Chapter 775: The Emergence of a Transcendent Force

Two months later, at the City Lord’s Mansion in Azure Cloud City.

Inside a secret chamber, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged. His body radiated a brilliant celestial light, his entire appearance exuding a regal aura. Within him, his Golden Core Dao Foundation trembled like a faint murmur of the Great Way, while wisps of Yin-Yang magical energy surged forth, forming a fearsome spiritual pressure.

Huff!

After a while, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. In the depths of his gaze, two swirling black-and-white Yin-Yang fish shimmered.

Over the course of two months, Lu Changsheng refined the many spiritual objects he had gathered, barely restoring one-tenth of his magical energy.

Although it wasn’t much, when pushed to full capacity, it allowed him to employ a variety of techniques.

For instance, both the Da Luo Sword Embryo and the Yin-Yang Chart could now be easily activated.

Unlike before, when he could only awaken a bit of dormant magical energy—with nothing more than the Storage Ring at his disposal.

After checking on the condition of the Soul-Taking Beast, Lu Changsheng stepped out of the secret chamber and asked Yun Wanshang about the recent events in the city.

“How much magical energy have you recovered?”

Yun Wanshang asked Lu Changsheng with concern.

“Barely one-tenth,”

Lu Changsheng responded.

Even though Yun Wanshang had witnessed Lu Changsheng’s demonic talent, she still couldn’t fathom why these spiritual objects stimulated him so much more than they did her.

Yet, seeing that Lu Changsheng was prepared and confident, Yun Wanshang didn’t hesitate to lay out her plan.

“In that case, let’s begin with Silverfrost City,” he declared.

After hearing her proposal, Lu Changsheng replied directly.

The reason for choosing Silverfrost City was simple—the previous bloodshed most likely originated from that very place.

The next day, before heading to Silverfrost City to demand accountability, Lu Changsheng performed his usual divination to gauge his fortune.

Seeing that the omen was balanced and calm, with no signs of danger, he felt reassured.

Though divination isn’t 100% precise, as long as no ill omen appears, there’s nothing to worry about.

Soon, the two—accompanied by a puppet and a pet—departed from Azure Cloud City.

Silverfrost City.

“Boom!!!”

A dull, heavy explosion resounded.

An elderly man in a brocade robe was seen spitting blood as he was hurled violently, crashing through the wall. He shouted desperately toward Lu Changsheng, who brandished the Mountain-Moving Whip, “Master, please spare my life!”

“City Lord of Azure Cloud, the fault for what happened earlier is mine—I am willing to submit and offer compensation.”

After speaking, he turned towards Yun Wanshang, pleading for mercy with his mouth filled with blood.

According to the information he’d received, Yun Wanshang must be in poor health and severely injured; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to venture out repeatedly amidst the city’s turmoil.

He had assumed he could annex Azure Cloud City, but unexpectedly, she had come directly to Silverfrost City.

When Lu Changsheng unleashed three lashes, the man was utterly stunned—especially as the first strike landed on his face, robbing him of any chance to plead.

“City Lord,”

The commotion at the City Lord’s Mansion quickly attracted numerous Silverfrost City guards, some of whom moved to attack Lu Changsheng and his group.

However, with a single lift of his mechanical arm, Qian Zhuyan summoned a torrent of inky wind that sent the assailant flying, leaving him bleeding and broken.

“From today forward, Silverfrost City is subordinate to Azure Cloud. Any objections?”

Lu Changsheng, with his otherworldly handsomeness as if a fallen immortal had graced the mortal realm, may not have looked menacing, but the streams of Yin-Yang magical energy flowing about him made everyone break into a sweat, their bones creaking under the pressure.

“Thud! Thud!”

Many guards, unable to withstand the overwhelming surge of his Blood Energy, immediately knelt, their expressions a mix of awe and terror.

After all, the man before them was terrifying—the sheer force of his aura left them utterly defenseless.

Nearby, Yun Wanshang, witnessing Lu Changsheng’s battle prowess, couldn’t help but be visibly moved.

If less than one-tenth of his magical energy could be this overwhelming, how fearsome must he have been at his peak? Had his Nascent Soul spark not been absent, she even suspected he might have surpassed that stage.

“I never imagined this little thief possessed such a domineering, overbearing side.”

Thinking that Lu Changsheng struck at Silverfrost City without even a word of negotiation made Yun Wanshang find the situation almost amusing.

“Since there’s no objection, take me to your Silverfrost City Treasury,” she commanded.

Wielding the Mountain-Moving Whip, Lu Changsheng fixed his gaze on the gray-haired Silverfrost City Lord and pressed him further.

Were it not for his subdued Blood Energy—preventing him from unleashing his Physical Divine Abilities—he wouldn’t have needed to strike; his mere presence was enough to subdue the City Lord.

“Yes, Master,”

the Silverfrost City Lord replied, bowing under Lu Changsheng’s overwhelming pressure despite his reluctance.

Upon arriving at the Silverfrost City Treasury, Lu Changsheng furrowed his brows, suspiciously eyeing the brocade-robed old man as he tightened his grip on the Mountain-Moving Whip.

“Master, this is our Silverfrost City Treasury. We have nothing to hide. In three months, the towns below will deliver a batch of Scarlet Gold, Mithril, and spiritual objects.”

The Silverfrost City Lord, startled by the sight of Lu Changsheng’s whip, suddenly jolted and exclaimed.

That single lash nearly cost him half his life; several of his bones shattered.

Had it not been for his extraordinary strength and resilience, those three lashes would have killed him on the spot.

“Lu Changsheng, if these people ever obtain rare spiritual objects, they’ll consume them immediately rather than stockpiling them,”

Yun Wanshang explained telepathically to Lu Changsheng.

These cities, unlike cultivation sects, do not value deep heritage and legacy.

Once any rare resources are acquired, they are used at once to boost strength before the scramble for more begins.

“Forget it, something is better than nothing,”

Lu Changsheng understood why, before departing, his divination had been perfectly balanced without even a hint of minor good fortune.

After seizing all of Silverfrost City’s resources, he vowed to report at the first sign of any celestial or earthly light.

Furthermore, as the Silverfrost City Lord, the brocade-robed old man was required to submit a rare spiritual object every six months.

With that, Lu Changsheng channeled his magical energy and, using the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex, injected a dose of deadly poison into him.

Although this deadly poison wasn’t utterly unassailable, it still served as an effective deterrent.

“Deadly poison?”

Yun Wanshang looked on in surprise at Lu Changsheng’s methods.

He even practiced Poison Techniques? For someone his age, possessing such formidable prowess was astonishing—where would he find the time and energy to cultivate divine abilities?

Besides, Lu Changsheng’s magical energy was of the Yin-Yang type, which clashed with Poison Techniques, making any efforts in that realm doubly inefficient.

“Next stop: Mistveil City,”

Lu Changsheng and Yun Wanshang had no intention of returning, and pressed on toward the next city.

After selecting the city, Lu Changsheng tossed the Divination Copper Coin to perform a quick omen reading.

“Lu Changsheng, are you divining now?”

Yun Wanshang’s beautiful eyes widened in puzzlement as she looked at him.

If it had been about Poison Techniques, she could understand.

But what on earth is up with this divination?

After all, among all cultivation arts, divination is the most enigmatic and profound.

Besides, isn’t Lu Changsheng a talisman maker?

Where would he find so much time and energy? Lu Changsheng remained silent for a moment; then, seeing that the omen was balanced and harmless, he solemnly pocketed the Divination Copper Coin and smiled, “I was just dabbling during my spare time.”

.

Although Lu Changsheng’s tone was nonchalant, Yun Wanshang couldn’t help but remain skeptical.

Her own understanding told her that having cultivated for over a hundred years, he couldn’t possibly have so much free time.

Without further explanation, after a two-day rest, the group resumed their journey, setting their sights on the next city.

Even with only a meager restoration of his magical energy, Lu Changsheng and Qian Zhuyan were nearly invincible—subduing six cities in just half a month.

Absolutely flawless—just take a look!

In an instant, the entire Land of Eternal Night buzzed with excitement, as word spread of a top-tier transcendent force arriving in their midst.

Such events were not unheard of in the past.

Whenever a Nascent Soul True Lord entered the Land of Eternal Night and restored his magical energy, it sent shockwaves throughout the world.

Meanwhile, in a city as radiant as daylight,

a stunning beauty clad in dark red palace attire, crowned with an ornate crown and possessing skin as fair as snow, gazed at a portrait of a handsome man in a blue robe whose enchanting almond eyes carried a hint of coldness.

Although Lu Changsheng’s disguise had been completely stripped away upon entering the Land of Eternal Night, inside the White Bone Demon Palace the Six Paths Demon Concubine had already seen his true face.

Thus, upon seeing his image, she instantly recognized him—even if his disguise hadn’t been fully uncovered, the presence of Qian Zhuyan and the Golden-Winged Roc by his side would have revealed his identity immediately.

After all, without Qian Zhuyan, the Golden-Winged Roc, and the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale at his side, even if she were not at her peak, Lu Changsheng would not have been a match for her.

“How did he recover so much strength in such a short time?”

The Six Paths Demon Concubine, despite her stunning beauty and dignified, regal bearing, showed a trace of perplexity on her flawless face.

Having adapted quickly to the Land of Eternal Night—and with the assistance of the Ghost Maidservant and the Lu Family’s Spiritual Soldiers—she had also gleaned some of the realm’s secrets.

But why was he recovering so quickly?

“He possesses a Fourth-Rank physique, his puppet remains unconstrained in this realm, and that Golden Roc is ferocious—comparable to a top-tier mutated creature,”

the Six Paths Demon Concubine mused over whether she should seize the opportunity to exact revenge by turning Lu Changsheng into a corpse demon or ghost spirit.

Yet, considering his dragon-like physique, along with Qian Zhuyan and the Golden-Winged Roc at his side—and that Soul-Taking Beast which devoured her Fourth-Rank ghost pet—she temporarily dismissed the idea.

She even planned to lay low, waiting until she could fully awaken her dormant magical energy before striking him.

Otherwise, not only would her revenge fail, but she would end up falling into his hands—vivid memories of the earlier scene inside the White Bone Palace silently resurfaced in her mind.

Her naturally alluring eyes turned dreamy for a moment, and even her flawless, jade-like slender hands subconsciously reached for her dress.

But recalling how, even in her weakened state, Lu Changsheng had been so callous as to turn on her, her expression turned icy as a fearsome aura of murderous intent enveloped her.

This man must die!

“According to the note’s owner, this realm is far from ordinary—it harbors an unfathomable secret. With my current strength, perhaps I can unravel its mysteries,”

The Six Paths Demon Concubine rose and gazed into the endless, pitch-black mountains, murmuring softly. Her dark red crystal shoes, reminiscent of Manjusaka flowers, accentuated her irresistibly alluring and fiery silhouette.

Lu Changsheng paid little attention to the Six Paths Demon Concubine’s condition.

Had he not encountered Yun Wanshang and noticed the extra child from the system, he might have cared about her at all.

But having discovered that he now had an extra child—with a one-in-three chance that the child’s mother was this Six Paths Demon Concubine—he was determined to steer clear of her.

After all, it was one thing not having met her directly.

But if they ever crossed paths, and she used the child to blackmail him, what would he do? Besides, his relationship with Yun Wanshang was growing increasingly close.

If he were to ask her for help gathering intelligence on the Six Paths Demon Concubine, and she learned of his dealings with her, it would undoubtedly put a strain on their relationship.

After all, Yun Wanshang, as a Core Formation True Immortal of Azure Cloud Sect, harbored certain biases—and even hostility—toward the demonic path.

Especially against top-tier demonic True Lords like the Six Paths Demon Concubine.

Accompanied by Qian Zhuyan and the Golden-Winged Roc, Lu Changsheng and Yun Wanshang subdued every city around Azure Cloud City.

It consumed a lot of time and effort, yet the rewards were rather ordinary.

Most of the gains were materials from the Land of Eternal Night—Scarlet Gold, Mithril, Soul Crystals, and remnants left by early cultivators trapped in this realm.

In terms of rare spiritual objects, they were even less impressive than what he and Yun Wanshang had previously obtained from their expedition to the Forbidden Mountains.

One could only say that this approach was suited to a slow and steady pace.

Henceforth, as long as he and Yun Wanshang continued cultivating in Azure Cloud City, a steady stream of spiritual objects would come their way.

In short, if he wasn’t in a hurry, Lu Changsheng wouldn’t mind spending his days and nights with Yun Wanshang, letting affection gradually blossom.

After all, he had been away for four years in the Starry Sea, and now had been trapped in the Land of Eternal Night for over a year—nearly two.

And at this rate, he had no idea when he would be able to return.

After much thought, he decided to venture into the Forbidden Mountains once again to restore his magical energy as much as possible, and then attempt to tear through the celestial light to escape this realm.

“I will come with you,”

During their time together, Yun Wanshang could clearly sense Lu Changsheng’s deep longing for his family and his desperate desire to leave.

Shortly thereafter, the two—accompanied by a puppet and a roc—left the city that shone as brightly as daylight and ventured into the Forbidden Mountains, a realm cloaked in darkness.

One year later.

For that entire period, Lu Changsheng, Yun Wanshang, Qian Zhuyan, and the Golden-Winged Roc roamed the Forbidden Mountains in search of rare spiritual objects.

Although they had set out well-prepared with abundant supplies, after more than a year of deep exploration, their resources were nearly exhausted.

This was mainly because the spiritual objects in these Forbidden Mountains were not limitless.

As they continued to scavenge, the rarer spiritual objects became even scarcer, forcing them to wait for the appearance of celestial and earthly light to regenerate.

That day, while Lu Changsheng and the Golden-Winged Roc stood guard through the night, Yun Wanshang and Qian Zhuyan slept to restore their energy.

Although, as cultivators, they could go long periods without rest,

when mentally and physically drained, deep sleep was the best recovery method.

Especially in these Forbidden Mountains, where constant vigilance was required and drained the spirit, even Lu Changsheng and Yun Wanshang strove to maintain their focus.

Lu Changsheng looked at Yun Wanshang lying beside him in colorful palace attire, her graceful curves on display—not out of desire, but because a wave of homesickness had overtaken him.

It was the longest he had ever been away from home, and the pang of longing was intense.

No matter how hard he tried—even venturing deep into these Forbidden Mountains to find spiritual objects to boost his recovery—he couldn’t possibly return home in a short time.

Just then, from deep within the pitch-black mountains cloaked in endless darkness, an indescribable fog surged forth like a tidal wave.

The black fog stretched limitlessly, exuding a profound silence and an aura of death.

“What is this? This is bad!”

Seeing the fog, Lu Changsheng felt an instinctive shiver. He immediately roused Qian Zhuyan and Yun Wanshang and shouted for them to retreat.

However, the black fog was overwhelming—engulfing everything in its path, it swiftly surrounded him and Yun Wanshang.