Chapter 828: Portents and Schemes

Lu Changsheng’s pale, weary face instantly grew grim.

If the oracle’s pattern had remained steady, oscillating predictably between ill omens and lucky signs, he could have accepted it.

But inexplicably, even rays of good fortune – even portents of great luck – had emerged, leaving him hardly able to believe it.

Now that he had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, if this great omen proves true, it could only be a top-tier Nascent Soul opportunity!

It might even involve cultivators from the mid or even late Nascent Soul levels!

Opportunities of this magnitude were almost unheard of in his past.

The idea that by merely lingering in the Fuhai Sect he could eventually chance upon such a twist was utterly absurd—outrageous!

Surely they didn’t really think they could treat Lu Ancestor like some naive fool?

Do they honestly believe that after a hundred years of cultivation, Lu Changsheng wasted it all on women!?

“The Fuhai Sect – and even the entire Zhenhai Seven Sects – might have their flow of destiny obscured and thrown into chaos!”

Lu Changsheng pondered silently.

“As one of the top forces in the Starry Sea, the Zhenhai Seven Sects could very well possess a supreme treasure capable of scrambling the flow of destiny.”

“Moreover, back in the day, True Lord Pinghai and his peers even called upon a Fourth-Rank diviner to assess my situation. In such circumstances, using a treasure of cosmic fate to obfuscate my readings isn’t beyond the realm of possibility!”

Though divination had served him well over the years…

he knew that fate was capricious and one could never completely trust the omens!

Blindly relying on divination would only leave him vulnerable—and aside from the unpredictable nature of destiny, its course was impossible to fully decipher.

Within the realm of cultivation alone, countless methods exist to distort fate and obscure the readings.

His own divination skills had indeed reached Fourth-Rank.

Yet his overall technical mastery remained rather basic and unrefined.

There was still a clear gap between him and those endowed with elite divination legacies.

Besides, divination depends not only on a cultivator’s talent and sensitivity to cosmic signals but also on external influences.

For example, his divination tool had been hastily refined in his early days of need, barely achieving the status of a top-tier artifact.

For a Fourth-Rank diviner like him, that just wasn’t enough.

Under these conditions, it wasn’t unusual for other Fourth-Rank diviners with superior lineages and divination devices to interfere with the destiny of the Zhenhai Seven Sects, making it nearly impossible for him to deduce portents.

Just like when True Lord Pinghai and his cohorts launched their strike using the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale as bait to cloud destiny.

He could not only break through the opposing diviners’ control over fate but also secretly counteract their interference.

“But such tactics utterly insult me—if they intend to skew the readings, there should still be a natural alternation between fortune and misfortune!”

Lu Changsheng felt that the Zhenhai Patriarch’s use of such fate-manipulating methods was a blatant slight.

Yet on second thought, Fourth-Rank diviners were scarce to begin with.

Perhaps they hadn’t suspected that a Fourth-Rank diviner like him would delve so deeply into his calculations.

After all, the workings of destiny are notoriously unpredictable.

Even if the Zhenhai Seven Sects boasted a Fourth-Rank diviner with a fate-confounding treasure, they could never completely mask the truth from someone in the thick of it like him.

“Even if the Zhenhai Seven Sects have Fourth-Rank diviners, their skills can’t be so profound as to reach this level – it’s already astonishing.”

“If I didn’t possess Fourth-Rank divination, I might well have been deceived by their interference.”

Murmuring to himself, Lu Changsheng decided that until he settled matters with the Zhenhai Patriarch, he would avoid lingering in the Fuhai Sect.

Otherwise, the Patriarch might be secretly plotting schemes that he wouldn’t even detect.

He might not even notice when calamity or fortune struck.

“In that case, I’ll head straight to the Five Poisons Sect and tap into their spiritual veins to break through my cultivation and refine my body.”

“Besides, I need to forge a Nascent Soul secret treasure, which requires a wealth of rare spiritual materials – materials I can gather not only through the Five Poisons Sect but also by wiping out the Yin Ghost Sect for extra gains!”

After a moment’s thought, Lu Changsheng resolved to leave the Fuhai Sect and head to the Five Poisons Sect for a breakthrough.

On one hand, he had long planned to visit Nangong Mili, Ah Youduo, Yiren, and his yet-to-be-met daughter, Lu Jiangtang, at the Five Poisons Sect;

on the other, his need for the Nascent Soul secret treasure had become extremely urgent.

Relying solely on the Immortal City of Damengze to collect the materials was nearly impossible.

It would be better to gather them with the help of both the Five Poisons Sect and the Yin Ghost Sect.

Moreover, it was high time to settle his feud with the Yin Ghost Sect and True Lord Mingsha.

Otherwise, once word spread of True Lord Yangming’s return to the Jiang Kingdom, that old dog True Lord Mingsha might simply hide away and stir up even more trouble.

“I could even strike a deal with the Heavenly Sword Sect. Back during the pioneering wars, True Lord Xuanjian used a secret treasure that confined a Nascent Soul spirit against True Lord Tiansha.”

“Through trade, I could either borrow that treasure or exchange for something of equal value!”

Besides the Five Poisons and Yin Ghost Sects, Lu Changsheng also had the Heavenly Sword Sect in mind.

As the dominant power in the Jiang Kingdom with a heritage spanning thousands of years, they naturally possessed deep-rooted prowess.

During the early pioneering wars, Lu Changsheng recalled that when True Lord Tiansha’s Nascent Soul left his body, the void suddenly spawned a silver, razor-sharp web that ensnared his spirit.

Although he hadn’t observed it closely at the time,

he knew it was a type of secret treasure designed to restrain a Nascent Soul’s spirit from escaping.

Once his mind was made up, Lu Changsheng immediately summoned his maidservants, Haiqin and Cangjue, and informed them that he needed to enter seclusion for cultivation.

Unless there was an emergency of the utmost urgency, they were not to disturb him.

All affairs of the Fuhai Sect were to continue as usual; they could manage them as they saw fit.

Then he sat cross-legged in his cave residence and meditated to restore his physical state.

After half a month, with his energy fully replenished, Lu Changsheng set up a restriction in his cave and placed a jade talisman within his formation.

This way, he would be immediately alerted if anyone tampered with either the barrier or the formation.

Soon after, he unleashed his divine ability [Yin-Yang Glass Wall], accompanied by the Golden-Winged Roc and Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, and silently departed from the Fuhai Sect.

During his escape, he sensed that the Zhenhai Patriarch was no longer present.

Not a trace of a second Nascent Soul cultivator’s aura could be found in the entire Fuhai Sect.

“Even if the Zhenhai Patriarch wished to act against me, he couldn’t do so that quickly,” he mused.

“He must be biding his time, waiting for me to lower my guard.”

Lu Changsheng was already convinced that the Zhenhai Patriarch would not let this grievance go easily.

Surely, he would devise ways to take revenge and snatch away his precious opportunities.

Under these circumstances, even if the Patriarch possessed the formidable legacy and networks of the Zhenhai Seven Sects, he couldn’t orchestrate his plans overnight.

He would also need to further probe and test his own vulnerabilities!

Without a second thought, after journeying several thousand li away from the Fuhai Sect, Lu Changsheng tore through the Great Void and dashed toward the Immortal City of Damengze.

Meanwhile, after the Zhenhai Patriarch had wrapped up the body-snatching incidents involving True Lord Zhenhai and True Lord Tunhai at the Fuhai Sect, he immediately set off for Starrymoon Hall.

He intended to have Star King and Yue Zun perform divination to ascertain the details concerning True Lord Yangming.

He also wanted to gauge what stance these two descendants of the Sun-Moon Star Palace held toward True Lord Yangming—the Eastern Emperor’s Heir.

Arriving at the Xingyun Archipelago where Starrymoon Hall was situated, the Zhenhai Patriarch proceeded with utmost caution, concealing his true appearance.

He merely released a trace of his Nascent Soul aura before finally revealing his identity.

Although the cultivators at Starrymoon Hall were ordinarily aloof and rarely paid attention to visitors seeking divination,

when it came to someone like the Nascent Soul True Lord—the Zhenhai Patriarch—they treated him with the utmost reverence, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

They courteously escorted him into the distinguished visitor hall of Starrymoon Hall, then went off to notify Star King and Yue Zun.

Star King and Yue Zun seldom received visitors on a daily basis.

Only when uncertainty prevailed or when a Nascent Soul True Lord paid a visit would they choose to send word.

After a long while, a bewitching, handsome boy of about twelve or thirteen dressed in a purple nebula brocade robe, along with an elegant woman with a graceful bearing, veiled eyes, and pale, luminous skin, appeared in the main hall.

The woman took her seat at the head of the hall, then looked toward the Patriarch—who was clad in a raincoat and conical hat—and said in a tone devoid of emotion, “One never steps into Sanbao Hall without cause. Pray, to what do we owe your presence at our Starrymoon Hall?”

“I have come here today to demand an explanation from your Starrymoon Hall,” declared the Patriarch.

Gazing at the boy and the woman before him, the Zhenhai Patriarch closed his eyes slightly and spoke in a deep tone.

Although he had business to attend to,

he knew that beginning with a submissive attitude would only leave him at a disadvantage.

From what True Lord Zhenhai and his peers had mentioned, he was aware that True Lord Pinghai had once spent a fortune and exerted great effort to have Star King and Yue Zun divine his situation.

Now that True Lord Pinghai had fallen, it was only natural that Starrymoon Hall should offer the Zhenhai Seven Sects some form of explanation—”an explanation?”

Upon hearing this, the boy’s thin lips curled into a sly smile as he coldly retorted, “Your Zhenhai Seven Sects sure have a big temper, coming all the way to my Starrymoon Hall to demand an explanation!”

As he spoke, the nebula patterns on Star King’s purple robe seemed to shift like the vast cosmos, exuding a terrifying aura reminiscent of a mid-stage Nascent Soul.

“Is your visit, Patriarch, related to the affairs of True Lord Pinghai?”

Yue Zun, her eyes lightly veiled by silk in a manner reminiscent of a cold, pale moon, replied calmly and impassively, without hint of emotion.

As top diviners, upon hearing the Patriarch’s arrival, they had a vague sense of his purpose.

Yet, they had long expected this matter.

When True Lord Pinghai had once visited Starrymoon Hall and requested they divine Lu Changsheng’s condition, they had perceived a faint aura of impending calamity on his features.

But they chose not to warn him.

They even advised True Lord Pinghai that, given the current clues, further investigation would surely yield results.

Now, seeing the Patriarch arrive, they surmised that True Lord Pinghai was likely in mortal peril, with misfortune outweighing fortune.

“Indeed, five years ago, True Lord Pinghai visited your Starrymoon Hall, spending a hefty sum to have you both perform divination,”

“Now that his fate hangs in the balance, will you really not provide me with an explanation?”

As the longest-lived Nascent Soul cultivator in the Starry Sea, the Zhenhai Patriarch was well aware of the abilities of the two before him.

And at that moment, he showed no fear; his aura remained as imposing as ever.

“Our Starrymoon Hall has always only divined omens without concerning itself with later causes or effects. Once you leave this hall, whatever transpires is none of our business.”

Star King, hands clasped behind his back and with a cold, enigmatic expression, declared haughtily.

Though still youthful in appearance, his imposing presence ensured that none would dare to underestimate him.

“Hmph!”

Facing Star King’s imposing aura, the Zhenhai Patriarch snorted before continuing, “Had you not used True Lord Pinghai to test the Eastern Emperor’s Heir, he wouldn’t have ended up with his fate hanging in the balance!”

“Do not think for a moment that I am unaware – your Starrymoon Hall, which comes from the ‘Sun-Moon Star Palace’ of the Eastern Sea, has deep connections with the Eastern Emperor’s Heir!”

With eyes as deep as abysses, the Patriarch fixed his gaze on Star King and Yue Zun and bluntly explained the relationship between Starrymoon Hall and the Sun-Moon Star Palace—a secret known to scarcely anyone in the entire Starry Sea, truly profound.

Star King and Yue Zun, when told about the connection by the Patriarch, did not show any surprise.

After all, they too were well aware of the closely guarded secrets of Starrymoon Hall.

Their hall also knew some of the mysteries surrounding the Zhenhai Seven Sects and the Patriarch himself.

For instance, both the Zhenhai Seven Sects and Starrymoon Hall originally hailed from the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm.

During the great upheaval in the Eastern Sea, senior elders led their disciples to escape to the Starry Sea and establish the Zhenhai Seven Sects.

And the Patriarch before them was likely not even of the human race—but of the demon race!

Yet upon hearing the words “Eastern Emperor’s Heir”, Star King and Yue Zun instinctively exchanged glances.

Years ago, through True Lord Pinghai’s words, they had speculated whether the ‘Sun Profound Light’ was the treasured legacy of the Eastern Emperor’s lineage from the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

But the [Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror] served as a Dao-Comprehending Artifact.

Lu Changsheng also possessed the [Heavenly Yuan Lotus], the [Lu Family Record], and the [Xuantian Spirit Vine] to block the flow of destiny.

Even if the two joined forces, they couldn’t deduce anything concerning the [Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror] or unravel Lu Changsheng’s origins.

Yet now, the Zhenhai Patriarch was convinced that this man was none other than the “Eastern Emperor’s Heir.”

“What do you mean by ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir,’ old man?”

Yue Zun’s silk-veiled, beautiful eyes shimmered as she inquired of the Patriarch.

According to ancestral edicts, the reincarnation of the Eastern Emperor and his Heir would one day reemerge in the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm.

But the Eastern Emperor’s Heir holds great significance.

The Patriarch, a living relic of the Starry Sea with vast knowledge of the Eastern Sea, would not speak casually.

“Heh, why must you feign ignorance, Yue Zun?”

Hidden beneath his conical hat, the Patriarch’s deep, abyssal eyes glanced at Yue Zun before he chuckled and said, “Your Starrymoon Hall originates from the Sun-Moon Star Palace, which, besides its Star and Moon branches, also houses the Eastern Emperor’s lineage.”

“With the Great Sun as the main force and the Star and Moon as auxiliaries – what do you mean by ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’? Are you not aware?”

In a measured tone, the Patriarch laid bare the details of the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

“As expected of the Zhenhai Patriarch – so well-informed about our Starrymoon Hall.”

Star King lightly drummed his hands and smiled, “If that’s the case, then how did you determine that this man is the Eastern Emperor’s Heir, Patriarch?”

“According to the records of our Starrymoon Hall, when the Sun-Moon Star Palace was overrun, the Eastern Emperor’s lineage was nearly annihilated by the demons – how could an heir emerge in the Starry Sea?”

Star King regarded the Patriarch with a scrutinizing gaze.

The Patriarch could tell from their tone that they were neither particularly close to nor well informed about the Eastern Emperor’s Heir.

He then chuckled and remarked, “Nearly annihilated? Haven’t you preserved the legacies of your two branches in Starrymoon Hall?”

“Surely you, my friends, are aware of the origins of the Zhenhai Sect? It has been passed down from that great calamity all these years, hasn’t it?”

Glancing at Star King, the Patriarch scoffed, “If that is so, what’s so strange about preserving the Eastern Emperor’s lineage?”

“Patriarch, that remark is ill-advised—if one only inherits a fragment of the tradition, does that merit being called the Eastern Emperor’s Heir?”

Star King immediately responded with a touch of disdain.

“Certainly not a mere fragment, for this man possesses the supreme treasure of the Eastern Emperor’s branch from your ‘Sun-Moon Star Palace’ – 【Eastern Emperor Mirror】!”

The Patriarch fixed his serious gaze on the two, trying to read their expressions.

And sure enough!

At the mere mention of 【Eastern Emperor Mirror】, both Star King and Yue Zun visibly reacted, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Eastern Emperor Mirror.

Not only is it the supreme treasure of the Eastern Emperor’s lineage, but it is also the paramount jewel of the Sun-Moon Star Palace! A sentient treasure that chooses its master on its own.

Ordinary cultivators have no right whatsoever to wield the Eastern Emperor Mirror!

“This is impossible! Since you, Patriarch, know that 【Eastern Emperor Mirror】 is the supreme treasure of the Eastern Emperor’s branch of the Sun-Moon Star Palace, you must realize that such a treasure would never be lost to the world.”

Star King immediately retorted.

According to ancestral edicts, the mission of Starrymoon Hall is to assist the Eastern Emperor’s Heir in rebuilding the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

But now, as one of the top forces in the Starry Sea,

Star King himself is among its premier Nascent Soul cultivators.

Under these circumstances, who would be willing to support a stranger simply on the basis of an old legacy?

Thus, regarding matters of the Eastern Emperor’s Heir, he was utterly dismissive—unless the candidate possessed unrivaled talent and was a true Nascent Soul master! Otherwise, expecting his cooperation would be sheer folly. “Since I have come to your Starrymoon Hall, I have seen it with my own eyes.”

As he spoke, the Patriarch reached into his bosom and tossed a jade stone to Star King and Yue Zun.

He had come prepared for this very visit to Starrymoon Hall.

Using his divine ability, he had imprinted Lu Changsheng’s assault by his Sun Profound Light onto the jade, replicating the aura of that formidable force.

Though it was impossible to fully recreate the original scene and its overwhelming might, the image conveyed the general impression.

“This.”

Star King and Yue Zun studied the image within the jade, feeling the searing heat and domineering brilliance of the Sun Profound Light as their hearts skipped a beat.

They had never seen the Eastern Emperor Mirror before.

All they knew about the Sun-Moon Star Palace and the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm had been gleaned from ancestral manuscripts and the accounts of previous Star King and Yue Zun.

Thus, they couldn’t ascertain whether this was indeed the supreme treasure, 【Eastern Emperor Mirror】, of the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

Yet the Patriarch’s words and the image in the jade led them to believe that it most likely was the Eastern Emperor Mirror.

“With just this single ray of Solar Divine Light, it’s hard to definitively conclude that this is the Eastern Emperor Mirror, isn’t it?”

Star King remarked coolly, aware that Yue Zun held a more favorable view of the Eastern Emperor’s lineage than he did.

If what the Patriarch called the ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’ was genuine, Yue Zun would very likely lend her support.

In that case, Star King would find himself in an awkward position.

“That is why I have come today—to have you two confirm through divination this man’s origins and ascertain whether he is indeed the Eastern Emperor’s Heir!”

“If True Lord Pinghai, in having you both test the Eastern Emperor’s Heir, has ended up with his fate in uncertainty, surely you two must provide me with an explanation!”

“If not, then I would be willing to apologize to you both.”

Looking at Star King and Yue Zun, the Zhenhai Patriarch spoke gravely, seeking to know their thoughts.

Would they choose to honor old ties and advocate for the Eastern Emperor’s lineage, or covet its inheritance for themselves?

After all, Starrymoon Hall was founded by those who once fled the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

Now, after thousands of years and many generations of Star King and Yue Zun, those matters were likely long forgotten.

Moreover, with the Sun-Moon Star Palace led by the Eastern Emperor and Starrymoon as its auxiliary, would the heirs really be content with a subordinate role?

They might even harbor a greater interest in the Eastern Emperor’s legacy! Star King mused that, having failed to deduce it earlier, perhaps he should go and meet this so-called Eastern Emperor’s Heir.

Yet, beside him, Yue Zun simply nodded and replied, “Very well.”

“Star King.”

Yue Zun addressed Star King in a calm, impassive tone, preparing to invest the necessary effort to thoroughly divine the state of this Eastern Emperor’s Heir.

Star King gazed for a moment at Yue Zun’s veiled, ethereal eyes and stern, enigmatic visage before saying, “Very well.”

Within Starrymoon Hall, Star King and Yue Zun worked shoulder to shoulder as equals.

Moreover, since Yue Zun was far more adept at divination, even if he disagreed, she could carry out the readings herself.

At that moment, to refuse Yue Zun would have undoubtedly exposed his unwillingness to abide by the ancestral edicts.