Chapter 859: Whispers of the Starry Sea

I’ll go with City Lord Wang.

True Lord Xuanjian gazed at the misty Starry Sea and spoke.

He had traveled thousands of miles to reach the Starry Sea and wanted to see the lay of the land, the local customs.

If Yue Kingdom fell or the war escalated into a great catastrophe, this sea area could serve as one of his fallback options.

Lu Changsheng nodded, opting not to use the Golden-Winged Roc or the Misty Dust Banner. Instead, he and True Lord Xuanjian used their divine abilities to conceal their forms and auras, speeding toward the Fuhai Sect.

The calm sea surface occasionally stirred with sea winds, carrying the roars and howls of sea beasts.

As they neared the Fuhai Sect, the area grew busier. True Lord Xuanjian decided not to join Lu Changsheng in scouting the sect and said he’d wander around on his own.

Though Lu Changsheng had shared Starry Sea intelligence with him.

Still, he needed to verify the information himself and get a real sense of things.

Alright.

Lu Changsheng picked up on True Lord Xuanjian’s intentions and didn’t mind. He suggested they touch base later, then headed alone to the Fuhai Sect.

With the Fuhai Sect’s grand array token and formation plate, Lu Changsheng slipped in unnoticed and returned to his cave residence.

Everything was exactly as he’d left it—no one had entered.

Hmm?

At that moment, Lu Changsheng noticed the message talisman on the desk glowing faintly.

Before leaving, he had instructed the maids Haiqin and Cangjue.

That he was going into secluded cultivation.

And not to disturb him unless it was extremely urgent.

Yet here was a message on the talisman.

Lu Changsheng picked up the message talisman and instantly learned that a month ago, the Zhenhai Patriarch had paid a visit.

What could this person want?

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly, deep in thought.

Before departing, he had set up a restriction in his cave and placed a jade talisman in the formation.

Anyone triggering the cave’s restriction or formation would alert him.

The jade talisman remained unactivated, meaning the Zhenhai Patriarch hadn’t disturbed the cave’s restrictions or formation.

Come see me.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Changsheng produced the Fuhai True Lord’s token and sent a message to the maids Haiqin and Cangjue, summoning them.

The two women had stayed in the Fuhai Sect the whole time and had no idea Lu Changsheng had left.

The Zhenhai Patriarch hadn’t told them either.

So, upon receiving the message, they informed the Zhenhai Patriarch and hurried to the cave to pay their respects.

“We greet the True Lord,” the two women said, bowing respectfully.

“What did the Zhenhai Patriarch want with me?”

Lu Changsheng, clad in a profound black robe, sat on the highest seat in the grand hall, his face stern as he spoke.

“The Patriarch didn’t tell us, True Lord,”

The two women replied quickly, filled with awe toward Lu Changsheng.

After all, this Yangming True Lord had mysteriously taken control of the Fuhai Sect, and his power was beyond question.

Especially since the Zhenhai Patriarch had given them strict orders to serve Yangming True Lord well, which instilled a natural fear in them.

Hmm.

Lu Changsheng didn’t press them and continued, asking about any major events in the Starry Sea over the years.

The two women recounted everything from the Starry Sea’s recent history, big and small.

Like how True Immortal Luo of the Alchemist Alliance tried to break through to Nascent Soul, or how the Starry Sea Pirates appeared and caused chaos, stealing several batches of rare resources from the Alchemist Alliance.

In a fit of rage, the Alchemist Alliance issued a kill order, offering a Nine-Turns Spirit Pill as a bounty to hunt down the Starry Sea Pirates.

Then, the Six Paths Palace, a top force in the Starry Sea, attacked the Thirteen Linked Islands, wiping them out completely.

Places like the Starry Sea, full of warring factions and lacking order, were always chaotic, with major incidents popping up every so often.

Lu Changsheng listened to these updates and casually asked about the Six Paths Palace, the Six Paths Demon Concubine, and the Divine Maiden Palace.

As for the Six Paths Demon Concubine, the two women knew little.

They just said she hadn’t shown herself in years; most matters were handled by the Four Sages of the Demon Palace.

For instance, the attack on the Thirteen Linked Islands was carried out by Nightmare-Eyed True Lord and Execution Evil True Lord among the Four Sages.

“Apart from fifteen years ago when True Person Jing Qing attempted to break through to Nascent Soul, the Divine Maiden Palace hasn’t had anyone else try in recent years,”

The two women said respectfully, well-versed in these matters.

Hmm. Lu Changsheng nodded lightly, figuring Shen Yiren probably hadn’t attempted Nascent Soul yet.

As for the Six Paths Demon Concubine, she was likely still in the Land of Eternal Night.

After getting the full picture of the Starry Sea, Lu Changsheng said, “Ask the Zhenhai Patriarch what he wants with me.”

“If it’s nothing urgent, I’ll return to seclusion.”

Though Lu Changsheng had no real interest in why the Zhenhai Patriarch sought him,

He knew these two women were the Patriarch’s spies.

They’d surely report that he was out of seclusion.

If the Patriarch showed up while he was divining or calculating, it would complicate things.

After all, trying to break through the Patriarch’s interference with heavenly secrets would leave him weakened.

“Yes, True Lord.”

The two women responded obediently.

Meanwhile, at the Zhenhai Sect,

The Zhenhai Patriarch, Turtle Immortal Patriarch, and Star King had gathered.

As soon as Haiqin and Cangjue sent word that Yangming True Lord was out of seclusion, the Zhenhai Patriarch notified the Star King and Turtle Immortal Patriarch for a discussion.

After all, opportunity waits for no one.

They had planned to move against this ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir,’ Lu Changsheng.

But he wasn’t around back then.

Now that he’d returned unexpectedly, they wouldn’t let the chance slip.

Still, the three were cautious.

They didn’t rush in but chose to divine and consult first.

“The ominous signs are a bit stronger than before,”

The Star King divined his own fortune and saw that this action was more dangerous now, teetering between minor and major omens.

But delay could breed trouble, and he didn’t want to wait longer.

The Star King looked to the Turtle Immortal Patriarch for his thoughts.

“If that’s the case, let’s move. Stick to the original plan,”

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch said.

His divination had always shown good omens, so he was fully confident.

Their caution stemmed from habit.

“Agreed.”

Once decided, the Zhenhai Patriarch grabbed his spiritual soldier talisman and rode a Fourth-Rank Demon King toward the Fuhai Sect.

The plan was to pretend to discuss important matters with Lu Changsheng, then have the Turtle Immortal Patriarch and Star King arrive via teleportation array for a surprise attack.

At the Fuhai Sect,

Lu Changsheng waited quietly for the Zhenhai Patriarch.

“The Patriarch has arrived, True Lord,”

The maid Cangjue reported.

Hmm.

Lu Changsheng nodded and rose, heading to the grand hall of Fuhai.

There, he saw an hunched old man sitting in the hall, wearing a conical hat and a rain cape.

“Zhenhai my friend,”

Though Lu Changsheng longed to end the Zhenhai Patriarch, he kept a faint smile and cupped his fists.

“Yangming my friend,”

The Zhenhai Patriarch mirrored him, acting like an old friend, his wrinkled face beaming as he returned the gesture.

“What brings you here?”

Lu Changsheng skipped the small talk and got straight to the point.

“I’ve come for an important matter,”

The Zhenhai Patriarch waved for Cangjue to leave, then launched into his prepared story.

He claimed to have heard of several secret treasures appearing in the Forbidden Sea, possibly from the ancient top force, the Sun-Moon Star Palace.

But the Forbidden Sea was dangerous, teeming with demon kings, and the Zhenhai Seven Sects were weakened, so he wanted to team up with Lu Changsheng to seize the opportunity.

“The Sun-Moon Star Palace? Secret treasures?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, recalling Hong Lian had mentioned that name years ago.

But he had no interest in such treasures.

Aside from not having the time, he didn’t trust the Zhenhai Patriarch and suspected a trap in the Forbidden Sea.

“I’m in the midst of critical cultivation right now. I only came out because of your message, so I can’t join you,”

Lu Changsheng declined politely.

The Zhenhai Patriarch was surprised by the immediate refusal.

He had used the “Sun-Moon Star Palace treasures” as bait, thinking it would tempt the ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir.’

Even if Lu Changsheng doubted it, he figured he’d want to check.

Yet here was a flat no.

The Zhenhai Patriarch kept his composure and kept persuading, stalling for the Star King and Turtle Immortal Patriarch to arrive.

All three were mid-Nascent Soul cultivators with exceptional skills.

Especially the Star King, a divination master who could obscure heavenly secrets and senses.

Even as a fourth-rank diviner, Lu Changsheng remained oblivious to their murderous intent.

Of course, that was because no real threat had formed yet.

Otherwise, as a fourth-rank diviner in the mix, he’d sense some unease.

“Enough, Zhenhai my friend. I just want to focus on my cultivation,”

Lu Changsheng said, frowning at the endless chatter, hinting it was time to leave.

“Very well, I won’t impose,”

The Zhenhai Patriarch replied, using their subtle connection to signal the Turtle Immortal Patriarch that he couldn’t delay longer.

“Boom!”

As soon as the message went out, the Star King and Turtle Immortal Patriarch, who had quietly arrived via teleportation array, struck.

In an instant, the entire Fuhai Sect was engulfed in starry light, with countless star clouds swirling, turning day into night as if enacting a cosmic spectacle.

The air and void in the Fuhai Sect’s grand hall froze solid, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura.

“This is bad!”

Lu Changsheng felt a crushing weight, as if burdened by mountains and seas.

Only his superior magical energy and fourth-tier mid-body refinement kept him from being pinned.

“You old dog, you’re asking for it!”

Lu Changsheng shouted at the Zhenhai Patriarch, his eyes flashing golden beams as he realized the ambush.

He aimed to seize the initiative with his physical prowess.

“Boom!!!”

Lu Changsheng’s blood energy and magical power surged.

His fourth-tier mid-body felt like an ancient dragon awakening, roaring like crashing waves inside him.

An invisible pressure swept out, flipping tables and chairs, shaking the entire hall.

Surrounded by his terrifying physical aura, Lu Changsheng threw a punch at the Zhenhai Patriarch.

He also activated the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror in his embrace, building up the Lunar Profound Light.

But the Zhenhai Patriarch was prepared.

He quickly tossed out a palm-sized deep-blue turtle shell, which hovered in front, radiating vast, sea-like blue light.

Even so, the Zhenhai Patriarch staggered back, his stance and aura unsteady.

As Lu Changsheng pressed his advantage to subdue him, the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror in his embrace trembled wildly.

“Master, behind you!” Ah Wu’s voice echoed in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

Lu Changsheng whipped around to see a hunched old man in a wide black robe, his back oddly humped, appearing out of nowhere.

The old man looked frail, with no magical energy leaking, yet he triggered an inexplicable dread in Lu Changsheng.

His Nascent Soul intuition screamed that this one was dangerous!

But beyond the threat, seeing the old man sparked a sudden surge of good fortune in Lu Changsheng’s heart, like a great opportunity was at hand!

“How did he get here? Lurking in the Fuhai Sect all along!?”

Lu Changsheng had no time to ponder the sensation; his mind raced with shock.

He hadn’t noticed this black-robed old man arriving at all.

And the Zhenhai Patriarch’s trap—how had he missed every sign?

As a fourth-rank diviner with a mid-Nascent Soul Taiyi Spirit, such tricks shouldn’t evade him.

Before he could think more, the turtle-backed old man closed in.

Despite his stooped, thin frame, he loomed like a colossal dragon turtle spanning heaven and earth, exuding crushing pressure that solidified and collapsed the space around.

“Buzz!!!”

The Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror flew from Lu Changsheng’s embrace, glowing with moon-white light, firing the hastily formed Lunar Profound Light.

“The Eastern Emperor Mirror!”

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch’s eyes lit up with greed at the sight of the mirror.

But doubt crept in immediately—

Wasn’t the Eastern Emperor Mirror all about pure yang and strength? How was it unleashing this yin and cold divine light?

In that critical moment, he didn’t dwell on it. His near fourth-tier late True Spirit-level demon king aura erupted, vast and boundless like an abyss, aiming to shatter the Lunar Profound Light and strike Lu Changsheng.

“Is that the Eastern Emperor Mirror?”

Outside the Fuhai Sect’s grand hall, the Star King in his purple star-cloud robe, holding a celestial chart, stared intently at the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, his face stern.

Though he’d read about the Sun-Moon Star Palace’s supreme treasure, the Eastern Emperor Mirror, in his sect’s ancient records, this mirror looked different.

Still, as a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, he recognized it as a supreme treasure. Even if not the Eastern Emperor Mirror, it was something rare they couldn’t pass up!

Besides, with their attack underway, Lu Changsheng had to die today, heir or not.

“Whoosh!!!”

The Zhenhai Patriarch, seeing his counterpart move, drew a deep breath and slapped his storage pouch, unleashing a prepared secret treasure.

A dark chain glistening with blue light emerged, coiling like a venomous snake toward Lu Changsheng.

He shouted loudly, “Intruders have breached our sect! Everyone, activate the grand array and join me in battle!”

Though he’d given Lu Changsheng the main formation plate, a fourth-tier forbidden array like Fuhai Sect’s needed multiple plates to control.

With Lu Changsheng too busy to activate it, the Zhenhai Patriarch moved to seize array control and suppress him.

Any Fuhai Sect cultivators who died in the struggle or fallout were just necessary losses.

As long as they eliminated the ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir,’ it was all worthwhile!

In an instant, the entire Fuhai Sect was a battlefield of killing intent!