Chapter 823: The Tide of Transcendence

A divine light, like interwoven black and white threads, wrapped around the 【Demon-Binding Forbid Technique Arrow】 embedded in its flesh. It was slowly drawn out, forming a stream of nectar that began healing its wounds.

Even so, blood still gushed out. Accompanied by Lu Lingjing’s pained groan, his body trembled.

“Master,” Lu Lingjing called out to Lu Changsheng, his voice cracking with tears as his eyes grew dim.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

Lu Changsheng soothed him as he drew four enormous, fang-like crossbow bolts.

Then, he transformed the cultivation technique ‘Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’ into the ‘Treasure Cauldron Medicine King Scripture’, generating a swirling, potent medicinal energy of life.

After breaking through to Nascent Soul and forming the Yin-Yang Myriad Methods Nascent Soul, he simulated a transformation technique that not only worked effectively but also consolidated myriad methods to boost his power. Although not as dazzling as the healing light of the 【Nine Treasures Dao Bone】, its curative effect was as impressive as that of healers specializing in wood or water-based health-preservation techniques.

At most, his opponent’s divine abilities and Dao-Comprehending Artifacts were one rank higher than his.

Yet, to achieve such astounding results merely by simulation was simply unbelievable.

This was the remarkable outcome brought about by the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’s Yin-Yang Myriad Methods Nascent Soul.

However, the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale’s injuries were severe—something that couldn’t be fully healed in a short time.

He could only temporarily stabilize the wounds to prevent further deterioration.

Moments later, aside from the blue-gold chains and the four fang-like bolts, Lu Lingjing’s body was also bound by numerous runic restraints, like chains restraining his demonic power. At once, Lu Changsheng’s Yin-Yang magical energy surged into them.

At that moment, without the bindings of the 【Heavenly Dragon Imprisonment Lock】 and the 【Spirit-Binding Forbid Technique Arrow】, Lu Lingjing could gradually break free of the fourth-rank demon-suppressing talisman on his own.

With the combined effort of man and whale, the runic bindings dissipated like smoke in an instant.

As all constraints vanished, the massive form of the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale shimmered with a white glow, transforming into a pale, tearful little girl with damaged armor and a forlorn expression.

She knew her Master preferred her in her everyday human form.

So she immediately transformed into a human, wailing in distress, claiming the pain was unbearable and that she feared being taken away.

Seeing Lu Lingjing in such a state, Lu Changsheng felt an even deeper pang of sorrow, and anger surged within him.

In its simple beastly form, he could barely manage to treat these spirit pets as just pets.

But once they advanced to fourth rank and assumed human forms—with distinct personalities, calling him “Master” and obeying his every word—they were no longer ordinary pets.

“It’s alright, Master is here. That Blue-Armored Man Master has already killed him.”

Lu Changsheng immediately scooped the little girl into his arms like a daughter and channeled his Yin-Yang magical energy to continue her treatment.

He rifled through his Storage Ring for various miraculous pills and medicines to give to Lu Lingjing.

However, after his previous tribulation, his stock of fourth-rank pills had run out, leaving only a few third-rank ones with mediocre effects.

Seeing this, the Golden-Winged Roc suddenly spat out some spirit medicine toward Lu Lingjing.

“Huh!?”

Lu Changsheng looked on, astonished.

“Master, these are the ones I gathered from the mountain ranges earlier.”

Noticing Lu Changsheng’s gaze, the Golden-Winged Roc explained.

After Lu Changsheng broke through to Nascent Soul and hunted the Golden-Haired Monoceros Bear, it patrolled the surrounding area, gathering numerous rare spirit medicines and natural treasures.

However, since these were its own hunting spoils and no orders had been given, it hadn’t handed them over.

Seeing how pitiful Lu Lingjing looked—and knowing she might soon have to fight—it decided to share some to help ease the pressure.

Lu Changsheng deduced the origin of those spirit medicines. Without rummaging through his little stash, he patted Lu Lingjing’s head and said, “Lingjing, thank Golden-Roc.”

“Thank you,” Lu Lingjing replied weakly to the Golden-Winged Roc.

“No need. Recover quickly so you can help ease Master’s burden.”

The Golden-Winged Roc, still in its true form, spoke with a resounding, proud tone.

Nearby, the Soul-Taking Beast shifted from its battle form into that of a macaque-like creature, wondering if it should show some modesty.

But realizing that its soul crystal was useless for healing, it chirped a few times and slipped back into Lu Changsheng’s sleeve to sleep and digest it.

Lu Lingjing, noticing the Golden-Winged Roc’s haughty air, pouted and vowed that once she recovered, she’d find rare spirit medicine to repay him.

After calming the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale, Lu Changsheng took her, along with the Golden-Winged Roc, the Soul-Taking Beast, and the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, back to Sea Eye to rest.

Although he intended to confront the Zhenhai Seven Sects for retribution and claim compensation,

the massive energy consumption of activating the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】 made it unwise.

He decided to first restore his energy and condition before proceeding.

Otherwise, rushing over wouldn’t be about demanding justice—it would be an admission of guilt.

After all, a top-tier force like the Zhenhai Seven Sects, besides their venerable Zhenhai Patriarch, surely had other means, such as the Lu Family’s Spiritual Soldiers.

Moreover, they possessed the sect’s grand array.

Unless he fully activated the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】, he could hardly intimidate a fourth-rank grand array.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz”

Lu Changsheng shattered the bindings on the Storage Rings and Storage Bracelets of True Lord Pinghai, Fuhai True Lord, and Tunhai True Lord.

Restoring his magical energy certainly couldn’t be done just by slow meditation.

Not to mention his overwhelming energy far surpassed that of ordinary mortals; here, he only had a quasi-fourth-rank Sea Eye.

He aimed to completely refill his second dantian with the 【Heavenly Yuan Lotus}, but that wasn’t something that could be done overnight.

So he had to rely on rare materials like Spirit Stones, pills, and Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Milk.

“As expected of a Nascent Soul True Lord—a founding Patriarch.”

Lu Changsheng glanced at True Lord Pinghai’s Storage Ring and immediately saw a cascade of spirit-infused natural treasures, top-tier artifacts, pill and talisman concoctions, and the premium Spirit Stones he sorely lacked.

That True Lord Pinghai placing them in his Storage Pouch signified they were at least third-rank spirit items.

“One inferior Spirit Treasure, three supreme Dao-Comprehending Artifacts, and… nineteen premium Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng tallied up True Lord Pinghai’s haul.

The two rarest treasures in his possession were, naturally, the 【Pinghai Halberd】 in his hand and his armor.

But his armor had long been shattered by Lu Changsheng.

Under such circumstances, the presence of a third treasure spoke volumes about his prowess.

“Three third-rank puppets—I’ll spare them for Xiao Yan later.”

Qian Zhuyan wanted to boost her combat power, either by upgrading her puppet body or by increasing the number in her Puppet Battle Formation.

The upgrade potential for a puppet body was limited; it was generally the number in the formation that mattered.

Now that her puppet spirit had advanced to fourth rank, she could likely control around twenty puppets, making additional ones urgently necessary.

If she were to create them from scratch, it would take far too long; for puppets like these, modifying the existing ones was sufficient.

“Yi Mu Qingling Pill, Zijin Fuyuan Pill, Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Milk—truly, every Nascent Soul True Lord possesses fourth-rank pills.”

Lu Changsheng opened one of True Lord Pinghai’s pill vials and inhaled its scent.

Typically, cultivators inspect such vials with extreme caution, wary that the pills might be poisoned.

But with his Chaos Body, Lu Changsheng felt no fear and acted boldly.

“Lingjing,” he called, tossing several pills to Lu Lingjing before taking a couple of sips of his Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Milk.

Apart from spirit treasures, Dao-Comprehending Artifacts, premium Spirit Stones, puppets, pills, and talismans—several rare materials—True Lord Pinghai didn’t have any top-tier treasures that caught Lu Changsheng’s eye.

This was normal; most cultivators only possessed these basic supplies.

Other resources would be stored in sect cave residences or hidden in various locations.

According to Hong Lian, many Nascent Soul True Lords keep multiple hideouts to stash their cultivation resources.

That way, if misfortune struck—forcing them to seize a host and rebuild—they could quickly return to Nascent Soul using those resources.

After clearing True Lord Pinghai’s Storage Ring, Lu Changsheng turned his attention to Fuhai True Lord’s Storage Ring.

Compared to True Lord Pinghai, Fuhai True Lord’s holdings were considerably leaner.

Lu Changsheng suspected that after seizing a host and rebuilding, Fuhai True Lord had expended too many resources.

It was said that when a Nascent Soul cultivator took over another body, they could almost instantly return to the Nascent Soul stage solely with their Nascent Soul spirit body.

But Fuhai True Lord managed that in just a few years—indicating he had expended a great deal of resources, not merely relying on his Nascent Soul spirit body.

Nonetheless, his essential fourth-rank pills, talismans, and spirit treasures remained intact.

Even his Jiaolong Armor had been rendered useless years ago under the Solar Divine Light. Though his life-bound treasure, the Fuhai Jiaolong Spear, wasn’t completely destroyed, it was in a damaged, unrepaired state.

“Sigh.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, thinking that his current approach to battle was nothing short of a waste of resources.

The wealth within Tunhai True Lord’s Storage Ring was not bad.

Although not as abundant as True Lord Pinghai’s, it was still somewhat richer than Fuhai True Lord’s.

In that battle, Lu Changsheng’s haul included one mid-grade Spirit Treasure, three inferior Spirit Treasures, six supreme Dao-Comprehending Artifacts, and forty-six premium Spirit Stones.

He also acquired three top-tier third-rank Spiritual Eye Springs, two Nascent Soul Spirit Items, one fourth-rank puppet, four third-rank puppets, eleven fourth-rank inferior talismans, five fourth-rank healing pills, three fourth-rank detox pills, and one and a half fourth-rank enhancement pills.

From these gains, it was clear that at fourth rank, everything grew increasingly rare.

Even the pills, if available, were only in limited supply.

The talismans were merely ordinary defense or escape talismans.

One could say that the most precious possessions of these Nascent Soul True Lords were a few select Spirit Treasures.

Thinking of how Tunhai True Lord and Nuhai True Lord’s life-bound treasures were rendered useless under the Solar Divine Light—and that Nuhai True Lord even lost his Storage Ring—Lu Changsheng felt a fresh surge of regret.

Nuhai True Lord’s combat prowess ranked among the top two, and his wealth was undoubtedly boundless.

Yet he himself hadn’t gained a single penny.

“Wait, there’s still a little left.”

Lu Changsheng retrieved Nuhai True Lord’s already ruined life-bound treasure, the 【Nuhai Stake】, and examined it.

The raw materials for refining spirit treasures were incredibly precious.

And the Nuhai Stake was exceptionally well-made, possessing the essence of a mid-grade Spirit Treasure.

Even though it was ruined, its remaining materials could be re-melted into refining treasures or used as materials for puppets.

Although Lu Changsheng wasn’t short on spirit treasures at the moment, his Yin-Yang Diagram and Nine Abyss Black Tortoise Armor both needed recasting and repair.

Meanwhile, Qian Zhuyan, who refined and upgraded puppets, was a major consumer of materials.

Now that he had broken through to Nascent Soul, Lu Changsheng also planned to refine his core spirit treasure, the 【Yin-Yang Creation Gourd】.

Ever since he had acquired the Xuanmu Gourd in his early years, he’d wanted to refine this Dao Soldier treasure! But back then, with limited conditions and insufficient refining technique, he nearly ruined the gourd embryo.

Now that his artifact refining had reached fourth rank and he’d broken through to Nascent Soul, he could begin the initial refinement.

“Once the 【Yin-Yang Creation Gourd】 is partially refined, the potential of these materials will be fully realized.”

Lu Changsheng murmured to himself.

He had always coveted the Dao Soldiers.

Back then, True Lord Qingluan, aided by her spirit pet Qingluan and five hundred Qingluan Dao Soldiers, managed to contend in the early Core Formation stage with even later cultivators.

After breaking through to Nascent Soul, she still relied on her spirit pet Qingluan and five hundred Dao Soldiers to face multiple Nascent Soul True Lords.

Nuhai True Lord had done the same.

With the backing of five hundred Water-Walking Dao Soldiers, his cultivation and magical energy rivaled that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

Indeed, with five hundred Dao Soldiers, his vitality was even more tenacious than that of typical Nascent Soul True Lords.

Moreover, his 【Yin-Yang Creation Gourd】 was one of the core treasures of the ‘Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’.

It could independently absorb the energies of heaven and earth, incorporating any natural treasure offered to refine it into fundamental Yin-Yang essence!

This Yin-Yang essence could then be used to form and refine Yin-Yang Dao Soldiers! At that time, assembling five hundred of them would form an entire army.

Not only would his strength be further enhanced, but even transcendent treasures like the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】 could be further activated.

Now, he wished to trigger the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】, yet two drawbacks emerged.

First, it required some preparation time.

Second, it consumed an enormous amount of energy.

But once the 【Yin-Yang Creation Gourd Refinement】 and the Yin-Yang Dao Soldiers were in place, both issues would be effortlessly resolved!

They could form a defensive array with the Dao Soldiers, even delaying the enemy.

Moreover, the Yin-Yang Dao Soldiers could expend energy in his stead.

If his Dao Soldiers reached mastery, he could even directly trigger the most devastating offensive divine ability of the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】—【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Profound Light】! This technique combined the explosive, aggressive power of Solar Profound Light with the penetrating, corrosive strength of Lunar Profound Light. Just moments ago, Nuhai True Lord had used his vast Dao Soldier array, the spirit treasure 【Nuhai Stake】, and the 【Supreme Ancient Snake Talisman】 to counter Solar Profound Light, even as his body was shattering.

But switching to the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Profound Light not only obliterated the body with Solar Profound Light’s annihilative force, it also allowed Lunar Profound Light to penetrate and dismantle magical energy, corrode the soul, attack vital organs, and even erode the Nascent Soul spirit!

The same went for True Lord Zhenhai and Minghai True Lord, among others.

At that time, with Nuhai True Lord shielding the front, they had a chance to escape.

But if it were the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Profound Light, they would have had to flee immediately, vanishing into the Great Void.

Otherwise, any delay would let Lunar Profound Light corrode and dismantle their energy, spelling dire consequences.

However, as the deadliest move of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Profound Light boasted tremendous power—albeit with an enormous energy cost.

If a cultivator’s energy couldn’t sustain it, forcing its activation was no better than relying solely on Solar or Lunar Profound Light.

At present, Lu Changsheng could only manage to use either Solar or Lunar Profound Light.

After gathering all materials, Lu Changsheng tossed a pill to the Golden-Winged Roc, handed a bottle of Spirit Milk to the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, unleashed four Spiritual Eye Springs, grasped two premium Spirit Stones, and sat cross-legged as he quietly restored his energy.

Meanwhile, in the Starry Sea…

“Zhenhai, what’s going on? What happened?”

An old man, clad in a raincoat and wearing a conical hat with a slightly stooped posture, looked at the Nascent Soul spirit body before him and asked in a low voice.

Though his features were aged and his posture hunched, his eyes retained no trace of old-age murkiness.

They were as deep as abysses, as if steeped in the ancient vicissitudes of time—the rise and fall of mountains and rivers.

“Reporting, Patriarch.”

Though True Lord Zhenhai was normally an aloof Nascent Soul True Lord—a founding Patriarch—when facing the old man, he showed utmost respect by addressing him as ‘Patriarch’.

After all, the old man was none other than the steadfast pillar of the Zhenhai Seven Sects—the Zhenhai Patriarch.

The enduring strength and cohesion of the Zhenhai Seven Sects could all be attributed to this elderly figure.

Though his title might not be as illustrious as the Six Paths Demon Lord or the Great Palace Master of the Divine Maiden,

he was one of the most venerable and senior Nascent Soul True Lords in the Starry Sea!

“What!?”

Upon hearing that Fuhai True Lord and Nuhai True Lord were finished, and that True Lord Pinghai was in dire straits, even this living relic of the Zhenhai Seven Sects—the steadfast Pillar of the Seas—became visibly enraged.

In an instant, the void around them seemed to collapse from all sides; rivers flowed backward as if the very world was shifting, permeated by an overwhelming, abyssal aura.

Such shocking news—of three Nascent Soul True Lords perishing—could unsettle anyone.

Yet beyond anger, the Patriarch was filled with astonishment.

Remember, once cultivators break through to Nascent Soul, they can traverse the Great Void, roam the heavens and earth, seize bodies, and be reborn!

And the unique nature of the Nascent Soul spirit body made it extraordinarily difficult for cultivators of the same or even a higher rank to completely annihilate them.

One had to set up contingencies in advance or employ certain secret treasures to eliminate them.

In a short time, this individual managed to slay the Nascent Soul spirit bodies of Fuhai, Pinghai, and Nuhai True Lords! Such methods—even the Patriarch himself would find impossible.

Especially since, apart from the three True Lords from Pinghai, the present True Lord Zhenhai’s own body, life-bound treasure, and Nascent Soul spirit were all shattered and weakened.

Yet the words that followed from True Lord Zhenhai left the Zhenhai Patriarch even more astounded.

In the final battle, he, along with Nuhai True Lord, Minghai True Lord, and Tunhai True Lord, combined forces with five hundred Water-Walking Dao Soldiers and twelve Core Formation pills.

Under such circumstances, they were utterly routed by the enemy.

In the end, he and Tunhai True Lord escaped using their Nascent Soul spirit bodies, while Nuhai True Lord perished and only Minghai True Lord managed to flee unscathed.

With such strength, this person must be a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!

Yet currently, the spiritual veins, fortune, and environment of the Starry Sea made it nearly impossible to nurture late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Only prodigies like the Six Paths Demon Lord—with unmatched talent—could aspire to break into late-stage Nascent Soul and unite the Starry Sea!

The Zhenhai Patriarch was shaken and said gravely, “Zhenhai, explain to me in detail how you came to be in conflict with such a formidable cultivator!”

No matter how battles raged in the Starry Sea, stability was maintained precisely because there were no late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—early Nascent Soul cultivators, even if defeated, could always escape.

Thus, when Nascent Soul True Lords clashed, they would either set up an inescapable net to completely annihilate the enemy with absolute strength, or avoid a fight to the death.

After all, if you obliterate a Nascent Soul cultivator’s body—forcing them to flee with their Nascent Soul—his future path would be severely compromised. Do you truly expect to let that go lightly?

A grudge that blocks the Dao cannot be set aside—few Nascent Soul True Lords would ever willingly forgive and forget!

Unless you’re a solitary cultivator with no attachments.

Otherwise, even if they can’t defeat you, they won’t be able to kill your successors—what about your power?

If a Nascent Soul True Lord were to abandon all decorum, shamelessly disregarding everything, one could only describe him as utterly terrifying.

Yet those who reach the Nascent Soul level as solitary cultivators are exceedingly rare—most have sect affiliations.

But at this moment, a conflict had arisen between his own Zhenhai Seven Sects and a mysterious “Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator” of unknown origin, leaving the Patriarch utterly startled.

He recalled that when Zhenhai had set out, he was invited by True Lord Pinghai, armed with fortuitous treasures, to hunt a Demon King with a low-tier True Spirit bloodline.

How could something like this suddenly occur?