it to cultivate my temperament, it’s nothing compared to the delicacies outside. I just hope you won’t find my cooking too poor.”

“How could that be? I’m very much looking forward to your cooking.”

Shen Yiren covered her mouth and chuckled, her beautiful eyes lively. She was quite interested in Lu Changsheng’s cooking, wanting to see how skilled he was.

After parting with Shen Yiren, Lu Changsheng returned to his cave abode on Moonmelt Isle.

He had no intention of rearranging the island’s grand formation.

He merely took out a set of third-rank formations given to him by a kind soul from his storage ring, covering his cave abode to prevent others from prying into his privacy.

However with the Nascent Soul-level divine soul Qian Zhuyan keeping watch, under normal circumstances no one could spy on his cave abode.

After setting up the formation, Lu Changsheng released Qian Zhuyan from his spirit pet bag, instructing her to usually stay at home and forge puppets.

Half a month later, Granny Ma sent a list, indicating that Lu Changsheng could choose some people to serve as housekeepers, servants and disciples.

Although the Divine Maiden Palace was named after divine maidens, it did not only recruit female disciples.

It’s just that the ratio of men to women was such that female cultivators accounted for over 70% of the total.

Therefore, most of the people on the list were female cultivators, with only a few men.

Lu Changsheng looked at the list. Each disciple not only had a detailed introduction but also included images of their appearance.

It felt like browsing the White Jade House in his early years.

After all, the Divine Maiden Palace sending so many beautiful female cultivators to be housekeepers and maids—if there wasn’t some other motive, Lu Changsheng wouldn’t believe it.

However, for these ordinary Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples, being able to become a steward or attendant to a late-stage Core Formation Guest Elder was also an opportunity.

“Hmm!?”

At this moment, when Lu Changsheng saw a disciple named ‘Song Yudies’ on the list, a strange feeling suddenly surged in his heart.

“Song Yudies, inner disciple of the Divine Maiden Palace, a concubine’s daughter of the Song family of Penglai Island, Fourth-Rank Spirit Root, early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.”

Lu Changsheng looked at Song Yudies’s information but didn’t see anything special.

But according to the premonition from his top-tier third-rank divination, this woman was definitely not ordinary.

“I’ll choose her.”

Lu Changsheng said to Granny Ma.

Seeing that Lu Changsheng only chose one and didn’t plan to choose more, Granny Ma was a little surprised. “Elder Xuanmu, won’t you choose a few more to meet together? What about the other maids and servants?”

“No need, there are already some people on the island. One steward is enough.”

Lu Changsheng said with a gentle smile.

Granny Ma had Core Formation cultivation and was a senior member of the Divine Maiden Palace, so Lu Changsheng treated her with great respect.

Hearing this, Granny Ma didn’t insist, saying that the person would come over later and that he could find her directly if he needed anything.

After Granny Ma left, Lu Changsheng tried to divine Song Yudies’s situation but there was no indication of good or bad luck.

“What’s going on? Could it be that my premonition just now wasn’t from this woman?”

Lu Changsheng frowned, wanting to retrace the feeling from earlier, but he couldn’t capture it.

“Forget it, I’ll see when she gets here.”

After a moment, Lu Changsheng stopped his divination, not wasting any more effort.

At this moment, on an outer peak of the Divine Maiden Palace, a group of Foundation Establishment disciples gathered together.

“Junior Sister Song, I didn’t expect a noble lady like you to choose the errand of being a servant steward.”

A beautiful woman saw a tall, attractive, taciturn woman not far away and said with a faint smile.

The woman addressed as Junior Sister Song merely flickered her eyelids, glancing at her without responding.

“This is a late-stage Core Formation Guest Elder, what’s wrong with competing for this kind of errand?”

A man who admired Junior Sister Song immediately spoke up for her.

“That’s right, serving by the side of a late-stage Core Formation master is a blessing that takes several lifetimes to cultivate.”

“That’s true, but Junior Sister Song is different from us.”

Seeing this, some of the other fellow disciples spoke up for her while others made sarcastic remarks.

The reason was simple: no matter where you are, there are always factions.

Errands like serving others were mostly competed for by ordinary disciples of the Divine Maiden Palace.

And Song Yudies was from one of the Core Formation aristocratic families attached to Penglai Island, a member of the noble class.

No matter what, noble disciples who entered the Divine Maiden Palace would not lower their status to compete with ordinary disciples for the errand of serving others.

However, Song Yudies was the illegitimate daughter of a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Song family. When she was brought back, it caused discord between the husband and wife.

Fortunately, she was found to have a Fourth-Rank Spirit Root and was sent by her father to cultivate in the Divine Maiden Palace.

But her identity as an illegitimate daughter and her taciturn nature made it difficult for her to integrate into the circle of noble disciples. She also lacked common topics with ordinary disciples, so she wasn’t very well-liked.

Just as everyone was talking and laughing, a dignified middle-aged man walked over and said, “Where is Song Yudies?”

“Hmm!?”

The cultivators present all turned to look at Song Yudies, who was resting with her eyes closed not far away.

“Steward Luo.”

Song Yudies immediately opened her eyes, stepped forward and bowed.

“Junior Sister Song, Elder Xuanmu has chosen you to be the steward of Moonmelt Isle. Pack up and prepare to go to Moonmelt Isle later.”

Steward Luo looked at the beautiful Song Yudies before him and said amiably.

Although Guest Elders were not as important as Core Elders.

A late-stage Core Formation Guest Elder was still a big shot to them.

Becoming the steward of such a Guest Elder was like hugging a golden thigh!

Moreover, Core Formation masters usually cultivate in seclusion. As long as they handled some trivial matters, they wouldn’t be too busy or delay their cultivation. They could even gain greater authority! The biggest hidden benefit of serving such an elder was that if the latter was happy, they could casually bestow some spirit pills or elixirs, or resources within the rules, which would save them years of struggle!

Even if they encountered a stingy elder, as long as they were satisfied during their service and gave a good evaluation, they would have priority in competing for the sect’s core resources in the future.

This was also why so many Foundation Establishment cultivators competed for the errand of serving others.

“What, he’s already chosen?”

“Doesn’t he usually choose many people?”

“Yeah, don’t they usually choose many people and then pick one?”

The cultivators present were surprised and confused.

“Congratulations, Junior Sister Song.”

“As expected of Junior Sister Song, she was chosen by Elder Xuanmu at a glance.”

Someone immediately congratulated Song Yudies, their eyes full of envy and jealousy.

Directly becoming the steward of a late-stage Core Formation Guest Elder would not only improve their benefits and treatment but also their status and position in the sect.

Some female disciples sized up Song Yudies’s appearance and figure, thinking that they were no worse. How did she surpass them?

But the matter was already settled, they dared not question it.

“Thank you, Steward Luo, I’ll go pack up and prepare.”

Song Yudies immediately thanked him, her expression joyful as she went to pack up, feeling like she was dreaming.

She never expected to be chosen directly like this.

The next day, Song Yudies arrived at Moonmelt Isle.

Lu Changsheng sized up Song Yudies before him. The Peach Blossom Gu in his sea of consciousness awoke, sending a faint message.

It indicated that forming a peach blossom relationship with the other party would be of some help to him.

“Looks like this woman is indeed extraordinary.”

Although Song Yudies was beautiful and had a good figure, she was only considered to be of the upper level.

The Peach Blossom Gu had been with him for a hundred years, it wouldn’t wake up just because of her appearance.

Most likely, this woman had a relatively strong peach blossom ভাগ্য or… was prosperous to her husband!

“I usually need to cultivate in seclusion and draw talismans. You are in full charge of the island’s affairs. If there is anything you can’t handle, then notify me.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t act too eagerly, speaking gently.

“Huh?”

Song Yudies was stunned, not expecting Elder Xuanmu to be so easygoing.

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“Rest assured, Elder Xuanmu, Yudie will definitely manage Moonmelt Isle well.”

She quickly came back to her senses, bowing respectfully, her tone full of joy.

“Alright, off you go.”

Lu Changsheng waved his hand, signaling her to leave.

Song Yudies walked out of the courtyard, still feeling a little dazed.

She couldn’t understand why Elder Xuanmu had chosen her.

In terms of ability, she hadn’t shown it yet.

In terms of appearance, when Elder Xuanmu looked at her just now, his eyes were clear and gentle, without any greed or covetousness.

On the other hand, when she saw the handsome and elegant Elder Xuanmu, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness towards him.

“Could it be that I’ve met Elder Xuanmu before? Or Elder Xuanmu has met me?”

Song Yudies guessed, but she couldn’t remember. She stopped thinking about it and went to handle some affairs on the island.

After Song Yudies left, Lu Changsheng took out his divination copper coin and used a strand of her hair as a medium to begin divining.

This strand of hair was one he had just plucked from Song Yudies.

With his cultivation and methods, plucking a hair from a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s head without them noticing was a simple matter.

With the help of this strand of hair, Lu Changsheng roughly understood his premonition from before through divination.

The other party likely possessed some kind of fortuitous treasure that was a small opportunity for him.

“A treasure… a hidden spirit body?”

One cannot divine everything.

And most of the time, divinations only give a general idea, not very precise unless a great price is paid.

But through the faint response of the Peach Blossom Gu just now, Lu Changsheng instantly guessed that this opportunity was likely that the other party possessed some kind of hidden dual cultivation spirit body.

Only in this way would the Peach Blossom Gu sense the peach blossom luck!

“Unfortunately, my target right now is the Third Palace Mistress.”

Lu Changsheng was still thinking about how to further his relationship with Third Palace Mistress Shen Yiren, so he could only put Song Yudies aside for now.

After all, he had just become a Guest Elder of the Divine Maiden Palace.

If he immediately made a move on a Divine Maiden Palace disciple, it would damage his reputation.

If Shen Yiren found out and thought he was a promiscuous person, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Moreover, according to the divination and the faint response of the Peach Blossom Gu, even if Song Yudies possessed a hidden spirit body, it wouldn’t be very rare, at most a superior spirit body.

In this case, her Foundation Establishment first-layer cultivation wouldn’t be of much help to him either.

Time flew by. Before he knew it, a month had passed since Lu Changsheng became a Guest Elder of the Divine Maiden Palace.

He adapted to this new identity very naturally.

On this day, Third Palace Mistress Shen Yiren came to visit.

In addition to catching up, she also delivered the first batch of talisman-making materials to his cave abode.

In addition, Shen Yiren also brought two disciples with talent in talisman-making, hoping that he could guide them in his spare time.

As the lord of a faction and a Guest Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, Lu Changsheng was very familiar with these things.

He knew that the disciples sent in this way were, on the one hand, hoping that he would guide and teach them.

On the other hand, they were seeing if he would be moved to take them as nominal disciples.

This would not only cultivate the sect’s disciples but also increase his ties to the Divine Maiden Palace.

“Rest assured, Third Palace Mistress.”

Lu Changsheng said with a smile. He chatted with her over tea, then used the previous ‘Essentials of Gongzhi’s Medical Dao’ as an entry point.

He said that he had recently gained some new insights from reading this book.

Shen Yiren was instantly interested and the two chatted happily.

Lu Changsheng didn’t finish the topic all at once.

Half an hour later, still wanting to talk more, he said that he had previously mentioned preparing a banquet and cooking. Why not do it today?

Otherwise, he would have to focus on drawing talismans in the following period and who knows when he would be busy until.

“In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, my friend Xuanmu.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s polite and enthusiastic expression, Shen Yiren nodded.

Lu Changsheng didn’t take out the rare ingredients in his storage ring, but instead instructed Song Yudies to bring some ingredients over.

“I happen to have prepared some good ingredients in my abode. My friend Xuanmu, please wait a moment.”

Shen Yiren immediately said, not wanting to take too much advantage.

“I just hope you won’t blame me for wasting your ingredients.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t refuse and said thus.

Occasionally letting the woman contribute something or asking her to help with small things is beneficial to increasing the relationship between the two.

“Of course not.”

Although she knew Lu Changsheng was joking, Shen Yiren still gave him a look, full of charm.

After Shen Yiren brought the ingredients over, Lu Changsheng began to show off his cooking skills.

Although his cooking skill was only at the second-rank top-tier.

His Nascent Soul-level divine soul’s meticulous control over the heat and ingredients was enough to elevate the food’s quality by a level.

Even Shen Yiren couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

“They’re all just ordinary dishes, please try them, Third Palace Mistress. Let me know if anything doesn’t suit your taste.”

Each time he finished a dish, Lu Changsheng immediately invited Shen Yiren to taste it.

“Your spirit chef skills already surpass many of the Divine Maiden Palace’s spirit chefs. I’m afraid that after eating your food too much, I won’t be used to others’ cooking.”

Shen Yiren smiled, praising him. She was quite impressed with Lu Changsheng, not expecting him to truly have such skill in cooking.

Although it wasn’t as exaggerated as she said, to be able to improve his cooking to this level just by spending some time in his spare time, it showed his amazing talent and comprehension.

“It’s mainly because your ingredients are good.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t say that he would cook for her more in the future, their relationship hadn’t reached that point yet.

After a long while, a table of spirit food delicacies was ready and the two began to dine.

Lu Changsheng didn’t forget his main purpose, wanting to use the Divine Maiden Palace to inquire about information related to the Huaying Pill.

“Third Palace Mistress, do you know if there are any high-level cultivator trade fairs in your palace or in Penglai Island?”

The best way to learn about information on the Huaying Pill was to constantly participate in high-level auctions or high-level cultivator trade fairs.

But these kinds of auctions were generally held once every ten years, or even decades.

And high-level cultivator trade fairs were only known to those within the current circle, requiring connections.

Although Lu Changsheng was a high-level cultivator, he hadn’t cultivated his network of connections, so he wasn’t clear on this.

“High-level cultivator trade fair?”

Shen Yiren ate very elegantly. Hearing this, she thought for a moment and said, “Penglai Island does have high-level cultivator trade fairs but they are held together with auctions. The next one will be in three years. If you are interested, my friend, I will remind you then.”

“As for other small trade fairs organized by Core Formation cultivators themselves, I’m not very clear.”

As the Third Palace Mistress of the Divine Maiden Palace, she wouldn’t normally participate in such small trade fairs.

“Do these high-level auctions and trade fairs have Nascent Soul resources, spirit items for forming a Nascent Soul?”

Lu Changsheng casually asked as he poured Shen Yiren another cup of fruit wine.

“They do.”

Shen Yiren smiled, saying that these high-level auctions not only had Core Formation cultivators but also Nascent Soul True Lords who were rarely seen on ordinary days.

So one would often see some rare resources, even high-grade Nascent Soul spirit items.

“But these kinds of high-grade Nascent Soul spirit items are usually fought over by many cultivators, with high premiums.”

Shen Yiren knew the hardships of rogue cultivators.

They often fought and struggled for one or two Nascent Soul spirit items, or served major forces, spending their savings.

“If you want to try to reach the Nascent Soul stage, if there are any Nascent Soul spirit items you need to buy or exchange, I might be able to help.”

As the Third Palace Mistress of the Divine Maiden Palace, Shen Yiren still had quite a bit of authority.

Having a good impression of Lu Changsheng and believing that he had the potential to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, she was also willing to invest in him as a favor.

“I thank you in advance, Third Palace Mistress.”

Lu Changsheng immediately raised his cup. Then, continuing to chat casually, he asked if any Huaying Pills ever flowed out of the Starry Sea.

“Apart from the Pill Alliance, under normal circumstances, it’s very rare for Huaying Pills to flow out.”

Shen Yiren said softly.