Chapter 768: Juejian’s Visit, Encountering an Old Friend!

Immortal City of Damengze, Jiang Kingdom.

City Lord’s Mansion.

“True Lord Juejian, what brings you here?”

Hong Lian entered the reception hall, her gaze settling upon Yun Jianfeng, who was clad in black brocade robes and possessed a composed yet sharp demeanor. Without any hint of constraint, she offered an elegant, light smile.

“Fellow Daoist Li, I’ve come today regarding matters in Yue Kingdom,” the sword cultivator Nascent Soul True Lord stated, cutting straight to the point without preamble.

This sword Dao Nascent Soul True Lord didn’t engage in much small talk, directly stating the purpose of his visit.

“Yue Kingdom?”

Hong Lian vaguely guessed the purpose of True Lord Juejian’s visit.

As one of the three major Immortal Cities of Jiang Kingdom, Immortal City of Damengze had consistently monitored information regarding surrounding powers.

During the Liang-Yue War years ago, Yue Kingdom suffered repeated defeats.

However, with the opening of the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, True Lord Tiancang of Liang Kingdom had his Dharma body slain in the secret realm, and True Lord Yunmei was severely injured, causing Liang Kingdom to suffer a significant loss of vitality, allowing Yue Kingdom to counterattack.

Even so, the Liang-Yue War remained in a stalemate.

Over these years, the Four Great Immortal Sects of Jiang Kingdom had been helping Yue Kingdom, hoping to end this battle, but Liang Kingdom was remarkably resilient.

Now, with True Lord Juejian’s arrival, Hong Lian speculated it was related to the Liang-Yue War, or rather, that the war was likely to take a turn.

“According to intelligence, Liang Kingdom has reached some form of cooperation with Yuan Kingdom. When the time comes, Nascent Soul True Lords from Yuan Kingdom are likely to intervene, assisting Liang Kingdom in its invasion of Yue Kingdom. Therefore, I wish to invite Fellow Daoist Li and Fellow Daoist Wang to lend a hand.”

True Lord Juejian revealed the purpose of his visit.

Jiang Kingdom’s geographical location was quite favorable. To the west were the various kingdoms of the Western Regions, requiring no concern. To the north, it possessed the natural barrier of Da Mengze. To the south, it not only had the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range but also Yue Kingdom as an ally.

The only area of concern was Jin Kingdom.

Now that Liang Kingdom had partnered with Yuan Kingdom, once Yue Kingdom was annexed, Jiang Kingdom would find itself in a precarious and awkward position.

“Indeed.”

Hong Lian was aware of Yuan Kingdom’s infiltration into Wu Kingdom, but not the specifics.

Hearing True Lord Juejian’s words, she instantly recognized the gravity of the situation.

Yuan Kingdom and Liang Kingdom had formed an alliance, and Nascent Soul True Lords might intervene.

Moreover, after so many years, True Lord Yunmei’s injuries had most likely healed.

If Beast God Mountain was willing to pay the price, True Lord Tiancang might also have completed his reincarnation through body snatching.

In such a situation, if they joined forces with Yuan Kingdom to invade, the Yue Kingdom’s Immortal Sects would definitely be no match.

Although Jiang Kingdom possessed two Nascent Soul True Lords, they also had to guard against the neighboring Jin Kingdom and potential ambushes from other cultivators.

“How many Nascent Soul True Lords from Yuan Kingdom are expected to intervene?”

Although Hong Lian was only at Core Formation cultivation, she showed no timidity facing True Lord Juejian, appearing detached, refined, and composed.

“Likely two.”

Regarding this, True Lord Juejian wasn’t certain, only relaying information obtained from Yue Kingdom, where the situation was dire.

“Two…”

Hong Lian mused for a moment, then said, “This matter needs to be discussed with my husband. However, my husband is currently in seclusion, and his emergence time is uncertain.”

“May I ask, True Lord, when will Yuan Kingdom likely take action?”

In her previous life, she was a Nascent Soul True Lord, but now she only possessed Core Formation eighth-layer cultivation. In a Nascent Soul level battle, her contributions would be very limited.

At most, she could briefly contend using secret techniques.

Moreover, she needed to oversee Immortal City of Damengze and couldn’t risk her life for such matters by using Nascent Soul secret techniques.

“The timing isn’t certain, it could be as soon as a year, or as late as three to five years?”

True Lord Juejian replied, then inquired when City Lord Wang Lin would emerge from seclusion.

“To be frank, True Lord, my husband and I came to Jiang Kingdom from the Northern Plains, heavily injured. My husband is currently recovering, and it may be difficult for him to emerge from seclusion in the short term.”

Previously, when Lu Changsheng went out, he would usually return within a year or two.

But this time, he had been gone for four full years and had not yet returned, so she couldn’t be certain.

“Seriously injured and unable to emerge from seclusion in the short term.”

True Lord Juejian’s eyes, seemingly containing two peerless divine swords, narrowed slightly.

He had witnessed City Lord Wang act during the Damengze Whale Hunting Banquet.

With his fourth-rank physique, he had casually suppressed a Core Formation Grand cultivator, showing no signs of injury.

However, regarding the mysterious City Lord Wang and the City Lord’s wife before him, he and True Lord Xuanjian had long suspected that they were likely Nascent Soul True Lords.

Only their cultivation realm had been damaged for some reason.

“This matter is of great importance. Fellow Daoist Li, you can send a message to Fellow Daoist Wang to discuss it.”

“Moreover, this endeavor won’t be without reward for you two. Since Fellow Daoist Wang is injured, my Heavenly Sword Sect also possesses some rare Spirit Medicines that might be of use.”

True Lord Juejian spoke earnestly, his tone neither pleading nor demanding, but rather a serious and direct statement.

Their Heavenly Sword Sect allowed the two to govern Immortal City of Damengze, granting numerous preferential treatments, not only because of the strength Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian had demonstrated in slaying fourth-rank demon kings, but also due to their friendly attitude.

They hoped that if Jiang Kingdom encountered danger or faced a future demonic path calamity, the two would contribute.

Now, concerning the Liang-Yue War, if Immortal City of Damengze was unwilling to help and only wanted to hide, then his Heavenly Sword Sect would have to re-evaluate how to treat Damengze Immortal City.

“I will inform my husband about this matter, and if there is news, I will immediately send a message to your esteemed sect,” Hong Lian replied with a light smile, her red lips parting slightly, discerning the meaning behind True Lord Juejian’s words.

Hong Lian discerned the meaning in True Lord Juejian’s words and responded with a light smile, her red lips slightly parted.

“Very well.”

True Lord Juejian gazed at Hong Lian, resplendent and noble in her red and gold vermilion bird dress, then nodded and took his leave.

After True Lord Juejian completely departed, Hong Lian softly exhaled, the elegant and composed smile on her face faded, and she crushed the jade talisman Lu Changsheng had left behind.

Then, she instructed Ling Zixiao to discreetly raise the Immortal City’s alert level by one degree.

True Lord Juejian’s visit was very clear in its intent.

If Immortal City of Damengze was unwilling to help, then the Heavenly Sword Sect would no longer treat them as allies.

Under normal circumstances, Immortal City of Damengze had nothing to fear.

But now, Lu Changsheng was absent.

And he had taken the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror and the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale with him when he left.

If the Heavenly Sword Sect changed its attitude, with her current strength, it would be difficult to cope.

Land of Eternal Night.

Gold Vine Town.

Inside a house built of blue bricks.

After waiting for over a month, Lu Changsheng finally managed to retrieve the third-rank top-tier puppet, Mountain-Moving Whip, third-rank armor, and Divination Copper Coin from his Storage Ring using a trace amount of magical energy from his children and descendants.

Looking at the Divination Copper Coin in his hand, he closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before tossing it.

“Mid-upper sign, auspicious fortune, encountering an old friend on the road.”

Looking at the Divination Copper Coin on the ground, Lu Changsheng was thoughtful.

Although in this realm, Blood Energy and magical energy were dormant, and divine sense was absent, preventing him from sensing the heavenly secret.

But as a fourth-rank diviner, using divination tools like the Divination Copper Coin, he could still perform divination, though not as accurate as usual.

Through the Divination Copper Coin, he saw that his mountain journey’s divination sign was auspicious, and he would encounter an old friend on the road.

As for which old friend, Qian Zhuyan or Six Paths Demon Concubine, he couldn’t discern.

Immediately, Lu Changsheng put away the Divination Copper Coin, carrying the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, wearing a suit of ink-black armor, and with the Mountain-Moving Whip on his back, he walked out of the house.

“My lord, what are your orders?”

The guards and maids waiting outside looked surprised to see Lu Changsheng wearing armor.

They remembered Lu Changsheng arriving in a cyan wide robe, without armor or weapons. How was he now wearing armor?

Even with their ordinary eyesight, they could see that this suit of ink-black armor was extraordinary, as if cast from ten-thousand-year profound iron. A faint black luster flowed, giving a sense of depth and weight.

The Mountain-Moving Whip on his back was similar, giving a suffocating sense of heaviness just by looking at it.

“Summon your master here,”

Lu Changsheng said.

After eating and lodging here for over a month, and learning about the Land of Eternal Night from them, Ancestor Lu would naturally not freeload.

The owner of the house arrived, and his pupils constricted violently upon seeing the armor and Mountain-Moving Whip on Lu Changsheng.

He had heard legends about people from Beyond the Heavens.

Some people from Beyond the Heavens possessed spatial mustard seed means.

He could confirm that the Lu Changsheng before him was a top-tier person from Beyond the Heavens! “My lord, may I ask what you require of me?”

This noble was one of the top experts in Gold Vine Town, but at this moment, he was extremely respectful to Lu Changsheng.

“For over a month, thank you for your trouble. I am preparing to go into the deep mountains; this is your reward.”

Lu Changsheng tossed a pre-prepared jade box to the other party and spoke.

He had studied the cultivation methods here, which were similar to body cultivators.

This jade box contained a portion of Blood Energy Core Formation Spirit Medicine. If this person consumed and refined it, his strength would greatly improve.

“Thank you, my lord!”

Yuan Yihua excitedly accepted the jade box, respectfully thanking him, and then asked if Lu Changsheng needed someone to guide him.

There were many hunters in the town who could lead the way into the mountains.

“No need.”

Lu Changsheng waved his hand, then beckoned to the three puppets in front of the house. He and the three puppets strode away.

“This is…”

Yuan Yihua looked at the three puppets before him, increasingly feeling that Lu Changsheng was extraordinary, respectfully seeing him off as he left the town towards the deep mountains.

After seeing Lu Changsheng off, he immediately returned to his home and opened the jade box. Inside, he saw a blood ginseng radiating a rosy glow and a fragrant aroma.

Just smelling the scent of this blood ginseng, he felt refreshed all over, with a sense of heavenly light surging within him.

“This mysterious lord actually bestowed such a spiritual medicine.”

He didn’t recognize any Core Formation Spirit Items, only knowing that the blood ginseng before him contained astonishing spiritual matter, far exceeding anything he had seen. He trembled with excitement, his hands shaking.

If he were to fully consume and refine it, his strength would definitely undergo a qualitative change, allowing him to move to a renowned distant city and live, no longer needing to stay in this remote, dim town.

After leaving the town, Lu Changsheng headed towards the heavenly light in the deep mountains.

The wilderness environment was extremely harsh, but for Lu Changsheng, it was like walking on level ground.

Occasionally, wild beasts appeared, but without him even lifting a finger, the puppets beside him could easily kill them.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, Lu Changsheng saw what seemed like a pair of eyes peering at him from the dark, dense forest ahead.

Although he lacked magical energy and divine sense.

The fourth-rank physique and Taiyi Spirit bestowed upon him excellent vision and perception. Upon closer inspection, he saw a black shadow with a pale human face spying on him, its eyes, mostly whites, were eerie and terrifying.

In such a deathly silent forest, the sudden appearance of such a scene was truly alarming.

“Staring at your mom!”

However, Lu Changsheng was fearless and directly hurled the Mountain-Moving Whip in his hand.

Even though this Spirit Treasure, like the Misty Dust Banner, had its spirituality suppressed and affected here, it was still a top-tier divine weapon.

With a “Bang” sound, accompanied by a hair-raising, shrill cry, the black shadow vanished like smoke, dropping a nail-sized, emerald green crystal.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng stepped forward to pick up the Mountain-Moving Whip and the emerald green crystal, examining it for a few moments and discerning that this crystal contained very pure Yin soul power.

“Was this the mysterious danger Yuan Yihua and the others spoke of?”

During these days, Lu Changsheng gained more understanding of the Land of Eternal Night, knowing it was very strange and filled with many mysterious and unknown events.

However, in his view, these strangeness, mystery, and unknowns were all due to insufficient strength, preventing specific contact.

Just like the black shadow just now, it was somewhat like specters and fierce ghosts.

If the people in the town encountered it, they would find it difficult to deal with and would only regard it as some mysterious, unknown horror.

He put away the emerald green crystal and continued towards the depths of the mountain.

After spending more than half a month, Lu Changsheng arrived at the heavenly light location in the deep mountains that Yuan Yihua and others had pointed out.

But through Ah Wu’s senses and detection, there were no traces of the Golden-Winged Roc and Qian Zhuyan.

“Being unable to use divine sense is indeed troublesome.”

Accustomed to viewing all directions with divine sense and having everything under control, Lu Changsheng felt very uncomfortable without divine sense now.

Fortunately, he still had the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, which could barely substitute for divine sense. Otherwise, trying to find someone in these vast mountains would be impossible.

Looking at the pitch-black world, as if swallowed by the abyss, Lu Changsheng still sighed, then took out the Divination Copper Coin, closed his eyes, tossed it, and randomly picked a direction to continue searching.

After all, according to the divination sign, his trip was of mid-upper auspiciousness. As long as he persisted in searching, he would encounter an old friend.

On the way, he saw many spiritual plants and even Spirit Fields glowing with colorful luster.

It’s just that Storage Rings were inconvenient to use now, and these Spirit Medicines and crystal mines were too low-level to be worth carrying, so he had to give up.

Time passed little by little, Lu Changsheng continued searching in the pitch-black deep mountains with his three puppets.

Although dangers occasionally appeared during the process, with his strength and three third-rank top-tier puppets, they were all easily handled.

“Hmm!?”

On this day, Lu Changsheng suddenly sensed faint fighting sounds coming from afar.

At this moment, the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror in his chest slightly trembled, telling Lu Changsheng that there seemed to be Qian Zhuyan’s aura in the distance.

“Little Yan!”

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng instantly looked towards the direction of the fighting sounds, then, with his three puppets, quickly rushed towards the battle location, his speed astonishingly fast, directly smashing the trees and boulders along the way into dust.

A dense forest in the distance.

A massive puppet, its body gleaming with a dark, cold metallic luster, was fighting a woman dressed in a colorful palace robe.

Several figures clad in armor and wielding weapons stood aside, too afraid to step forward, horrified that their city lord was no match for such a monster.

Seeing a sharp Flying Sword suddenly emerge from the colored-robed woman’s sleeve, Qian Zhuyan’s soul fire in his eye sockets burned, his voice hoarse and cold, “Core Formation magical energy? You are a cultivator!?”

“Hmm!?”

The colored-robed woman was initially surprised to see Qian Zhuyan. How could such a puppet appear in these deep mountains?

She assumed it was some kind of mutated creature or a strange life form that had occupied this puppet.

However, she was no match for this puppet. Helplessly, she had to use expensive magical energy.

Unexpectedly, this puppet actually spoke, recognizing her use of magical energy.

“Are you a cultivator who was swept into the Land of Eternal Night?”

The colored-robed woman clutched the magic sword in her hand, retreating slightly, her expression wary and suspicious.

A puppet actually possessing independent consciousness, just like a cultivator—this was astonishing.

“Land of Eternal Night?”

When Qian Zhuyan initially landed in the deep mountains, apart from wild beasts and mutated creatures, he hadn’t encountered anyone, so he knew nothing about this realm.

Just now, encountering the colored-robed woman and her group, before they could even communicate, they took him for a strange life form, and both sides had clashed.

“Can you tell me, what is this place?”

Qian Zhuyan looked at the colored-robed woman and asked.

As he spoke, he tossed a newly acquired rare Spirit Item to the other party, proactively showing goodwill.

“This place is called the Land of Eternal Night…”

The colored-robed woman discerned that the puppet before her seemed to be a cultivator, possessing independent consciousness, and spoke, but still remained vigilant.

After all, in this Land of Eternal Night, upon encountering cultivators, people from Beyond the Heavens, one must never lower one’s guard.

Especially since the puppet before her was terrifyingly powerful, suspected to be a fourth-rank puppet, and even possessed consciousness—simply horrifying.

“Is this also a person from Beyond the Heavens?”

The armored figures beside her knew that their city lord was a person from Beyond the Heavens. They hadn’t expected that the puppet, resembling a war machine, was also a person from Beyond the Heavens.

“Land of Eternal Night? Why do I sense this place is unlike the cultivation world, more like some kind of secret realm?”

Qian Zhuyan continued to inquire, wanting to learn about the situation here from the colored-robed woman, and then figure out how to find his lord.

However, at this moment, both she and the colored-robed woman suddenly sensed something and abruptly looked in one direction, their expressions alert.

In just a few breaths, rapid movements approached. From the darkness in the distance, several figures rushed towards them.

Leading them was a figure clad in dark armor.