Chapter 820: Unforeseen Schemes in Damengze

So that’s how it is.

Lu Changsheng ran a few calculations by pinching his fingers and quickly understood the situation.

Previously, Bihu Mountain and Da Mengze were far apart; someone had interfered with the Heavenly Secret.

Now that he was in the Immortal City of Damengze, a dangerous aura of calamity swirled around him.

As a fourth-rank diviner, Lu Changsheng suddenly felt an inspiration—he realized that Lu Lingjing had come under attack and faced dire peril. Someone was clearly plotting against him.

They intended to lure him deep into Da Mengze and then make their move.

Lu Changsheng frowned in confusion.

Back when True Lord Pinghai and the other two were driven into a disorganized retreat after he had dispatched them, where would these adversaries now get the nerve to call for reinforcements? Or did they truly believe that True Lord Ben was entirely dependent on external support?

His handsome face took on a cold, severe expression.

“Husband, what’s wrong?”

Hong Lian had long known that Lu Changsheng was a master of divination.

Seeing him calculate once more, she guessed that circumstances might have changed.

“It’s nothing—most likely, people from the Starry Sea have arrived. They plan to use the Spirit Whale as bait to lure me in.”

Lu Changsheng explained calmly.

“Lure you in?”

At his words, Hong Lian’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise.

She hadn’t expected Lu Changsheng to deduce the cause and effect so swiftly.

Such divination skills—could it be that he has already ascended to fourth rank?

After all, a third-rank divination could never be so audacious.

Perhaps it was connected to his Great Dao Nascent Soul.

At that moment, Lu Quanzhen, feeling a slight tremor in the Immortal City’s grand formation, arrived in haste.

Seeing Lu Changsheng, Hong Lian, and the Golden-Winged Roc before him, he immediately clasped his hands and bowed, “Greetings, Father, greetings, Senior Hong Lian, and King Roc.”

He then loudly congratulated, “Congratulations, Father, on your Nascent Soul breakthrough!”

Even though Lu Changsheng showed no fluctuations of Nascent Soul energy throughout his body,

his aura of sublime detachment—like an immortal stepping out of a painting—made Lu Quanzhen instantly realize that his father had indeed broken through the Nascent Soul stage!

“Hmm.”

Seeing his son arrive, Lu Changsheng nodded slightly and said, “Quanzhen, you’ve worked hard these past few days.”

“Father, earlier in the Immortal City…”

Without wasting words, Lu Quanzhen came to report the recent developments to his father.

“I have a rough grasp of the situation, Father. Let me go deal with these folks, and we’ll talk later.”

During his previous Nascent Soul tribulation, not only was his Nine Treasures Dao Bone shattered,

but also his bone talismans that restored vital energy and many pills were completely consumed.

Thus, Lu Changsheng refrained from further depleting his life force in continuous divination.

A few Nascent Soul cultivators posed no real threat—who would dare scheme against him? It was sheer suicide! Having broken through, he was fully confident in the gap between him and the likes of True Lord Mingsha and True Lord Tiancang.

He was unperturbed even by veteran Nascent Soul masters like True Lord Pinghai, Fuhai True Lord, and Lingbo True Lord.

“Husband, earlier you repelled three Nascent Soul opponents. Since they dare trouble us again, they must have come well-prepared.”

Seeing that Lu Changsheng was clearly not at his full strength, Hong Lian hurriedly warned as she went off to check on the approaching Nascent Soul True Lord.

She knew that cultivators at the Nascent Soul level valued their lives above all.

If they dared show their faces, they must be absolutely confident.

They were likely to have set up an impenetrable trap, deliberately luring Lu Changsheng in.

Moreover, newly ascended cultivators often grow overconfident with their greatly enhanced power and let down their guard.

Although she had immense faith in Lu Changsheng,

as his wife she felt compelled to warn him.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly.

He knew that even after dispatching one opponent whose body shattered and another who gave up his protective formation, these foes still dared to come after him because they had some backing.

If he rushed over impulsively, even if he killed a few, he wouldn’t be able to completely resolve the matter.

Especially considering the troublesome method of soul escape employed by the Nascent Soul True Lord.

If he couldn’t completely finish them off, further complications would surely follow.

“Since they’re using the Spirit Whale as bait to lure me in, I’ll show them the fate that awaits a fourth-rank diviner who dares plot against me.”

Heeding Hong Lian’s advice, Lu Changsheng acted prudently and tossed out his divination copper coins.

Although his previous calculations revealed that the enemy had a diviner on their side,

Lu Changsheng was certain that their diviner was nowhere near fourth-rank.

His breakthrough and his refined divine sense—comparable to that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul—had even improved his divination skills.

Thus, he could easily fool their diviner.

After some time, Lu Changsheng formed a general plan in his heart.

Three days later.

A refined, scholarly-looking man clad in a dark cloak and an exquisitely beautiful woman in a flowing vermilion Suzaku dress stealthily left the Immortal City of Damengze, heading deep into Da Mengze.

Just as the man and woman departed the city,

a human face seemed to materialize on the shimmering, endless sea.

Meanwhile, the waters in three other directions began to churn with gentle waves.

“It must be these two!”

“Just as our friend from the Starry Sea predicted: if the Whale is in danger, they will definitely leave the city.”

“If they remain holed up until the Whale dies, they’ll just be trapping themselves in a dead city!”

“In that case, attack immediately—delay and it may turn disastrous!”

Four shadowy figures, lurking in concealment, transmitted their orders, preparing to strike the departing pair.

But just then,

“Clang!”

Fuhai True Lord suddenly shuddered as if he had sensed an unparalleled, cutting sword intent lashing straight at him.

It was as though a sword-grass, with nine distinct leaves, had taken root in the void. His eyes spun, and he saw a figure, shrouded in an otherworldly aura of yin and yang, wielding a long sword of bluish-gray, slashing towards him.

“Who is this? Why attack me?”

Fuhai True Lord’s face turned pale; he did not recognize the assailant.

But in an instant he realized that this enemy was connected to the target they had been ambushing.

Earlier, when the trio had acted to hunt the Whale, an awe-inspiring Solar Divine Light had blasted in his direction.

Now, when he tried to ambush and seize the initiative, his enemy struck first!

Did he really think he could push others around? In that perilous moment, he had no time for further thought.

Only one thought raced through his mind—escape! But the figure had already swung out its bluish-gray sword, adorned with nine vein-like leaves.

In an instant, the heavens and earth seemed to overturn!

The nine leaves of the sword-grass whirled, and sword energy stretched for millions of miles!

Wherever the sword energy passed, nothing could stop it.

All forms were obliterated, as even the void turned to dust.

“Damn it!”

Although Fuhai True Lord had returned to the Nascent Soul stage through a soul-seizing rebirth,

his current magical energy was only at the beginner’s level of the Nascent Soul.

Faced with such all-consuming, unstoppable sword energy, the hastily formed protective shield, along with his Nascent Soul Domain, was torn apart like tofu.

Soon after, his tattered robes fell apart, blood splattered everywhere, and his body was riddled with countless sword cuts as though he would be reduced to nothing.

In this desperate situation, he had no choice.

He could only attempt a soul escape once more to flee.

But Lu Changsheng would not let him escape so easily.

He had used Hong Lian and the Three Treasure Incarnation as bait specifically to, with the help of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, thoroughly locate these rat-like foes,

and then strike them down before they could recover!

At that moment, Fuhai True Lord’s magical energy was feeble, the weakest among the three Nascent Soul True Lords; naturally, he was dispatched first!

“Humph!”

Activating the Six Desire Heart Demon Technique—Six Perceptions Locked in the Heart! And his Divine Ability—Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture!

At the same time, the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror he had prepared in his arms fired a beam of Ta Yin divine light.

Although Lu Changsheng had never trained in such mystical techniques,

his formidable Nascent Soul divine sense—comparable to that of a mid-stage cultivator—managed to slightly delay Fuhai True Lord’s Nascent Soul spirit.

But regardless of whether the enemy was affected or not, faced with the overwhelming sword energy and Ta Yin divine light that devastated the surrounding world, there was nowhere for him to run.

Fuhai True Lord’s Nascent Soul spirit, eyes wide with terror, was instantly annihilated under the onslaught of the deadly sword energy and the cold moonlight.

Although a Nascent Soul spirit was extremely valuable—

not only could it be used for alchemy, but also for refining treasures or even practicing secret techniques—

to quickly dispatch him and avoid any mishaps, Lu Changsheng spared no mercy.

“This isn’t good!”

From afar, True Lord Pinghai, Tunhai True Lord, and a diviner from the Zhenhai Seven Sects suddenly realized the gravity of the situation as soon as Lu Changsheng attacked.

Especially the diviner from the Zhenhai Seven Sects, whose sensitivity to ominous signs was unmatched.

In the moment Lu Changsheng struck Fuhai True Lord, tumultuous waves of dread surged in his heart, as he felt a grand omen of doom enshroud him.

Without hesitating, he activated a life-preserving secret treasure in his hand to flee a thousand miles away.

But as soon as the treasure materialized, a dazzling blade shadow—seemingly forged from countless stars—abruptly appeared out of the void.

The diviner’s face contorted in shock as he saw a figure, shrouded in a soft aura of yin and yang and holding a gourd,

and in the next moment, his mind was split apart by an excruciating pain.

His entire soul was obliterated by the radiant blade.

Although Lu Changsheng’s Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger had expended all its might when he had slain the Wind-Splitting Beast,

dispatching a Core Formation cultivator remained effortless.

True Lord Pinghai and Tunhai True Lord were horrified as they witnessed Fuhai True Lord and their sect’s diviner being instantly slain.

They couldn’t fathom the situation—weren’t they supposed to ambush the Dameng City Lord? How had two Nascent Soul True Lords suddenly appeared? And both looked no weaker than them.

Especially that figure wielding the bluish-gray sword that had decimated Fuhai True Lord in one stroke—it struck fear into their hearts.

“Pinghai, what is going on!?” Tunhai True Lord demanded tremblingly.

True Lord Pinghai was utterly bewildered.

He couldn’t comprehend what was happening before his eyes.

Wasn’t the ruler of this Immortal City supposed to be a reincarnated prodigy or a lucky one who had obtained a grand opportunity? How could he possibly have two Nascent Soul True Lords?

With such power, why hide it? Why not boldly bring a wounded Whale and confront the Zhenhai Seven Sects for justice?

Even if our two Nascent Soul True Lords suffered shattered formations, we’d still be willing to offer compensation.

But you did nothing—as if nothing had happened.

And when we prodded you for a response, you remained silent, as if concealing something.

Moreover, with your strength, how can you be intimidated by a force comprising merely two Nascent Soul True Lords?

Aren’t you out of your mind? True Lord Pinghai had completely lost his composure.

He had encountered treacherous foes before as a Nascent Soul True Lord,

but never had he met an opponent like Lu Changsheng.

It was simply outrageous!

“Humm!”

Realizing that escape was impossible, True Lord Pinghai made up his mind to initiate a soul escape without further delay.

But in the very moment he tried to escape his Nascent Soul, Hong Lian, donned in her vermilion Suzaku dress, glared with eyes blazing like embers.

“Screech!”

A magnificent Golden-Winged Roc, radiating a fierce golden aura and exuding the energy of a fourth-rank Demon King, attacked True Lord Pinghai.

Lu Changsheng had prepared for this all along by placing the Golden-Winged Roc within Hong Lian’s Beast Taming Ancient Rune.

Now that he had struck, Hong Lian would have the Roc return in force.

“This isn’t good!”

True Lord Pinghai’s heart sunk at the sight of the resplendent, fourth-rank Golden-Winged Roc, recalling that at the confluence of Da Mengze and the Starry Sea, he had once seen both the Golden-Winged Roc and the Soul-Taking Beast.

Through analysis, he had presumed that Lu Changsheng was merely bluffing with secret treasures rather than wielding true Nascent Soul strength.

But now, the emergence of the Golden-Winged Roc confirmed that he wasn’t faking at all.

“Dameng City Lord, damn your ancestors!”

At that moment, True Lord Pinghai completely lost control and launched a tirade at Lu Changsheng.

He ranted, “With such power, why do you hide it? Bring your wounded Whale here and answer for your actions!”

Even if our two Nascent Soul True Lords have their protective formations shattered, we would still compensate you.

Yet you do nothing—as though nothing happened.

Facing our probing, you offer not a single reply, as if you’re hiding something.

And with your strength, how can you be threatened by just two Nascent Soul True Lords?

Surely you’re insane!

“Crack! Crack! Crack!”

True Lord Pinghai’s Nascent Soul Domain and his protective shield were torn apart, even his treasured Life’s Magical Treasure armor developed faint cracks and crumbled.

“Daoist, you must be mistaken!”

True Lord Pinghai’s face turned ashen as he shouted at Lu Changsheng.

In that mere glance, he deeply sensed Lu Changsheng’s terrifying might—

he was completely outmatched.

Had it not been for his armor, he fears his entire formation would have been cleaved in one stroke! It was terrifying—utterly terrifying! Who would have thought an Immortal City in such a remote sea area could house such a fearsome existence!

True Lord Pinghai could not fathom and only wished to make peace.

As for a soul escape,

this was a desperate recourse any Nascent Soul cultivator would only resort to as a last option.

Take Fuhai True Lord for instance—opting for a soul escape would lead to massive damage to his cultivation, resulting in him being instantly slain by the opponent.

If he were to escape his Nascent Soul, it would severely injure his vital energy.

So, he would never choose that until the very end.

“Mistaken?”

Lu Changsheng sneered coldly, even his chaotic aura was partially dispersed by the gleaming edge of his sword.

“You only know that you’re doomed!”

His voice carried as his magical energy burst forth like a torrent, driving his Nine Calamity Sword with frenzied Nascent Soul energy.

Faced with the relentless surge of power, the Nine Calamity Sword’s energy roared, its mighty slashing light dominating the heavens and earth—

its sword light spreading across all creation.

“Boom!”

The armor woven from blue runes over True Lord Pinghai’s body shattered under the overwhelming sword light.

That single strike was so domineering that it obliterated a precious spirit treasure in an instant!

With his armor shattered and the relentless sword energy invading his formation, True Lord Pinghai’s face fell; he knew there was no chance to parley today.

“Daoist, for daring to bully us, you’ll know the consequences of affronting the Zhenhai Seven Sects!”

He bellowed, attempting to intimidate Lu Changsheng with the might of the Zhenhai Seven Sects.

At the same time, he unleashed his Life-Consuming Secret Technique, his Pinghai Halberd blazing with godlike light, aiming to cleave through the Yin-Yang Diagram and the Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture of Lu Changsheng’s Yin-Yang Cultivator form.

However, the magical energy of Lu Changsheng’s Yin-Yang Cultivator form was on par with that of True Lord Pinghai.

Even though Lu Changsheng had only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul, his magical energy was not inferior to that of the seasoned True Lord Pinghai—in fact, it even surpassed him slightly.

In a full-force strike, True Lord Pinghai propelled a fourth-rank secret treasure that shattered the heavens, creating a breach in the barrier.

“Have you ever considered the consequences of offending True Lord Ben of the Seven Sects?”

Having spent much time in the Divine Maiden Palace, Lu Changsheng clearly knew the formidable strength of the Zhenhai Seven Sects.

Not only did the seven Nascent Soul forces form an alliance, but their leader, the Zhenhai Patriarch, was a top-tier mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse—one of the strongest forces in the Starry Sea.

Yet now that he had broken through, wielding the Golden-Winged Roc, Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale, Soul-Taking Beast, Nine Calamity Sword Grass, and Qian Zhuyan, he possessed the strength to contend with any top force! Today, slaying two or three Nascent Soul cultivators—would the Zhenhai Seven Sects dare provoke him?

“Pfft!!!”

Sword light, as if splitting the heavens and earth, sliced the void into segments.

Though True Lord Pinghai broke through the barrier and attempted to flee into Da Mengze, the sword light struck him, reducing nearly half his body to dust, blood spurting.

He was already prepared to initiate a soul escape, burning his vital energy to flee with the vast sea.

“How can you get away?”

Lu Changsheng, with an air of sarcasm at seeing True Lord Pinghai desperately escaping, did not pursue with the Misty Dust Banner. Instead, he summoned the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, and together with his Yin-Yang Cultivator form, pressed the treasure onward.

“Screech!”

True Lord Pinghai suddenly heard a sharp, piercing cry.

Ahead, an immense, demonic aura enveloped the sky as a Golden-Winged Roc charged at him.

It was none other than the Golden-Winged Roc!

Lu Changsheng had arranged for Hong Lian to carry the Three Treasure Incarnation as bait, ensuring that the Golden-Winged Roc lay in wait within Hong Lian’s Beast Taming Ancient Rune.

Now that he had made his move, Hong Lian would naturally bring the Roc back to strike.

“This isn’t good!”

True Lord Pinghai’s face paled at the sight of the resplendent Golden-Winged Roc, exuding the aura of a fourth-rank Demon King, as his heart pounded with fear.

At the confluence of Da Mengze and the Starry Sea before, he had observed the Golden-Winged Roc and the Soul-Taking Beast.

He had deduced then that Lu Changsheng was merely bluffing with treasured illusions, not actual Nascent Soul might.

But now, the Golden-Winged Roc’s appearance proved he wasn’t faking an iota.

“Husband!”

Hong Lian, atop the Golden-Winged Roc, looked at Lu Changsheng emerging from the Great Void, relieved yet awestruck.

Her left hand wielded the Misty Dust Banner, her right gripped the Nine Calamity Sword, with the Yin-Yang Diagram atop her head and the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror over her chest—a sight so imposing it made her heart skip a beat.

It was too overwhelming, too domineering!

Though she knew that once Lu Changsheng broke through, his strength would far surpass that of any ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator,

seeing him dispatch two Nascent Soul True Lords and a Core Formation cultivator in such a short span was utterly staggering.

Everything that had just transpired was so inconceivable!

After all, Lu Changsheng had only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Not only his mystical techniques but even his cultivation hadn’t yet fully stabilized.

“I’m fine,”

Lu Changsheng noticed that Hong Lian had expended much of her divine sense while interfering with True Lord Pinghai’s Nascent Soul spirit, and he spoke softly,

“Hong Lian, please rest well. I’ll go take care of the Spirit Whale.”

Glancing toward the Immortal City, he smiled and added, “A distinguished guest has just arrived in the city. Please go greet him.”

Even though the immense sword light from his battle with True Lord Pinghai could be sensed hundreds of miles away,

it was likely that some of the islands and areas around the city were abuzz with rumors over the tremendous commotion and the display of Nascent Soul energy.

Furthermore, possessing mid-stage Nascent Soul divine sense, Lu Changsheng had detected a Nascent Soul aura approaching from the direction of the Heavenly Sword Sect—the True Lord Juejian.

“A distinguished guest?”

At these words, Hong Lian looked toward the city, sensing a faint but distinct sword intent.

In that instant, she realized that a cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect had arrived.

“Husband, be careful. I’ll take my leave for now,”

she said. Having witnessed Lu Changsheng’s might firsthand, Hong Lian knew that mere groups of three or five Nascent Soul cultivators were no match for him or the Golden-Winged Roc.

Shortly after, she sped away toward the Immortal City of Damengze.

“Let’s go,”

Lu Changsheng swallowed a few third-rank pills and then looked to the Golden-Winged Roc and the Three Treasure Incarnation, as he pressed onward with the Misty Dust Banner, dashing deeper into Da Mengze.

As for his Yin-Yang Cultivator form, having exerted all his might to activate the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, it had reverted to its Yin-Yang essence and was temporarily unusable.

Outside the Immortal City of Damengze,

True Lord Juejian gazed toward the direction of the battle between Lu Changsheng and True Lord Pinghai, his heart stirred like the tumultuous waves of Da Mengze—a sight both shocking and overwhelming.

He hadn’t expected that, on a whim, his visit to the Dameng City Lord’s family would lead him to witness a skirmish between Nascent Soul cultivators.

From the earth-shaking commotion and dazzling magical energy, he could tell that these fighters were no less formidable than himself.

Especially that dazzling sword intent—ruthless, domineering, and radiating a killing aura—it was the very embodiment of the supreme sword technique known as “Juejian.”

Yet the murderous intent of that sword far exceeded even his own, surpassing him in its brutality.

It was truly astonishing.

One must remember that such a domineering combat technique could easily warp a cultivator’s mind.

In his early years, to push through to the Nascent Soul stage, he had even spent time cultivating his inner self.

Yet now, the sheer vicious sword intent of his opponent had clearly overwhelmed him—it was beyond belief!

What shocked him most, however, was the overwhelming demonic aura resembling the blazing sun of a golden Roc and the pervasive Yin-Yang energy of the Yin-Yang Diagram!

Even though decades had passed, he instantly recognized that this golden Roc belonged to Yangming True Lord’s spirit pet!

Ever since the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands incident, both Qingluan True Lord and Yangming True Lord had vanished without a trace.

He never expected to see Yangming True Lord’s Roc and treasured artifacts in Da Mengze.

“Has Yangming True Lord broken through to the Nascent Soul?”

True Lord Juejian was astounded.

The Heavenly Sword Sect held Yangming True Lord in high regard, for even a Core Formation cultivator could contend with a Nascent Soul True Lord; no power was to be taken lightly.

Such a peerless figure breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage would be unimaginably powerful.

Now, after all these years, with him showcasing Nascent Soul might in Jiang Kingdom, how could one not be moved?

“So what just happened? How did the couple of Dameng City get involved with Yangming True Lord?”

True Lord Juejian’s mind swirled with questions.

He couldn’t understand how Yangming True Lord ended up mingling with the Dameng City Lord’s couple.

Back when he was entangled with Qingluan True Lord,

and now with the couple, why wouldn’t he stick with his own Heavenly Sword Sect?

But what exactly just happened?

True Lord Juejian frowned, still perplexed by the earlier battle.

When he had seen Lu Changsheng in his true form alongside his Yin-Yang Cultivator form, he assumed it was the Dameng City Lord and Yangming True Lord.

Yet moments later, Yangming True Lord inexplicably vanished into thin air, with the Yin-Yang Diagram soaring above the head of the one wielding the celestial sword.

This was utterly inexplicable.

“Could it be that Yangming True Lord is the Dameng City Lord!?”

At that moment, a bold hypothesis emerged in his mind.

Years earlier, the Heavenly Sword Sect had harbored suspicions about this matter several times.

Apart from one mysterious similarity—the timing of their appearances in Jiang Kingdom—everything else didn’t match.

Be it their divine abilities, techniques, or treasured artifacts, everything was distinctly different.

But now, if one ignored the differences in techniques and mystical arts, this hypothesis seemed plausible.

According to the intelligence reports, Yangming True Lord not only cultivated body and Qi simultaneously but was also adept in sword techniques, wielding a top-tier Immortal Sword.

That was precisely why, together with Qingluan True Lord, he had shattered True Lord Tiancang’s formation, slain True Lord Zicang, and broken through enemy lines!

And the awe-inspiring sword light earlier must have derived from a top-grade sword—it could not have been produced merely by magical energy.

“So the Dameng City Lord, or rather Yangming True Lord, might have cultivated some sort of incarnation technique? Or perhaps he possesses a transformation treasure?”

True Lord Juejian pondered further.

If that were so, everything would make sense. No wonder he refused to go to Yue Kingdom to help in the battle.

True Lord Juejian murmured to himself, “So what just happened?”

Years ago, after the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands incident, various Nascent Soul powers from Southern Desolation and the Northern Region had been gathering intelligence on Yangming True Lord and Qingluan True Lord.

The Heavenly Sword Sect had been visited by several Nascent Soul True Lords interrogating Yangming True Lord’s whereabouts.

But never did they imagine that he would be right under their very noses.

“For all these years he’s been the Dameng City Lord in disguise. And what about Qingluan True Lord?”

The information they had on Qingluan True Lord since leaving the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands was sparse; all they knew was that after leaving, she had come under the attention of several major forces and Nascent Soul cultivators.

Now that Yangming True Lord was resurfacing, he couldn’t help but think of Qingluan True Lord.

From what the Heavenly Sword Sect knew, if she survived such a calamity, she wouldn’t give up so easily.

Now, with Yangming True Lord long dormant as a True Lord and his spirit pet having reached fourth rank, their combined might could very well stir up a storm in Southern Desolation.

For a moment, True Lord Juejian was at his wit’s end.

In the Liang-Yue War, Jiang Kingdom was already unstable, and now, another unpredictable element had emerged.

“But where did the other Nascent Soul True Lord come from?”

He hadn’t seen clearly how Fuhai True Lord was slain by Lu Changsheng in one stroke.

He had only witnessed Lu Changsheng, his Yin-Yang Cultivator form, and the Golden-Winged Roc slaying True Lord Pinghai.

Unable to help but wonder about the origins of this Nascent Soul cultivator,

if he originated from the same force that had once been tracking Qingluan True Lord, then Jiang Kingdom was bound to plunge into further turmoil.

Seeing Hong Lian fly past, True Lord Juejian didn’t hesitate to address her with a nod, saying, “Fellow Daoist Li.”

As the scarlet afterglow dissipated, Hong Lian’s statuesque figure appeared.

Gazing at the imposing figure of True Lord Juejian dressed in a black brocade robe with a calm and sharp visage, Hong Lian, exuding noble grace, smiled lightly and said, “Greetings, True Lord Juejian.”

“I apologize for not coming out to welcome you earlier,”

she added in a soft, pleasant voice, her regal aura undimmed even in the presence of Yu Jianfeng, another Nascent Soul True Lord whose aura was equally formidable.

Even though True Lord Juejian observed her Core Formation peak cultivation, he couldn’t help but scrutinize further—was it possible that her Nascent Soul cultivation had fallen back to Core Formation?

“May I ask, what just happened?”

True Lord Juejian stared at Hong Lian and inquired directly.

Whether or not Yangming True Lord was the Dameng City Lord, after witnessing Lu Changsheng’s astonishing power earlier,

he needed to know exactly who was friend or foe.

Otherwise, having such a Nascent Soul cultivator stationed so deep in Jiang Kingdom would make him lose sleep.

If he were ever betrayed or if other Nascent Soul powers joined forces with the enemy, Jiang Kingdom and the Heavenly Sword Sect would be in grave danger.

“Please, True Lord, first rest in the Immortal City and have some tea,”

Hong Lian said gracefully, suggesting they first move inside the city as this was no place for idle chitchat.