Chapter 834: Whispers of Renewal

At that moment, Ina saw her sect leader approaching. Aware that the two needed a private conversation—and that her daughter’s presence might prove inconvenient—she spoke up.

“Mm,” Lu Jiangtang replied obediently. Then, tilting his head slightly with eyes full of eager anticipation, he asked, “Will Daddy come to see Liya later?”

The girl’s clear, bright words and longing, affectionate gaze were like warm spring sunlight that filled Lu Changsheng’s heart.

A gentle smile graced his lips as he rested his hand on his daughter’s neatly braided hair, and in a tender, doting tone he said, “Of course. Once Daddy has finished speaking with Master, I’ll come and keep Liya company.”

He didn’t mind that his daughter was eavesdropping.

But considering the rules of the Five Poisons Sect,

since Ah Youduo might have some private matters to discuss with him, he preferred that his daughter step aside.

“Love you, Daddy! I’ll be waiting! Mua!”

The young girl hugged her father tightly, her voice filled with adoration and delight as she expressed her deep affection for him.

That natural, untainted affection warmed Lu Changsheng’s heart like nothing else.

Seeing Ina leaving the Five Saints Hall with Lu Jiangtang, Nangong Mili also rose and stepped aside.

She knew full well that her current standing in the Five Poisons Sect was entirely thanks to Lu Changsheng.

That very connection had made her the foremost subordinate under Ah Youduo.

However, because of it, Ah Youduo had grown less intimate with her than in earlier years, instead placing his trust in Ina as his confidante.

Thus, with Lu Changsheng remaining silent, she maintained an especially respectful demeanor toward Ah Youduo.

“Mili, just stay here.”

Seeing Nangong Mili rise, Lu Changsheng immediately spoke and motioned for her to remain in place.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Mili finally settled down with a calm expression, feeling content.

She understood that instead of relying on the sect leader, she now needed to depend more on Lu Changsheng.

“Ah Youduo, how have things been these past years?”

Then Lu Changsheng turned his attentive gaze toward Ah Youduo, clearly concerned about both his wellbeing and the state of the Five Poisons Sect.

According to intelligence from the Immortal City of Damengze, the Jin Kingdom had not been at peace in recent years.

True Lord Mingsha, during his early breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, struck a deal with Beast God Mountain and collaborated to help Liang Kingdom counter the forces of Jiang and Yue.

However, influenced by him, Ah Youduo was no longer willing to act against the Jiang Kingdom, causing a rift.

Faced with this, the Heavenly Corpse Sect Master ultimately decided to side with the Five Poisons Sect in opposing the Yin Ghost Sect.

There wasn’t much reasoning behind it.

Quite simply, the Heavenly Corpse Sect wasn’t a match for the Yin Ghost Sect at that time.

Especially since True Lord Mingsha had forged an alliance with Beast God Mountain—practically serving as its lapdog.

In such circumstances, without the Five Poisons Sect maintaining a tripolar balance in the Jin Kingdom, once Liang Kingdom overran Jiang and Yue, the Heavenly Corpse Sect would inevitably face invasion and oppression from the Yin Ghost Sect.

“Lord,”

Ah Youduo explained to Lu Changsheng that in recent years the pressures on the Five Poisons Sect were coming mainly from the Yin Ghost Sect and Liang Kingdom.

True Lord Mingsha’s alliance with Beast God Mountain remained a mystery.

In these years, not only had he annexed and seized the Five Poisons Sect’s territory, he had also been ruthlessly waging war in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

He had even stirred up a beast tide, provoking Fourth-Tier Shapeshifting Demon Kings.

“Although True Lord Mingsha needs to kill and collect Ten Thousand Spirit Blood to nourish the Yin Ghost Sect’s prized treasure, the ‘Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool’.”

With a grave expression, Ah Youduo said, “But his reckless slaughter in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range must be driven by some sort of backing or compulsion; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare do it.”

Deep within the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, there are numerous Fourth-Tier Shapeshifting Demon Kings.

Usually, these demon kings either lie dormant on their own turf or push deeper into the range, seldom concerning themselves with the outskirts.

But once large-scale massacres occur, the demon kings unite in resistance, even summoning additional Fourth-Tier Shapeshifting Demon Kings from the depths.

If multiple Fourth-Tier Shapeshifting Demon Kings were to arise and trigger a massive beast tide, the entire Jin Kingdom would be doomed.

“Beast God Mountain, huh?”

Lu Changsheng recalled that True Lord Mingsha had harnessed Beast God Mountain’s power during his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

And because of that, back in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, True Lord Mingsha, True Lord Tiancang, and True Lord Yunmei had banded together to pursue him.

“It’s possible, but I’m not certain. I suspect it might also be related to the envoy.”

Ah Youduo said this ambiguously.

“The envoy.”

Lu Changsheng, no longer the naïve newcomer to the cultivation world he once was, instantly understood the meaning—this was likely tied to the Seven Demonic Sects.

Much like back in the day when True Lord White Lotus appeared in the Five Poisons Sect and took Nangong Yaoyao as his disciple.

Although the exact purpose was unclear, the intelligence he had made it evident that the Seven Demonic Sects were scheming in preparation for a great calamity.

He couldn’t have imagined that True Lord Mingsha would get entangled with an envoy from the Seven Demonic Sects.

After dispatching the Yin Ghost Sect, wouldn’t he risk provoking yet another envoy from the Seven Demonic Sects?

“I’m only speculating.”

Gently shaking his head, Ah Youduo then asked Lu Changsheng, “Lord, have you come here with any particular business?”

“I’ve come to check on all of you—and secondly, to use the sacred energy of your cave residence to break through, then to crush the Yin Ghost Sect and exterminate True Lord Mingsha.”

Lu Changsheng replied coolly.

“Break through? Crush the Yin Ghost Sect and exterminate True Lord Mingsha?”

Both Ah Youduo and Nangong Mili were taken aback by these words, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Wasn’t Lu Changsheng already past the Nascent Soul stage? Why would he need another breakthrough?

And what about crushing the Yin Ghost Sect?

Exterminating True Lord Mingsha?! Those words were simply horrifying.

Not to mention, the Yin Ghost Sect is protected by a Fourth-Tier Forbidden Array, making it nearly impenetrable.

And True Lord Mingsha alone isn’t so easily dealt with.

The reason is simple.

It’s notoriously difficult for two cultivators at the same Nascent Soul level to kill each other.

Moreover, with the treasured ‘Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool’ in his possession, True Lord Mingsha’s power rivals that of many veteran Nascent Soul cultivators.

Though Ah Youduo had switched to the Dao-seeking level technique ‘Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex’,

its effectiveness was limited by his Nascent Soul Dao Foundation and the constraints of the Divine Abilities Technique, leaving it uncertain if it could overcome True Lord Mingsha.

Lu Changsheng, having only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, nonchalantly declared his intent to crush the Yin Ghost Sect and exterminate True Lord Mingsha!

This is simply inconceivable! Even though both Ah Youduo and Nangong Mili were utterly convinced of Lu Changsheng’s might—knowing that at the Core Formation stage he could match and even slay Nascent Soul cultivators—

they couldn’t help but feel that his claim was a bit overconfident.

However, as a Nascent Soul True Lord, Ah Youduo reacted quickly. Remembering that Lu Changsheng, during his Core Formation stage, already possessed Fourth-Tier body refinement, he immediately asked, “Lord, are you planning to break through to Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement?”

If Lu Changsheng could push his body refinement to Fourth-Tier Mid-Body, combined with his exceptional techniques and his peerless sword embryo, he might well be able to overcome True Lord Mingsha.

“Exactly.”

Lu Changsheng nodded in agreement.

“Hiss.”

Even though he had anticipated as much, upon hearing it, Ah Youduo was overcome with shock beyond measure.

Inwardly, he thought, ‘Lord truly lives up to being one of Central State’s greats, the sovereign with the unparalleled Dragon Emperor Dao Body—and all this in just a few short years!’

Not only had he broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, but his body refinement was on the verge of reaching Fourth-Tier Mid-Body! Remember, among cultivators who practice both Qi refining and body refinement, the latter is typically one level lower than their Qi cultivation.

Once one’s cultivation breakthrough is achieved, they invest in training their physique to boost both combat strength and survival skills.

Yet his Lord chose a completely different path.

He was refining his body at a level above his Qi cultivation—and at an astonishing pace.

Ah Youduo recalled that when Lu Changsheng took him back into the Demon Abyss to search for the Gu God Cauldron, his body refinement had only just reached Fourth-Tier.

By the count of time, it had only been twenty-five years.

Twenty-five years was merely the time she spent retraining her technique.

Yet during that span, his Lord not only broke through to the Nascent Soul stage but also began Fourth-Tier body refinement and was on the brink of Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement! Even a Nascent Soul mid-stage giant wouldn’t be able to boost their body refinement so dramatically in such a short time, would they?

“Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement!”

Nangong Mili, watching Lu Changsheng’s strikingly handsome face, felt her heart flutter.

She couldn’t believe how much Lu Changsheng had improved over the years.

Not only had he broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and attained the Nascent Soul rank, he was now set on achieving Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement.

Even though he wasn’t solely a body cultivator—his body refinement was just one facet of his training—

Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement alone was enough to make one a regional powerhouse.

At that moment, Nangong Mili almost longed to throw herself into Lu Changsheng’s arms, eager to ask about his progress and pour out her longing.

Yet, recalling her own fragile physique that could barely endure his, the thought of drawing any closer made her fear she might completely fall apart. Her heart pounded with both trepidation and anticipation, mirroring the dreamy, enchanting allure of Lu Changsheng’s phoenix-like eyes, as if delicate strands of desire were flowing forth.

“I’ll arrange the cave residence for you immediately, Lord. As for crushing the Yin Ghost Sect, you can take your time planning it,”

Ah Youduo knew that the strong rarely appreciated being questioned, so he didn’t press the matter further.

“Hehe, there’s no rush for this matter,”

Lu Changsheng laughed, adding that he was about to see just how effective his Yin-Yang energy would be on Ah Youduo’s Nascent Soul spirit body.

Over the years, Ah Youduo had helped him with many tasks.

After all, to ensure one received proper assistance, rewards were necessary.

Upon hearing this, Ah Youduo showed no reluctance; her eyes lit up with joy.

She had been waiting for Lu Changsheng to unlock the Dragon Emperor Essence after his Nascent Soul breakthrough!

“Dragon Emperor Essence.”

At these words, Nangong Mili lightly bit her alluring lips as a surge of anticipation welled within her.

In her early years, she had only attained a Fourth-Grade True Core, with little hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Thanks to Lu Changsheng’s Yin-Yang energy, she advanced from a Fourth-Grade True Core to a Third-Grade Golden Core.

A Third-Grade Golden Core, although promising for a Nascent Soul breakthrough,

without a Huaying Pill or Top-Tier Nascent Soul Spirit Items, offered only about a twenty to thirty percent chance.

Now that Lu Changsheng had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, his unparalleled Dragon Emperor Dao Body and Dragon Emperor Essence would undoubtedly push him further, helping him achieve the Immortal Golden Core sooner! Once attained, the Nascent Soul stage would no longer seem so distant!

However, seeing the subtle look of anticipation on the sect leader’s youthful face, Nangong Mili realized that she would have to defer.

Normally, she treated the sect leader with utmost respect—but that might change soon.

After all, back then when the three were together, the sect leader had even stooped—under the lecherous coercion of that dog of a man—to serve her.

Though it had only been a light dalliance, such an overstepping of boundaries sent a shiver down Nangong Mili’s spine.

Especially when she thought that now, as Lu Changsheng had ascended to Nascent Soul True Lord, he might later notice her dreamy, alluring gaze and silently comprehend her thoughts, leaving him somewhat at a loss for words.

This woman truly was exactly his type.

Then, without hesitation and right before Nangong Mili’s eyes, Lu Changsheng scooped up the petite and charming Five Poisons Sect Master inside the imposing sect leader’s palace.

In an instant, the little girl who had appeared as the Five Poisons Sect Master transformed into a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old maiden with delicate features and a graceful figure.

Though her looks and figure couldn’t compare to Nangong Mili’s, she was still incredibly captivating.

Her long, silky hair cascaded softly, and with exquisitely delicate features—her face scarcely larger than Lu Changsheng’s palm—she exuded an aura of pure, innocent beauty that stood in stark contrast to her station as the Five Poisons Sect Master.

Her bare little feet, white and delicate, were as if freshly peeled spring bamboo shoots—soft and jade-like.

When she tiptoed, her round, egg-shaped heels flushed with a subtle, enticing rosy tint.

After twenty years, it was evident that Ah Youduo still remained somewhat inexperienced in matters of romance.

However, Lu Ancestor, steeped in cultivation for ages, gently guided the Nascent Soul Sect Master.

At the same time, Lu Ancestor showed no favoritism; he called Nangong Mili over to join them.

Before long, a wave of springtime warmth filled the majestic palace where all the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect paid homage.

Though they hadn’t seen each other in ages, it was a moment ripe for a passion as fierce as thunder and fire.

But Lu Ancestor never lost sight of the business at hand.

As the seas roiled and dragons roared, the Nascent Soul’s Yin-Yang energy—black and white in stark contrast—seemed as if the Yin-Yang Fish, the very spirit of the Dao, were being infused deep within Ah Youduo.

Even though Ah Youduo, as a Nascent Soul True Lord, was facing a torrent of Yin-Yang energy as overwhelming as a breached dam, it was almost too much to bear. Meanwhile, seeing the sect leader’s trembling, sweat-drenched, delicate form and weakened legs, Nangong Mili wondered whether she should call for Xiaochan or Ina.

Even though she wasn’t particularly fond of Ina,

under such circumstances she feared she might be utterly overwhelmed. Lu Changsheng used his Yin-Yang magical energy to soothe Ah Youduo and help her refine the Yin-Yang fish.

At that moment, Ah Youduo, straining to keep her trembling consciousness clear, absorbed the mightier, more profound, and mysterious Dragon Emperor Essence than ever before.

Once the Yin-Yang fish entered her Qi Sea Dantian, her Nascent Soul spirit body instantly brimmed with a natural craving for closeness and comfort.

Her Nascent Soul spirit body absorbed the Yin-Yang energy, much like a Yin-Yang fish, and began to refine it.

In an instant, a wave of soothing warmth enveloped her Nascent Soul spirit body.

She felt as if she had transformed into an infant in the womb, continuously nourished and nurtured, leaving her heart filled with ethereal wonder.

She could clearly sense her Nascent Soul spirit body growing and evolving.

It wasn’t long before she completely refined that Yin-Yang fish.

A longing like never before surged within Ah Youduo.

A desire to experience it all over again.

But she knew that the Dragon Emperor Essence was not limitless.

Lu Changsheng also needed time to recover, and continuously bestowing his Dragon Emperor Essence on others would deplete him.

“Ah Youduo, how is the effect?”

Lu Changsheng inquired, wanting to know how long his Yin-Yang Essence would take to elevate Ah Youduo’s Nascent Soul spirit body to a true, proper Nascent Soul.

“The effect is very apparent. With this practice repeated several hundred times, my Nascent Soul can ascend to a proper Nascent Soul.”

Ah Youduo’s rosy smile blossomed as she spoke in a slightly breathless tone.

Though several hundred repetitions might sound excessive,

this was the chance for a human Nascent Soul to ascend—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that countless cultivators could only dream of.

However, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but frown.

Several hundred times.

He estimated that it would take about a month to restore that level of Yin-Yang energy essence.

Several hundred repetitions would equate to decades.

Though for a Nascent Soul True Lord a century is merely a tenth of a lifetime,

for Lu Changsheng, who had been cultivating for just over a hundred years, spending several decades to nurture a human Nascent Soul into a true one was simply far too slow!

And that was just for a human Nascent Soul to ascend.

To ascend from a genuine Nascent Soul to a heavenly Nascent Soul would be like an endless chasm, wouldn’t it? “I only recently broke through the Nascent Soul stage, and as I continue to advance, my Yin-Yang energy will keep rising.”

“Moreover, besides cultivation breakthroughs, enhancing my Chaos Body can also boost my Yin-Yang energy.”

Lu Changsheng pondered these words without further hesitation.

Be it human, genuine, or heavenly Nascent Soul—the leap to each new level is a formidable hurdle.

If innate Nascent Soul quality could be so easily improved later, then the miraculous treasures of the Heavens and Earth that enhance it wouldn’t be so rare.

Most cultivators wouldn’t risk everything for a genuine or heavenly Nascent Soul; they’d opt for a human Nascent Soul and break through steadily.

“Rest assured. Once my cultivation level rises further, the effects of this Dragon Emperor Essence will only improve,”

Lu Changsheng told Ah Youduo.

He added that if he fully devoted himself to helping Ah Youduo enhance her Nascent Soul quality in the future, she could even speed up the restoration of her Yin-Yang energy by taking pills.

“Thank you, Lord!”

Considering Lu Changsheng’s rapid breakthroughs, Ah Youduo’s heart swelled with hope—she truly believed that a heavenly Nascent Soul wasn’t just a dream.

In that moment, she straightened her jade-like figure, her actions conveying her delight to Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng swept the alluring Nangong Mili into his embrace, releasing his passion unabashedly.

In an instant, the sounds of springtime passion filled the palace once again—more intense than before, with no end in sight.

A few days later, Lu Changsheng let Ah Youduo and Nangong Mili rest before stepping out of the Five Saints Hall to visit Ina and his daughter, Lu Jiangtang.

He also took the opportunity to introduce his daughter and son, Lu Minghuang and Lu Mengchan, to one another.

Though he didn’t insist that all his children be as respectful and harmonious as ideal siblings,

he still hoped they would come to know each other well and form close bonds.

After all, Lu Minghuang, Lu Mengchan, and Lu Jiangtang—all part of the Five Poisons Sect lineage—should be well acquainted.

Especially since Lu Jiangtang, like Lu Mengchan, practiced the ‘Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex.’

Lu Jiangtang, who adored his father Lu Changsheng with boundless admiration, was incredibly endearing.

Yet, with his older siblings Lu Minghuang and Lu Mengchan, that closeness was noticeably lacking.

It even felt as if something he dearly cherished was being divided and snatched away.

Feeling somewhat helpless about this, Lu Changsheng spent these days accompanied by Meng Xiaochan and Ina as he patiently guided his three children in cultivation.

Whether it was Lu Minghuang’s ‘Divine Creation Refinement Art’ or the children’s ‘Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex’, he was the one best suited to teach them.

Regarding Ina, the maid, Lu Changsheng also hoped to instruct her in the ‘Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex,’ but she didn’t meet the cultivation requirements.

It required gathering various natural treasures and then using a secret technique to condense a postnatal toxic body before one could cultivate that method.

“You should keep an eye out for natural treasures in that regard,”

Lu Changsheng said to Ina.

In the cultivation world, top cultivators in any faction attach immense importance to the inheritance of powerful techniques and rarely choose their successors lightly.

Just as Ina, being Ah Youduo’s confidante, was never considered as a candidate to inherit the ‘Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex’—it was only taught to Lu Jiangtang.

But Lu Ancestor was quite indifferent about it.

He believed that as long as one met the conditions to practice a top-tier technique, it should naturally be prioritized.

Even the ‘Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’ he practiced was partly shared with Lu Quanzhen to corroborate his ‘Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art.’

If there were suitable candidates at home who could resonate with the ‘Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’ or the ‘True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons’, he wouldn’t have minded sharing it.

“Thank you, Lord!”

Although Ina wasn’t fully familiar with this technique,

she knew it was the top-tier method treasured by her sect leader—a fact that stirred her emotions deeply.

Even though Lu Changsheng wished he could spend more time with his wives, concubines, and children,

this visit to the Five Poisons Sect was a matter of pressing business, leaving him little time to linger.

Over half a month later, he handed Ah Youduo a list of the natural treasures he needed, then proceeded to her cave residence to begin his breakthrough into the second layer of Nascent Soul and Fourth-Tier Mid-Body Refinement!