Chapter 789: A Debt of Destiny

Chapter 789

These past days have been tough on you, Dragon King.

Seeing Yun Wanshang successfully break through to Nascent Soul, Lu Changsheng immediately bowed and expressed his gratitude to the nearby Green Dragon King.

Although during this time the other party hadn’t done much beyond simply being present, his mere presence was enough.

Yet, the mid Fourth-Rank dragon aura was enough to repel the barrage of attacking Demon Kings.

“Now you owe me a favor—you must go and save my sister. If you fail…”

The Green Dragon King, with his imposing half-human, half-dragon form, emanated a barely perceptible yet crushing Demon King aura that intimidated all who beheld it.

Had it not been for Lu Changsheng’s Chaos Body and Fourth-Rank Physique, facing such overwhelming force would have been impossible.

“Please rest assured, Dragon King. Once I finish my current business and break through to Nascent Soul, I’ll come to you so you can treat my sister.”

Lu Changsheng said this in a most serious tone.

Even though the Green Dragon King’s arrival carried a hint of coercion, he had still helped him, and Lu Changsheng was determined to honor his promise.

Moreover, since this matter involved a prophecy foretold over forty years ago by Dreamless and his wife, Lu Changsheng was eager to know if their earlier mention of it to the Green Dragon King carried any hidden significance.

As a Fourth-Rank Diviner, he knew that Dreamless would never reveal heavenly secrets without a purpose.

After all, the rules of divination dictate that divulging too much of the heavenly secret—and thereby interfering with someone’s fate—invites a backlash from destiny itself.

This is why many diviners speak in vague hints. Lu Changsheng then handed a Jade Talisman to the Green Dragon King and continued, “Dragon King, you can contact me through this talisman. How should I reach you when the time comes?”

The Green Dragon King took the Jade Talisman, examined it intently, and stated in a firm tone, “Just come to Green Dragon Island when the time comes.”

Realizing that Lu Changsheng, as a human cultivator, might not know the way, he pointed forward with a claw adorned in blue scales and said, “Continue straight ahead for a million miles from here.”

Then, as if remembering something else, he tossed a blue scale to Lu Changsheng and added, “If any Demon Race assails you along the way, hold onto this dragon scale and proclaim my name; none will dare bar your path.”

His words rang with the force of clashing metal, exuding an aura that could swallow mountains.

“Alright, Dragon King, rest assured.”

Lu Changsheng accepted the blue scale, recognizing it as a part of the Green Dragon King himself.

If he harbored ill intentions, he could even have used it to curse his foe.

“I have marked the aura of all human cultivators. So, if you ever try to deceive me—”

The Green Dragon King’s gaze shifted from Lu Changsheng to Crackling Island as he flashed a smile, his interlocking, icy-white teeth gleaming with a chilling light.

“Since I have accepted your proposition, I won’t go back on my word. In just a few years, I will come to repay my debt.”

Unfazed by the threat, Lu Changsheng replied calmly.

“You really have guts. I trust you.”

Without further words, the Green Dragon King mounted the waves and departed.

His towering silhouette melded with the sea, vanishing from Lu Changsheng’s sight in an instant.

That single display was enough for Lu Changsheng to realize that this Green Dragon King was no ordinary mid Fourth-Rank Demon King.

He might even be on par with Shen Jianjia! As soon as the Dragon King left, Lu Changsheng flew to Crackling Island, only to find that Yun Wanshang—fresh from her breakthrough—had already arrived from the island.

Gone was the elegant, multi-colored gown of old; instead, she now wore a dark suit of armor.

The armor, crafted from nine turtle shells, boasted smooth, flowing lines that followed her graceful curves perfectly.

The vivid, ferocious beast motifs on the turtle shells seemed to bring to life lurking predators ready to break free at any moment, endowing her with an indescribable aura of authority and command.

Under the previous Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, her usually elegantly tied hair—with a colorful phoenix hairpin—had become disheveled.

Yet this very disarray only heightened the majesty of her Nine Abyss Black Tortoise Armor, lending her a formidable and dashing presence unlike any she had shown before.

“Lu Changsheng, are you alright? Who was that just now?”

Even though she had just endured her tribulation, Yun Wanshang had sensed the Green Dragon King’s aura, realizing that he was an exceedingly fearsome Demon King.

“I’m fine,” he replied.

Watching Yun Wanshang’s startlingly transformed beauty, Lu Changsheng’s eyes filled with admiration and wonder.

After her breakthrough to Nascent Soul, Yun Wanshang’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but her aura and grace had undoubtedly reached a new level.

“Congratulations, True Lord. Now that you’ve achieved Nascent Soul, you shall henceforth be known as Caicloud True Lord.”

Smiling, Lu Changsheng congratulated Yun Wanshang.

“Congratulations, Senior, on breaking through to Nascent Soul and attaining True Lord status!”

The five Core Formation cultivators guarding the island cheered loudly, congratulating Yun Wanshang.

Over these past months, as Yun Wanshang fought through her tribulation, they had been anxiously watching over her.

After all, wave after wave of beast hordes—and even Fourth-Rank Demon Kings—had threatened her.

And the mere presence of the Green Dragon King had left them trembling, barely daring to breathe.

Now, with the crisis over and Yun Wanshang’s breakthrough complete, their worries finally subsided.

Yet the thought that, with her breakthrough, their roles might have become obsolete—and that Lu Changsheng might silence them—made their anxiety spike once more.

“This breakthrough to Nascent Soul was all thanks to you,”

Yun Wanshang said, her beautiful eyes reflecting a mix of complex emotions.

“During the tribulation, Demon Kings attacked. I may not have grasped every detail, but I know the process was extremely perilous.”

“Had it not been for your intervention in this beast-infested zone, breaking through would have been nearly a death sentence.”

“And without your Huaying Pill, Golden Small Cauldron, and Nine Abyss Black Tortoise Armor, my breakthrough would never have been so smooth.”

It might have led me into a genuine Nascent Soul state, but never to the level I’ve reached now.

Of course, I feared most of all that I might perish in the heart demon tribulation.

Unless I had calmly accepted you, matured through hardships, and with the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation causing minimal loss, even a chance at the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul would have carried an eighty-percent risk of failure.

Thus, my feelings for you are incredibly complex—I truly don’t know how to repay you.

“Hehe, as Dao companions, we must support one another.”

Lu Changsheng grinned warmly and then asked, “Is the child alright?”

Leaning forward, he attempted to sense the fetus in Yun Wanshang’s belly.

Instantly, Yun Wanshang, with a burst of magical energy, swept Lu Changsheng’s hand away and exclaimed, “What are you doing?!”

Although she had accepted him during her breakthrough before,

back then it had been a do-or-die effort; now, such intimate gestures still made her feel uneasy.

“We cultivators only need a glance through divine sense—we don’t operate like ordinary mortals! That little rascal is just teasing me! I’m only checking on our child!”

Lu Changsheng was momentarily at a loss for words.

After all these years as partners, she still acted as bashful as a maiden.

Not far off, Qian Zhuyan observed that as soon as the crisis passed, the two began their playful banter, the quiet flicker of affection lighting up their eyes.

In her early years, her spirit had merged with a puppet—half transforming into a puppet spirit—leaving her emotions almost completely shrouded in hatred, as if she were a vengeance machine.

It wasn’t until she spent time with Lu Changsheng, whose use of the Six Desire Heart Demon Technique gradually purified her puppet spirit of negativity, that she began to regain some traces of human emotion.

Originally, such feelings had been very faint.

But ever since arriving in the Land of Eternal Night and witnessing your constant intimacy with me, I’ve found my emotions stirring—feeling even a touch of jealousy and displeasure.

And after my puppet spirit ascended to Fourth-Rank, I’ve felt somewhat more balanced.

It barely managed to suppress the twisted emotions I once had as a ghost-cultivator.

That’s why seeing you and me in such closeness still irks me.

While the rest of us have been toiling away, the moment you two meet, you’re immediately all lovey-dovey and teasing each other!

Yet, I bear no grudge against you—only envy.

Envy for your beauty, graceful figure, and innate talent.

Not only did you break through to Nascent Soul, but you were also cherished so dearly by your master.

Many times I even felt that you didn’t appreciate the favor you were given.

In that moment, Qian Zhuyan suddenly wondered: when his puppet body upgrades in the future, should he remodel it into a more lifelike, bionic form?

With his puppet craftsmanship, reshaping his body to mirror his earlier appearance wouldn’t be a problem at all.

The only drawback would be that its combat prowess might become limited—not as versatile as it is now.

For a moment, Qian Zhuyan found himself torn with indecision.

Using his divine sense, Lu Changsheng glanced at the fetus in Yun Wanshang’s belly and found that it had not been harmed by the tribulation; indeed, under the blessings of Kirin Blood Essence and its mother’s Heavenly Tribulation, it had amassed a surge of formidable spiritual energy.

In short, these advantages ensured the child’s future talent would be remarkable! Gazing at the child, he suddenly remembered his Great Luo Sword Embryo.

This sword embryo could be given to a pregnant Nascent Soul True Lord, who would refine it within her body and use its essence to nurture the fetus.

Then, once the child fully formed and was born, it would inherit a Sword Embryo Dao Body!

Although Lu Changsheng had originally planned to have Hong Lian use this sword embryo to bear an heir,

the latest updates claimed it first debuted in Chapter 69!

But now he felt that Yun Wanshang was equally suitable.

For one, Yun Wanshang had already broken through to Nascent Soul and was expecting—she met all the conditions.

Besides, if Hong Lian were to break through to Nascent Soul, it would still be some years away.

Also, as my own breakthrough approaches, should I be able to sire one with a Sword Embryo Dao Body, my innate talent and Chaos Body might be elevated to an entirely new level.

Then, who knows? I might even reach beyond Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul to Great Dao Nascent Soul—it all seems within reach!

Of course, by doing so, I’d lose one of my prized weapons.

Over the years, in fights against Nascent Soul cultivators and Fourth-Rank Demon Kings alike, I’ve often relied on the might of this sword embryo.

Without the Great Luo Sword Embryo, my offensive capabilities would undoubtedly suffer.

“Now that Qian Zhuyan and Ti Hun have both ascended to Fourth-Rank—and with Golden Roc expected to follow soon—lacking the sword embryo in hand won’t be an issue with such guardians around.”

“Besides, once I break through to Nascent Soul, I can initiate the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror technique. By then, not having the sword embryo won’t matter.”

In a flash, Lu Changsheng made up his mind to let the sword embryo be used by Yun Wanshang to nurture the child.

However, such an arrangement would still require her consent.

Having just broken through to Nascent Soul, Yun Wanshang needed to consolidate her cultivation and practice her divine techniques.

Using the sword embryo to nurture the child might hinder her progress, or even harm her in the process.

“What’s the matter?”

Noticing Lu Changsheng suddenly staring fixedly at her belly, Yun Wanshang thought perhaps the tribulation had affected the child.

“I just thought of something,” Lu Changsheng said hesitantly.

“What is it?”

In the past, Yun Wanshang might not have pressed the matter,

but now that they were closer and hearts laid bare, seeing his hesitance, she immediately pressed on.

“True Lord—Caicloud—you must be aware of this sword embryo, right?”

Having long been accustomed to calling him True Lord, his habit persisted even though now that she had broken through to Nascent Soul, the title felt slightly misplaced.

Though they could be more intimate by using “Wan” or “Chang’er,” she doubted that Yun Wanshang’s temperament would accept it.

Yun Wanshang nodded softly.

Although the sword embryo appeared rough and unrefined—much like an uncarved sword prototype—in the Land of Eternal Night,

she had witnessed its might firsthand: interlaced sword light, dazzling brilliance, and an edge beyond compare.

Its power was closely linked not only to Lu Changsheng’s strength but also inseparable from the sword embryo itself.

She knew this sword embryo was a treasured asset of the Sword Dao—a weapon not only peerless in offense but also with a unique property, serving as a companion embryo capable of nurturing a Sword Embryo Dao Body.

Lu Changsheng explained slowly, “This companion sword embryo Dao Body…”

“A companion sword embryo… Dao Body?”

Yun Wanshang’s eyes widened in astonishment and doubt.

Having cultivated for centuries, she clearly understood the significance of a Dao Body.

While there are lesser, average, and superior Spirit Bodies,

beyond them lies the ultimate Dao Body.

For instance, she had always believed that Lu Changsheng possessed some form of Dao Body,

otherwise his rapid progress would have been utterly inexplicable.

And so, at that moment, his words left her utterly stunned.

This sword embryo could actually nurture a Dao Body! Although records of Dao Bodies in the cultivation world were scarce,

she recalled one theory:

A Dao Body is born for cultivation—an unparalleled force meant to be invincible in its era, admired from afar and unmatched by peers.

Once one possesses a Dao Body, breaking through to Nascent Soul becomes almost a certainty, provided one doesn’t perish along the way!

“So you want to use this sword embryo to nurture our child into becoming… Cloudsoar?”

Yun Wanshang suddenly understood Lu Changsheng’s meaning and, half surprised and half delighted, replied.

If our son could inherit a Dao Body, then I would be more than willing.

I believe this sword embryo might just help craft our child into that prodigy of a cultivator we once dreamed of.

Yet, whether in terms of the sword embryo’s power or its effect in nurturing a Dao Body, it still seemed almost too miraculous—one couldn’t help but wonder if it might even have adverse effects on the child.

“Cloudsoar?”

Lu Changsheng, initially taken aback by the unfamiliar name, then praised, “Lu Yunxiao—a fine name indeed. ‘Yun’ signifies the freedom of the heavens and earth, while ‘Xiao’ embodies lofty ambition reaching the nine heavens.”

“?”

Yun Wanshang internally thought how shameless he was—the character ‘Yun’ in ‘Yunxiao’ was clearly her own surname.

But one mustn’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Having reaped so many benefits from Lu Changsheng, she found herself in no position to object with the firmness of a former master or elder.

“Yes, only a True Lord of Nascent Soul can withstand the sword embryo. Using it to nurture a fetus is dangerous otherwise.”

Lu Changsheng nodded and continued, “Caicloud, since you’ve broken through to Nascent Soul and are expecting our child, I’m thinking of using this sword embryo to give him a head start even before birth.”

He added, “But since your cultivation isn’t yet fully stable, using the sword embryo now might adversely affect your progress.”

“Slowed progress is no issue—but this treasured sword embryo is a Sword Dao treasure. If it’s used to nurture Cloudsoar, wouldn’t that leave you without one of your key offensive weapons?”

Though the sword embryo was meant for nurturing, Yun Wanshang couldn’t shake the feeling that Lu Changsheng was trying to claim its benefits for himself.

After all the favors he had done for her, she already felt the pressure—and wasn’t willing to surrender such a prized Sword Dao treasure.

Besides, from the Land of Eternal Night to Crackling Island, she’d seen him rely on that very sword embryo constantly.

“That won’t matter. Once Cloudsoar’s companion sword embryo is formed, its power will be diminished; it won’t be as readily activated by others.”

“And besides the sword embryo, I have other Dao-Comprehending Artifacts at my disposal.”

Lu Changsheng smiled.

Seeing Yun Wanshang agree to nurture the sword embryo, he continued, “But the matter of the sword embryo must wait. I still have one more issue to settle.”

Although his heart was full of thoughts about Yun Wanshang’s pregnancy, Lu Changsheng hadn’t forgotten the ominous signs surrounding Lu Lingjing.

“What issue?” Yun Wanshang asked, noticing the serious look on his face.

“When I entered the Land of Eternal Night, one of my spirit pets became separated from me and is now in grave danger—harboring a dire omen. I must hurry to rescue it.” Then, with his divine sense, Lu Changsheng seated himself cross-legged at the site of Crackling Island’s Spirit Eye, tossing out three Divination Copper Coins to deduce Lu Lingjing’s current whereabouts.