Chapter 864: Return to Bihu Mountain

Back at Bihu Mountain, Lu Changsheng sent the Golden-Winged Roc to find his daughter Lu Baixi, then headed to the Sumeru Cave Heaven with Qian Zhuyan.

As soon as they entered the cave heaven, they spotted his wife Lu Miaoge and their daughter Lu Qingqi.

The two were focused on Lu Wangshu’s core formation phenomenon.

“Changsheng, Qian Zhuyan, my friend.”

Lu Miaoge, having met Qian Zhuyan before, greeted her with a warm, gentle expression.

“Daddy, you’re back!” Lu Qingqi called out sweetly, hurrying to pour tea and eyeing the tall puppet beside her father with curiosity.

As a young lady of the Lu family, she had some knowledge of puppets and a keen eye for them.

She could tell this puppet was exceptional.

It far outclassed the second-rank top-tier puppet she owned.

“Miaoge, Little Qi.”

Lu Changsheng took the tea from his daughter and replied with a smile.

Then, he extended his divine sense to check on Lu Wangshu’s core formation progress.

She had already formed the initial shape of a golden core.

Now, she was merging it with her Dao foundation in a hundred-day fusion process.

Given Lu Wangshu’s talents and solid foundation, barring any interference or inner demons causing instability, an Immortal Golden Core was almost guaranteed.

Attempting core formation in the Sumeru Cave Heaven meant no outside disturbances.

Even if inner demons arose, the Sumeru Tree King could cleanse her mind and dispel the barriers.

Besides, Lu Wangshu possessed the [Clear Dao Heart] Dao seed.

Throughout the process, her spiritual platform stayed pure, her Dao heart refined, making instability unlikely.

“Changsheng, Wangshu’s core formation signs are on par with yours back then.”

Lu Miaoge, dressed in a simple white dress, spoke with a serene and elegant face, her eyes shimmering with maternal warmth.

Though core formation in the Sumeru Cave Heaven muffled the heavenly phenomena, making them less vivid than outside,

watching from this close distance, Lu Miaoge could still gauge the situation.

She knew Lu Wangshu’s formation was superior to her own—at least an Immortal Golden Core.

This filled her with joy and pride for her daughter.

“Ha, we didn’t have conditions like Wangshu’s in our time.”

Lu Changsheng held his wife’s soft hand and sat down, chuckling.

Though Lu Miaoge’s own core formation had good conditions,

including top-grade Condensing Crystal Pills, Sun and Moon Essence, Five Elements Spirit Fruits, Five Elements Spiritual Earth, and a Fourth-Grade Water Spirit Pearl,

along with Lu Changsheng’s help through the Sun and Moon Reincarnation Sutra and Taiyi Water Technique,

it still fell short of what Lu Wangshu had by several levels.

“Daddy, isn’t the Immortal Golden Core the highest?” Lu Qingqi asked her father.

“Well, theoretically, yes, but with the right opportunities, you can push the limits even further.”

This daughter had decent talent, enough to aim for core formation, so Lu Changsheng kept things simple.

He avoided mentioning something as advanced as the Dao Golden Core—

it was simply too difficult.

His own achievement of a Dao Golden Core stemmed from the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra, his top-tier Spirit Body, and mainly the [Yin-Yang Five Elements Foundation].

“Oh.” Lu Qingqi nodded, then asked, “Daddy, can my little brother form an Immortal Golden Core like my brother and Sister Wangshu?”

She meant Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge’s son, Lu Qingxuan, and her own brother, Lu Qingshan.

“With proper preparation, he has a good chance.” Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

Normally, for Lu Qingxuan, forming an Immortal Golden Core would be tough,

but with the Lu family’s staples like Sun and Moon Essence and Five Elements Spirit Fruits, it became feasible.

Especially after Lu Changsheng’s gains from the Zhenhai Sect.

So, for someone with Lu Qingxuan’s talent, cultivating an Immortal Golden Core was within reach if he put in the effort.

Lu Qingqi blinked her big eyes, looking expectant. “What about me, Daddy?”

Seeing his daughter’s eager face, Lu Changsheng sipped his tea, amused. “If you work hard, you could reach core formation too.”

“I’ve been working really hard—you can ask Aunt Miaoge!”

Lu Qingqi clung to Lu Miaoge’s arm, her tone playfully whiny. “Right, Aunt?”

“Yes, Little Qi has been diligent in her cultivation lately.”

Lu Miaoge stroked her head, doting on this daughter of her sister Lu Miaohuan.

The girl had a personality like Lu Miaohuan’s in her youth, but even more charming.

“Heh.”

Lu Changsheng glanced at his daughter’s Foundation Establishment sixth-layer cultivation.

It wasn’t fast, but it wasn’t slow either.

He pulled a jade pendant from his storage ring and handed it to her. “This is a treasure I picked up recently. It boosts cultivation and helps focus the mind. Wearing it long-term will also purify your body—consider it a reward.”

Lu Qingqi saw right away that the pendant was of high quality, likely third-rank, and replied joyfully, “Thank you, Daddy!”

She took it eagerly.

The moment it touched her skin, a cool, soothing energy flowed in, like a mountain spring refreshing her whole being.

After a quick feel, Lu Qingqi realized it was definitely a third-rank treasure.

A bit overwhelmed, she looked at Lu Changsheng and asked if it was too valuable.

As a Lu family daughter, she enjoyed good perks, but most resources she handled were second-rank pills and treasures.

“Just don’t go showing it off everywhere.”

Lu Changsheng knew his daughter liked to boast a little.

“I won’t.” Lu Qingqi nodded obediently and tucked it away.

“Miaoge.”

After sending Lu Qingqi on her way, Lu Changsheng turned to Lu Miaoge and handed over the water-attribute treasures and natural items he’d gained from the Zhenhai Sect.

“This…”

Even after a century together, the sight of so many treasures stunned Lu Miaoge.

From dresses and hair ornaments to earrings, shawls, bracelets, and rings…

“Changsheng, what is all this?” Lu Miaoge was used to his lucky finds, but this pile of water-attribute items puzzled her.

“Heh.”

Lu Changsheng explained his recent trip and the Zhenhai Sect events to his wife.

He’d only mentioned the Starry Sea briefly before to avoid worrying her, but now that it was resolved, he shared the details.

“All these years, I haven’t given you much jewelry or accessories, Miaoge.”

Lu Changsheng said warmly, picking up a hair pin that gleamed like melting ice and helping her put it on.

Though Lu Miaoge had a few treasures, like her thirty-six Canghai Pearls and life-bound items the Yin-Yang Jade Purifying Vase and Taiyi Talisman—all lower-grade—she now had these to wear from head to toe.

Even against a Core Formation Grand cultivator, she’d have ways to defend herself.

“I don’t go out much anyway…”

Lu Miaoge said softly, noting the high quality—at least upper-grade artifacts—and feeling it was a waste for her mostly homebound life.

But Lu Changsheng never cared about that. With gentle affection, he said, “You look beautiful, Miaoge. Come on, try this on…”

Nearby, Qian Zhuyan watched with a flicker of soul fire in her eyes, quietly observing the scene.

She wondered if Lu Changsheng ever got tired of being so affectionate, and wasn’t he supposed to head to the Yue Kingdom? Yet here he was, lost in family moments.

She didn’t want to interrupt, though she wished she’d found a room to study the puppet earlier.

Luckily, Lu Miaoge still treated her like a person, and after their tender exchange, she pulled Lu Changsheng toward the Hall of Everlasting Life.

Qian Zhuyan stood alone outside the hall, realizing Lu Changsheng saw her as neither an outsider nor quite a woman.

Later, after sharing his longing with his wife, Lu Changsheng didn’t rush to help Lu Wangshu finish her core formation.

Instead, he left the Sumeru Cave Heaven with Lu Miaoge and handed some of his Zhenhai Sect gains to Lu Miaoyun to boost the Lu family’s benefits.

“Ah…”

Lu Miaoyun stared at the storage pouch’s riches, surprised.

When Lu Changsheng returned from the Jin Kingdom, he’d already added resources to the family vault and upgraded disciple perks.

Now, after a few months away, he brought more and wanted to raise benefits again.

Lu Changsheng briefly explained the Zhenhai Seven Sects and assured her the family had plenty of resources, no need for thrift.

“Husband, our family’s treatment already outshines others. I suggest using these as bonuses, distributed based on merit…”

Lu Miaoyun thought basic perks needed limits; raising them too high could breed laziness and strain future finances, especially since they were already multiples above rivals.

Better to reward the outstanding.

“Let’s go with what you say, Yun’er.”

Lu Changsheng paused briefly but agreed, knowing over-reliance on resources could create slackers.

After chatting with his wives, Lu Changsheng strolled leisurely through Bihu Mountain.

He’d been driven by urgency against the Zhenhai Patriarch, spending all his time drawing talismans, but now that the Seven Sects issue was settled, he relaxed and set aside the endless drawing.

As for refining the Yin-Yang Creation Gourd, reforging his spirit treasures, condensing a Nascent Soul Domain, or mastering divine abilities, those demanded time he didn’t have before heading to the Yue Kingdom, so he let them wait.

“Dad! Aunt!”

Lu Ping’an was holding his son Lu Xuanfan, basking in the sun, and spotted Lu Changsheng and the others approaching.

Since having a son, he’d settled into a relaxed family life.

“Mm.” Lu Changsheng nodded, tossing a few spirit items from his storage ring as gifts to nurture his grandson’s body.

As for Lu Ping’an, family matters had slowed his cultivation, but Lu Changsheng didn’t push him—it was inevitable for cultivators with families, especially one as responsible as him.

After merging with the Seven Orifices Exquisite Core, Lu Linghe had sharpened her insight and was on track with core formation techniques,

showing strong talent in beast control by quickly mastering the Spirit Calming Spell and Heart Settling Spell to communicate and soothe demon beasts.

“Is that really the Heart Settling Spell?”

Lu Changsheng watched as Lu Linghe calmed a raging demon beast, frowning slightly—it seemed more than just the spell at work, involving her magical energy’s Buddhist light and the watchful Iron-Eating Beast nearby.

But as long as she was happy, that was fine.

Lu Linghe had always wanted to contribute like Lu Wangshu, Lu Lingxiao, Lu Ping’an, and Lu Qingsong, but the family kept her to minor tasks until now.

With her new skills, she finally had real responsibilities, making her feel fulfilled.

“Little He, once you break through to core formation, I’ll give you an important task.”

Lu Changsheng hoped she’d focus more on cultivation as he spoke to her.

“What task, Daddy?” Lu Linghe blinked curiously.

“Spiritual soldiers—you know about them, right?” Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

“Yes!” Lu Linghe nodded. “Sister’s paper figures are spiritual soldiers, and Sister Qingyan raises Black Water Flood Dragons.”

She’d trained in the Black Dragon Codex early on and raised Black Water Flood Dragon soldiers with Lu Qingyan, so she understood them well.

“When you reach core formation, I’ll teach you a method to raise spiritual soldiers and put you in charge.”

Seeing her interest in beast control, Lu Changsheng decided to keep her engaged.

Mainly because the family had resources to spare now, allowing for more spiritual soldier cultivation to build their legacy.

“Raise spiritual soldiers!?”

Lu Linghe’s eyes widened in surprise, feeling the pressure—she worried she might mess it up, knowing how costly it was.

“Don’t worry. By the time you hit core formation, your beast control skills will improve, and I believe in you, Little He.”

Lu Changsheng encouraged her.

Lu Linghe nodded seriously, promising to break through quickly and master her skills.

Three days later, Lu Changsheng arrived at Lu Wangshu’s cave residence.

With his current abilities, he slipped in unnoticed, without disturbing her.

“Wangshu.”

After a while, Lu Changsheng sent a soul message to call her, ready to assist with Yin-Yang essence.

He’d discussed this with her before, and since he’d helped her refine Qi to Foundation Establishment, she was prepared.

She’d even wondered if he’d forgotten or gotten delayed.

As she surfaced from her trance, Lu Changsheng activated the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra; in his Qi Sea Dantian, the Yin-Yang Myriad Laws Nascent Soul on the Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Platform opened its eyes and formed hand seals.

Like a spirit of the Dao, the surrounding Yin-Yang fish surged out, radiating brilliant Yin-Yang light.

“Wangshu, stay focused and run your techniques fully!”

Lu Changsheng infused the Yin-Yang essence into her.

“Boom!”

Now at Nascent Soul level, this essence was overkill for helping a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lu Wangshu form a core—it was almost wasteful.

Without her third-rank body refinement, she might not have handled it.

Even so, as the essence entered her Qi Sea Dantian to refine her Dao foundation and fuse the core, her state wavered.

Luckily, Lu Changsheng steadied her, and she quickly entered a state of Clear Dao Heart to stabilize.

“If the talent and foundation aren’t strong enough, my Yin-Yang essence could do more harm than good.”

Lu Changsheng realized it was better suited for aiding core formation to Nascent Soul.

Helping at this stage risked backfiring.

“Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—”

With his help, magical energy surged through Lu Wangshu, drawing spiritual energy from all directions like a raging river into her body.

Her brow’s life talisman glowed brightly, blood-red runes emerged on her skin, and massive talisman patterns formed around her, refining the energy.

Time slipped by as her first-grade golden core pushed toward even greater heights.