Chapter 787: Turbulent Omens and Hidden Designs

Not bad.

Lu Changsheng glanced at the Nine Abyss Black Tortoise Armor in his system space and gave a slight nod in approval.

This armor not only balanced offense and defense but also boosted power, making it incredibly versatile.

However, compared to such an all-around defensive artifact, Lu Changsheng preferred armor that focused purely on defense.

After all, with his Nine Treasures Dao Bone and an array of Dao-Comprehending Artifacts, he was never short on offensive or enhancement methods.

If he could perfect his armor stacking, it would give him an edge in his current magical duels.

Without extracting the Nine Abyss Black Tortoise Armor from his system space, Lu Changsheng’s eyes shone with a golden gleam as he fixed his gaze on the grand array before him. He formed intricate hand gestures and activated the Dragon-Seeking Technique to fully unleash the potential of Crackling Island’s spiritual veins.

In Core Formation, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage exists in three tiers: Mortal Way, Earthly Way, and Heavenly Way.

For a Mortal Way breakthrough, meeting the conditions is enough for a normal passage.

Achieving an Earthly Way Nascent Soul, however, requires drawing upon the earth vein energy of a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein during the breakthrough, tempering the body, magical energy, spirit, and even the meridians, dantian, and the Nascent Soul’s spirit body.

As for a Heavenly Way breakthrough, once the core shatters and the Nascent Soul escapes, one must absorb a wisp of Heavenly Way energy amid a Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

Lu Changsheng couldn’t lend a hand with a Heavenly Way breakthrough.

But for an Earthly Way breakthrough, by tapping into a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein’s earth energy, he could offer some assistance.

The main problem was that Crackling Island wasn’t his own spiritual domain.

Even if such activation damaged the veins, Lu Changsheng didn’t mind.

Just as he activated the spiritual veins through the grand array and Dragon-Seeking Technique, a sudden impulse struck him.

“Huh!?”

His heart skipped a beat, and Lu Changsheng immediately calculated with his fingers, determined to pinpoint the source of this sudden urge.

After all, someone of his cultivation level wouldn’t experience an impulse without reason.

His first thought was of his family.

Ever since leaving the Land of Eternal Night, every time he traced a spiritual vein he immediately divined the conditions at Bihu Mountain and the Immortal City of Damengze.

He learned that Bihu Mountain, ravaged by war’s tremors, was in dire straits. Though a catastrophic tribulation loomed ahead, there was no immediate danger.

The Immortal City of Damengze fared no better.

In fact, its potential crisis was even deeper, with an ominous tribulation quietly brewing.

That’s why, in recent days, Lu Changsheng had focused on helping Yun Wanshang break through as quickly as possible—so that if family danger arose, he could immediately set the core of the Misty Dust Banner ablaze and teleport it back.

Realizing that the impulse wasn’t family-related, he turned his calculations to other factors, such as the breakthroughs at Divine Maiden Palace, by the Six Paths Demon Concubine, and Yun Wanshang’s progress.

Divine Maiden Palace had its own methods for shrouding heavenly secrets—even as a Fourth-Rank Diviner, he found it hard to predict. Moreover, his divinations suggested that the palace held no ill will toward him.

The Six Paths Demon Concubine was likely still in the Land of Eternal Night, rendering heavenly secrets murky and indecipherable.

Only Yun Wanshang’s breakthrough, as expected, fluctuated wildly in fortune—with a Demon King poised to strike.

But he was mentally prepared for such events; no elaborate predictions were necessary.

Crackling Island lay within the Forbidden Sea, where numerous Demon Kings prowled.

For a human cultivator like Yun Wanshang to attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough here was like a beacon in the dark—it was bound to attract Demon King attention.

Take the Soul-Taking Beast, for instance; it plunged into a tribulation immediately and completed the process at an astonishing speed.

From initiating the breakthrough to the shattering and reformation of her Nascent Soul, then enduring the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and heart demon tribulation, Yun Wanshang’s journey was extremely time-consuming—likely drawing the attention of several Fourth-Rank Demon Kings.

Lu Changsheng sensed that the impulse wasn’t solely due to Yun Wanshang’s breakthrough. He then pondered over others, recalling the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale, who had been long separated from him.

“Ominous sign detected!”

When his calculations revealed ominous warnings surrounding Lu Lingjing, his heart leaped in alarm.

“Ominous sign” usually meant life-and-death danger—with about a 50% chance. That was exceedingly high.

“After Lu Lingjing broke through the Phantom Ship’s attack, has she run into trouble now!?”

Lu Changsheng’s expression grew grave as he delved deeper into his calculations.

Being able to quickly gauge Lu Lingjing’s fortunes was thanks to the master-servant bond between them.

Without additional transformative tokens—like refined blood or scales—it was nearly impossible to deeply predict a Fourth-Rank Demon King’s fate.

Yet amid his calculations, he mysteriously gleaned a piece of information: Kunpeng Egg! Lu Lingjing’s peril was intricately linked to the Kunpeng Egg! “Could the Starry Sea factions have deduced this connection and now be targeting her?”

In a flash, Lu Changsheng had a rough idea.

Back then, when he found his son Lu Quanzhen and acquired a Huaying Pill, he didn’t rush back—leaving the latent crisis posed by the Kunpeng Egg unresolved.

Although his calculations now indicated that the ominous tribulation linked to the Kunpeng Egg on him was lifted,

by all signs it was likely to befall Lu Lingjing.

“Lu Lingjing had appeared on the Black Reef Islands before—it’s very likely that the Starry Sea factions now view her with suspicion. As for my mysterious background as Xuanmu, had I departed immediately, I too might have become a suspect.”

“But with the matter of Bailu Palace now, the Divine Maiden Palace would never leak such news. Besides, the Six Paths Demon Concubine, who knows my true identity, remains in the Land of Eternal Night—so only Lu Lingjing is worrisome.”

Deep in thought, Lu Changsheng realized that several Nascent Soul-level factions were already targeting Lu Lingjing.

Otherwise, in this boundless sea, unless it was Shen Jianjia or the Six Paths Demon Concubine at her peak, an average Nascent Soul True Lord wouldn’t stand a chance against her, let alone threaten her life!

“This is trouble.”

Gazing at the Nascent Soul celestial signs ahead, Lu Changsheng’s face grew exceptionally grave.

If he left now to rescue the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale, Yun Wanshang would have no choice but to halt her breakthrough before her Nascent Soul separated from the shattered core.

Otherwise, if a Demon King attacked later, her breakthrough would surely be disrupted, placing her in grave danger.

He could rely on the Soul-Taking Beast and Qian Zhuyan to guard the array.

But since the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale already showed ominous signs, rushing over alone might not be enough to fend off the threat.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Changsheng decided to risk his lifespan by delving deeper into Lu Lingjing’s situation, seeking a win-win solution to ease her crisis.

Perhaps he could send Golden Roc ahead or delay matters by going himself, until Yun Wanshang’s breakthrough was complete.

After a long while and more heavenly secrets revealed, Lu Changsheng exhaled in relief.

Lu Lingjing was currently fleeing near the Starry Sea around Da Mengze, and her life was not in immediate peril.

However, as time passed, the danger would only intensify.

In as little as one or two years—or at most three to five—Lu Lingjing’s life-and-death tribulation would manifest!

“Indeed, unless several Nascent Soul True Lords intervene, attempting to slay Lu Lingjing in these boundless seas is no easy feat.”

“Moreover, these Nascent Soul factions are after information linked to the Kunpeng Egg and would never risk delivering a fatal blow.”

Among equals, fighting, countering, overcoming, defeating, slaying, and even capturing are entirely different matters.

Just like Lu Changsheng’s earlier encounter with the Wind-Splitting Beast.

If he wished to capture his foe, the difficulty would be on another level entirely.

A slight lapse might allow the opponent to break free, escape, or even trigger a self-detonation of their Demon Core.

“In that case, we should be in time.”

Lu Changsheng studied Yun Wanshang’s Nascent Soul celestial signs, determined to have the best of both worlds.

After a moment’s thought, he transmitted a message to Qian Zhuyan in the distance: “Xiao Yan, give the Wind-Splitting Beast’s Demon Core to Golden Roc.”

Although the Golden-Winged Roc could directly break through to Fourth-Rank,

it still required a breakthrough process—time was needed.

So Lu Changsheng planned to feed the Fourth-Rank Demon Core of the Wind-Splitting Beast to the Golden-Winged Roc, helping it accumulate more foundation.

This way, its breakthrough would be as swift as that of the Soul-Taking Beast—completing without relying on spiritual veins.

It might be a bit wasteful, but he urgently needed Nascent Soul-level power.

Besides, his loyal spirit pet had served him faithfully for years.

“?”

Hearing this, the Golden-Winged Roc, busy gnawing on the Wind-Splitting Beast’s corpse, froze in surprise.

Its golden eyes shifted first to Lu Changsheng, then to Qian Zhuyan in the distance, astonished—it hadn’t expected such a windfall to land on it.

Over the years, the Roc had always stayed by Lu Changsheng’s side, performing the hardest, most thankless tasks for the smallest reward.

Though it had tasted a Fourth-Rank Demon Core once, it still owed a debt to the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale when a Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon had come to cause havoc.

Unexpectedly, with hardly any effort this time, it managed to secure a rare Fourth-Rank Demon Core! Mind you, the Wind-Splitting Beast’s Essence Demon Core was far purer and mightier than that of the Flood Dragon back then.

Earlier, watching Qian Zhuyan dismantle the Wind-Splitting Beast’s corpse, the Roc had felt a pang of envy.

Though Qian Zhuyan was reluctant, believing the Essence Demon Core could serve as the core for his future Fourth-Rank puppet, he still handed it over to the Golden-Winged Roc.

“Thank you, Master.”

Delighted, the Golden-Winged Roc swallowed the Demon Core. Its golden body burst into a brilliant, blazing light—as if a scorching sun had been ignited—to continuously refine the core.

The five Core Formation cultivators, stationed at the five cardinal points to support the grand array, were astonished by the commotion. Could this Demon King also be attempting a Fourth-Rank breakthrough?

Just as Lu Changsheng was about to settle into meditation, a nagging feeling told him he had forgotten something.

Moments later, when the Heavenly Yuan Lotus pulsed with a faint tremor, he instantly remembered what he’d overlooked.

His son, Lu Quanzhen! Eight years ago, with his help, Lu Quanzhen had taken the first step in demonic fetus rebirth within the Heavenly Yuan Lotus.

Later, entangled in the Land of Eternal Night, the lotus couldn’t open, leaving him in the dark about his son’s condition.

After leaving the Land of Eternal Night, a flurry of events nearly made him forget about his son.

Immediately, he lifted his hand—the Heavenly Yuan Lotus reappeared, rippling through space as he peered inside to check on his son.

He saw that inside the Heavenly Yuan Lotus, the spiritual energy was now severely depleted.

Even though he had released a surge from his Spiritual Eye Fountain, it was nearly dried up.

“Quanzhen, years ago your old man encountered an accident that prevented him from opening the Pocket Dimension. How are you now?”

Looking at the intermittently lit, vortex-like demonic patterns on the Kunpeng Egg that resembled black holes, Lu Changsheng asked with concern.

“Father, I’m fine. It’s just that my demonic fetus rebirth is at its final stage, and I still need external forces to completely break free!”

Lu Quanzhen didn’t mention that the Pocket Dimension’s spiritual energy was insufficient for his transformation; he merely stated that he couldn’t break free on his own and needed outside help.

“What do you need?”

Lu Changsheng, deducing his son’s plight from the Pocket Dimension’s energy, asked aloud.

“Spiritual energy—the vast, abundant energy of heaven and earth. And if there’s enough natural treasure, even better.”

Lu Quanzhen replied.

“Alright.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng instinctively considered releasing the Kunpeng Egg to transform using Crackling Island’s energy.

But recalling that the major Nascent Soul factions in the Starry Sea were likely still searching for the egg’s whereabouts, he knew it must never leave the Heavenly Yuan Lotus.

He immediately hurled a pile of High-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring, followed by a batch of natural treasures, directly aiding Lu Quanzhen’s transformation.

Before his eyes, the Kunpeng Egg—with its interwoven demonic patterns and shifting glimmers—devoured the essence of the spiritual energy and natural treasures like a famished person.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng stepped out of the Heavenly Yuan Lotus and, ensuring not to affect Yun Wanshang, injected a copious amount of heavenly energy into the Pocket Dimension within the lotus.

Meanwhile,

in a valley in the central region of the Southern Desolation,

a ten-year-old girl was darting through the mountain forest, her agile form reminiscent of a leopard—hardly typical for a child her age.

Her delicate, fair face, though still youthful, exuded unexpected determination, carved with sharp, defining features.

Particularly striking were the two slanted strands framing her face, combined with inky eyebrows like swords and a high, slender nose—instantly bestowing her with a heroic aura.

Yet her captivating, phoenix-like eyes made her gender ambiguous at first glance—possessing both gentle and resolute qualities.

After a long while, once she was out of danger, the girl finally collapsed onto the ground to rest, panting heavily.

Though she had been robust since childhood, such a sprint left her utterly exhausted.

“Hehehe.”

But before long, a spine-chilling, eerie laugh echoed from afar.

The girl trembled at the sound and hurried on, only to suddenly come face-to-face with a gaunt, withered old man in a tattered black robe.

With a flick of his hand, the old man unleashed a burst of green light that enveloped her, rendering her immobile. In a cold, hoarse voice he said, “Little girl, you sure know how to stir up spirits and even divert calamity. Had it not been for my earlier skills, you would have almost escaped.”

Before she could react, he grabbed the ambiguously featured girl and sniffed her forcefully, almost in ecstasy, saying, “What a vibrant, fresh scent—you must have the sweetest blood.”

“I never imagined that in my lifetime I’d encounter a rare being with such an extraordinary bloodline. With you as the main ingredient, I can craft an elixir, mend my dark injuries, rebuild my Dao foundation, extend my life, and perhaps even achieve Core Formation.”

The black-robed old man gazed at the girl, his eyes glistening with a jade-like shine, his entire body trembling uncontrollably as he spoke.

He was utterly agitated.

He had never expected that in his final years he would encounter a being with such a unique bloodline.

“Old man, if you treat me like this, aren’t you afraid my Master will come after you?”

The girl raised her head slightly to look at the withered, ghostly figure before her.

Deep within her inky eyes, twin glimmers of golden-red shone like embers quenched by a torrential downpour.

Below her right eye, a thin scar lent an extra edge to her already delicate, fair features.

“Hehehe, little girl, your empty threats might fool others, but I’ve been watching you for an entire year. If you truly had a master or inheritance, you wouldn’t be out here fighting alone and ending up like this.”

Ignoring her words entirely, the old man bound her with a rope and set off through the night, arriving at a cliffside stone cave in a desolate mountain far away.

The cave was not only deeply hidden but also rigged with an array formation.

As they ventured deeper, Mu Que saw numerous piles of remains and skulls—both beast and human—which sent shivers down her spine.

She never imagined that her bloodline would attract the covetous eyes of villains.

It was a classic case of fortune and misfortune intertwined.

Her rare blood, which once granted her strength far beyond that of ordinary people, now invited envy and danger.

Soon, the old man led Mu Que to the innermost part of the cave, where a furnace stood.

“Little girl, I am a Second-Rank Alchemist. Dying in my furnace would be an honor for you.”

The old man tossed Mu Que aside and, staring at his furnace, spoke in a hoarse, excited, and eerie tone.

Then he retrieved several jade boxes from a nearby medicine cabinet, saying, “Look, these are the medicinal ingredients I’ve prepared for you.”

“I’ve waited countless years. I never imagined that right before my end, I would finally complete it.”

Almost delirious, the old man opened a jade box to reveal a rare spirit medicine.

Though most of these medicines were Second-Rank, for a cultivator like Mu Que with no background, they were exceedingly precious.

She hadn’t expected that this old man would be so well-off.

“Don’t worry; soon these spirit medicines will become one with you.”

Seeing Mu Que eye the medicine in his hand, the old man’s withered face split into a grim smile, his expression chilling.

“What kind of pill do you wish to concoct?”

Although the situation was perilous and escape seemed unlikely, Mu Que refused to give up, her mind racing with ideas on how to break free.

“This pill is my creation, based on the Blood Soul Life-Stealing Pill. Do you see the corpses in this cave? They’ve all been part of my research over the years, yet I always fell just short. Now, with your bloodline, this pill will surely be perfected.”

The old man sensed that Mu Que was stalling, but having suppressed his excitement for too long, he patiently shared his findings with her.

“Since you know I possess a unique bloodline, aren’t you afraid my parents might come looking for me?”

After years of wandering, Mu Que was no longer the naive child from a small village; suppressing her fear, she replied calmly.

The old man’s features briefly darkened before he coldly added, “Afraid? Of course you are. That’s why I’ve been watching you secretly, deducing that your parents must not be around—otherwise, you wouldn’t have ended up here.”

“Moreover, my life is nearly at its end. Only by refining you into an elixir can I extend my life and embark on the immortal path!”

Gritting his teeth, he continued, “So no matter how eloquent you are today, you won’t get off alive.”

“That’s true; my parents aren’t here. But if I ever come under mortal danger, they’ll rush in immediately to activate my internal safeguards.”

Mu Que continued, her expression turning cold and sharp.

And she wasn’t exaggerating—ever since childhood, she had carried a wooden pendant.

It had saved her once during a demon beast attack in her village and another time when she fainted amid danger, only to awaken and find the crisis passed.

Thus, she suspected the pendant was her mother’s means of protection.

Yet, she wasn’t certain, nor was she willing to squander such a lifesaving charm lightly.

The old man was taken aback by Mu Que’s words, a note of caution stirring within him.

But remembering that his life was nearly over and that this was his only chance, he coldly said, “Little girl, stop scheming.”

With that, he raised his hand to silence Mu Que and began preparing various auxiliary herbs and spirit liquids on his own.

His fervent eyes, shimmering with a jade-like luster, seemed to already envision the finished elixir.