Chapter 906: Late-Stage Nascent Soul Divine Sense

Northern Region of Southern Desolation, Yan Yang Kingdom.

The Yan Yang Kingdom is the premier cultivation nation in the Northern Region of Southern Desolation. Its hegemonic power is the Yan Yang Sect, whose patriarch is a famed Nascent Soul overlord.

Though Jiang Kingdom and Liang-Yue lie far from Yan Yang Kingdom, remote and out of the way.

As a top Northern Region power, the Yan Yang Sect has wide intelligence channels. When Yangming True Lord captured four Nascent Souls during the Liang-Yue war, they received word and paid close attention.

Now the news that Yangming True Lord slew six Nascent Souls, broke Beast God Mountain, and pacified Liang Kingdom had also reached the Yan Yang Sect’s upper echelons.

At Yan Yang Sect, a mountain seemed linked to the blazing sun above, wreathed in searing flames.

Inside a fourth-rank cave residence on the mountain, a plain-looking red-faced barefoot old man and a gray-robed white-haired elder sat over a Go board.

Watching his stones forced step by step into a dead end, the red-faced barefoot old man grew annoyed, wanting to flip the table and smash the board.

Just then he sensed something and looked surprised.

“Daoist Bai, news from the Liang-Yue war just arrived. That Yangming True Lord not only captured several Nascent Souls, he broke Beast God Mountain and ended the war.”

The red-faced barefoot old man spoke.

“So fast?” The gray-robed elder was startled.

“The report came through our sect. It won’t be false.”

The red-faced barefoot old man asked, “Daoist Bai, what’s that Yangming True Lord’s background? He’s really not from your Five Grand Mystic Gates?”

Not only Mo Luo suspected that Yangming True Lord was a Central Domain Mystic Gates cultivator in disguise; this Northern Region giant thought the same.

After all, Nascent Soul giants tend to follow a rough trajectory in their rise. This one appeared too suddenly.

“If he were from our five sects, would I let you keep tabs on him?” The gray-robed elder shook his head.

“So he’s not someone from your five sects in disguise. Seems this Yangming True Lord, as rumored, is an old monster reborn or someone who seized a body to start over.”

The red-faced barefoot old man frowned. “First Jiang Kingdom produced a Qingluan True Lord, now there’s a Yangming True Lord. Could there be some great opportunity there?”

Back at the battle in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, Qingluan True Lord’s name had become known to the Northern Region’s powers.

“Whatever his origin, as long as he isn’t one of the Seven Demonic Sects, that’s fine.”

The gray-robed elder said, “As for hidden opportunities, even if that remote place had any, the two have likely digested them already. Still, I plan to meet this Yangming True Lord. If we can win him over, it’ll add to our foundations for the looming great calamity.”

He looked at the red-faced barefoot old man. “Daoist Huo, care to come along?”

“Heh, I’ll pass. I have no interest in him.”

The red-faced barefoot old man waved it off.

Though Yangming True Lord and he both belonged to Southern Desolation’s Northern Region.

The Northern Region’s territory was vast. Under normal circumstances, Jiang Kingdom and Yan Yang Sect rarely crossed paths.

As for paying a visit to a newly ascended Nascent Soul giant? He had no interest.

After speaking, the Fire Patriarch chuckled and said with interest, “Daoist Bai, from what I hear this Yangming True Lord and Qingluan True Lord are quite close.”

“Qingluan True Lord once obtained a major opportunity, drawing many forces to rob and hunt her. Her life or death is unknown now. If this Yangming True Lord is that former Yangming True Person, he’ll likely make big moves next.”

For an old monster standing at the peak of Southern Desolation’s Northern Region, many things no longer caught his eye.

But this rapidly rising Yangming True Lord did interest him. He wanted to see if the man could stand firm in the Northern Region.

“Qingluan True Lord?”

The gray-robed elder, though from the Central Domain, had roamed the Northern Region for many years and had heard of Qingluan True Lord, just not the details.

He then asked the Fire Patriarch for the inside story.

“Luofuzi.”

Moments later, after learning the details, the gray-robed elder heard a name among them and his face tightened.

As for Luofu Mountain and Luofuzi, he had not only heard of them, he also knew their background.

Though counted among the Northern Region’s giants, they were not native. Their rise had been in the Central Domain, where they made a splash.

But after offending a great power in the Central Domain, they had to flee to the Northern Region.

“Many thanks for the reminder, Daoist Huo.” The gray-robed elder cupped his hands to the Fire Patriarch, his desire to recruit Yangming True Lord dimming a little.

Even so, he still meant to pay a visit and learn more about the man’s background.

Not just Southern Desolation’s Northern Region.

At this very moment on the Starry Sea, in Starrymoon Hall, the Star King also received news from Jiang Kingdom.

Intelligence regarding the Lord of Dameng City and Yangming True Lord slaying six Nascent Soul cultivators.

Back then, after he fled back to Starrymoon Hall, he acted as if nothing had happened and shut himself away, divining his own fortune and misfortune.

In the process, he sent people to the Zhenhai Seven Sects’ territory to probe into the Zhenhai Patriarch.

He also sent people to Jiang Kingdom to learn about Immortal City of Damengze and the Lord of Dameng City.

Seeing that such a great event had befallen the Fuhai Sect and the Zhenhai Seven Sects had shown no movement, the Star King suspected the Turtle Immortal Patriarch had met a grim fate.

The Zhenhai Patriarch feared the matter would blow up, so he covered up the Zhenhai Sect’s affairs to keep others from knowing.

As for whether the Zhenhai Patriarch was in danger and likely doomed, he used the contact between the two as a medium for divination and learned that the patriarch’s life was not in danger.

Reading the news about the Lord of Dameng City and Yangming True Lord, the Star King felt a knot of unease.

He was now a hundred percent sure that the Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord, was the reincarnation of a top-tier powerhouse.

Even if he wasn’t the reincarnation of the Yuhai Mountain Lord as he’d guessed, his origin was far from ordinary.

After a long while, he put down the Jade Slip, intending to rest up and pay a heavy price to divine his own fortunes again.

The boundless Damengze.

“So this is Immortal City of Damengze?”

A tall, graceful woman with a stunning face in blue-and-white robes gazed at the city ahead and murmured softly.

This woman was Qin Yuning, who had come bearing a letter in Shen Jianjia’s name.

Coming from Penglai Island to Immortal City of Damengze was a long road. She had to head to the Mist Sea Restricted Area first, then cross the Starry Sea.

Even as a Core Formation cultivator with a secret treasure gifted by her master Shen Jianjia, Qin Yuning still faced dangers along the way and needed over half a year to arrive.

Without overthinking it, she suppressed her cultivation aura a bit, rode a streak of light, and sped toward the city.

Liang Kingdom.

Though the Liang-Yue war had ended months ago, the powers of Jiang and Yue were still busy.

With such a vast land, there was no way to take over quickly or settle the local cultivators and factions in a short time.

That day, the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain brought several Core Formation cultivators of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the Five Poisons Sect to Liang Kingdom.

Seeing Jiang-Yue patrol cultivators, Youyue didn’t enter directly. She used the Tally Order from Yangming True Lord to send word to True Lord Xuanjian.

Several hours later, True Lord Xuanjian arrived.

He had already received the news.

Looking at the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain with light-purple hair and a cold, sharp face, along with several Heavenly Corpse Sect and Five Poisons Sect cultivators, True Lord Xuanjian’s eyes narrowed.

Whether Beast God Mountain or the Heavenly Corpse Sect and Five Poisons Sect, they had all once been his Heavenly Sword Sect’s great enemies.

Now, they had all fallen under Yangming True Lord’s banner.

He had long known about the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the Five Poisons Sect’s surrender.

But for the Holy Maiden to submit so quickly, be released back to Liang Kingdom, and be entrusted with taking over Beast God Mountain’s assets was beyond his expectations.

Too fast.

It had barely been any time at all and the Holy Maiden had already yielded?

“True Lord Nine Spirits…”

The only possibility True Lord Xuanjian could think of was that Yangming True Lord had used True Lord Nine Spirits to coerce and conquer the Holy Maiden.

After all, both True Lord Nine Spirits’ Nascent Soul Spirit Body and the Gold Mane Lion King were in Yangming True Lord’s hands.

Thinking that under Yangming True Lord’s banner were already the Five Poisons Sect, Heavenly Corpse Sect, Asura Sect, and Beast God Mountain—four Nascent Soul powers—he too felt the pressure.

Too fast.

Yangming True Lord’s rise was simply too fierce and shocking.

If True Lord Nine Spirits and True Lord Tiancang both yielded to him, then Immortal City of Damengze would instantly become one of the very top powers of Southern Desolation’s Northern Region.

Although such a coalition was loose and far less reliable than homegrown cultivators.

Their combat power was no lie.

So long as Yangming True Lord stood, this force would be twisted into a single rope.

“Greetings, True Lord Xuanjian.” Youyue bowed with a cool face.

“Mm.”

True Lord Xuanjian showed no warmth toward the Holy Maiden and only nodded.

He called in a Core Formation cultivator to supervise and accompany her to take over Beast God Mountain’s legacy.

Seeing the Holy Maiden, Jiang-Yue cultivators in Liang Kingdom were all shocked and puzzled.

Wasn’t the Holy Maiden captured alive by Yangming True Lord?

How was she released?

When the news spread that the Holy Maiden had been subdued by Yangming True Lord, cultivators of Jiang, Yue, and even Liang all reeled.

None of them expected the Holy Maiden to be conquered so quickly.

“As expected of Yangming True Lord—he even subdued True Lord Youyue.”

“I’ve seen True Lord Youyue before. She’s domineering to the extreme. How could she bow to anyone?”

“Right, and Beast God Mountain was destroyed by Yangming True Lord. Even True Lord Nine Spirits was captured by Yangming True Lord with True Lords Xuanjian and Juejian.”

“Precisely because Beast God Mountain has already fallen, she had no choice but to submit.”

“Why does Yangming True Lord recruit everyone? He spared Asura Sect’s True Lord Incinerating Wither before, and now he’s spared Beast God Mountain’s True Lord Youyue. Won’t Jiang Kingdom turn into a demonic stronghold in the future?”

Many Jiang-Yue cultivators marveled and talked, though some were critical of Yangming True Lord for sparing Liang Kingdom’s leaders and taking them into his service.

After all, during the long Liang-Yue war, plenty of Jiang and Yue blood stained those Liang cultivators’ hands.

But those voices stayed private at most. None dared speak openly.

“Damn it.”

Hearing that the Holy Maiden had submitted to Yangming True Lord, True Lord Incinerating Wither felt no joy, only pressure and urgency.

Previously, Yangming True Lord could only rely on him to take over forces involved in Liang Kingdom.

But now there was the Holy Maiden.

Worse, his strength had been raised by secret means, he was gravely injured earlier, and he’d violated his oath, wounding his Essence. He now had only peak Core Formation strength.

Even if his injuries healed, he’d be a bottom-tier Nascent Soul, most likely weaker than the Holy Maiden.

True Lord Incinerating Wither racked his brain, wondering how to prove himself to win the Master’s favor and recognition, and avoid being discarded once he outlived his use.

“Damn little thief. Stud breeding pig!”

After this Liang-Yue war, Yun Wanshang’s impression of Lu Changsheng had improved greatly.

She figured that while he talked sweet, was fickle and unfaithful, and nothing honest ever came out of his mouth like some breeding stud, at other times he was still responsible and decisive, better than ninety-nine percent of cultivators.

But hearing that the Holy Maiden had been subdued by Yangming True Lord, the first thing she thought of was the man-woman angle. She assumed that brat had acted on lust.

Although subduing the Holy Maiden would greatly help in receiving Beast God Mountain’s forces and prisoners of war.

This was how the upper echelons of Jiang and Yue all saw it.

But Yun Wanshang knew full well that Yangming True Lord was that brat Lu Changsheng.

So her first instinct was exactly that.

Besides, in this war all the Liang Nascent Souls had suffered: True Lord Incinerating Wither’s body was gravely wounded, a pitiful sight, his cultivation nearly dropped to Core Formation;

True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Qianren both self-detonated their body and Qi to escape;

The Flood Dragon Holy Son’s Nascent Soul Spirit Body was even swallowed by Yangming True Lord’s spirit pet, the Golden-Winged Roc.

How was it that in such a situation, the Holy Maiden was perfectly fine with an intact body and Qi?

Not only Yun Wanshang.

Xiao Xiyue, Lu Wangshu, Lu Lingxiao, Lu Qingshan and the others all thought the same.

They felt that with their husband and father subduing the Holy Maiden, she probably wasn’t just being made a subordinate.

After all, Lu Changsheng’s affairs with women were practically infamous.

And besides her cultivation and strength, the Holy Maiden’s looks were beyond dispute—she could topple a nation.

Otherwise why would the Flood Dragon Holy Son pine for her, and so many Liang cultivators treat her as a goddess to be worshiped.

Hearing that the Holy Maiden had been subdued, Lu Qingshan thought again of his own master’s situation.

His master might have no integrity.

But since his father dared to take in an enemy Nascent Soul like the Holy Maiden and subdue her so quickly, his methods were beyond doubt.

So introducing his master to his father didn’t seem like a big deal.

If his master managed to break through to Nascent Soul, that would be equivalent to his family gaining another Nascent Soul vassal.

And beyond helping his own family, it’d be a great boon to the Golden Sun Sect too. They could use this chance to scheme for an extra fourth-rank spirit land from Liang Kingdom and the Heavenly Sword Sect, further cementing their status as a Nascent Soul-level power.

Lu Qingshan planned to sound out his father, but then remembered his father had already left.

The current Changsheng True Lord was actually “Senior Qianzhu,” the fourth-rank puppet at his father’s side, in disguise. So he gave up for now.

He could only wait until things settled down here and ask after they returned home.

Meanwhile, news of the Holy Maiden’s surrender to Yangming True Lord was leaked by the sleepers and spies of other cultivation nations.

Though Liang Kingdom had been taken over by the Heavenly Sword Sect.

You could never completely seal off such news or root out every spy.

Especially with Yangming True Lord’s name still spreading, many forces sent cultivators to Liang Kingdom to dig for details.

These Core Formation cultivators used Dao-Comprehending Artifacts to disguise themselves and lurk. Unless a Nascent Soul True Lord took action and invited diviners to scry, it was hard to stamp out.

True Lord Xuanjian didn’t waste much effort on this.

As long as those forces didn’t stir trouble in Liang or Jiang, he turned a blind eye.

Now that they’d gained Liang’s territory and rich resources, his top priority was moving the Heavenly Sword Sect to Beast God Mountain.

Then he could draw the spirit veins of the Barebody Sect and Tiansha Sect to Beast God Mountain, and use that aura and Fortune to break through to mid-Nascent Soul and cultivate a third Nascent Soul cultivator.

Jin Kingdom, Yin Ghost Sect.

Lu Quanzhen’s departure hadn’t affected the Yin Ghost Sect’s operations.

On one hand, he’d long since handed daily affairs to Lu Minghuang.

On the other, a sect like the Yin Ghost Sect already had a mature system.

Unless something unexpected happened, there was no need for him to show up.

That day, in the deepest part of the Yin Ghost Sect, within Yangming True Lord’s cave residence, a terrifying Spirit-Soul Perception pressure suddenly spread.

Not only Meng Xiaochan.

Even the slumbering Soul-Taking Beast woke with a start, squeaking anxiously.

Fortunately the pressure lasted only a moment, and Meng Xiaochan felt her whole body relax.

She knew her husband was cultivating a mystical secret technique.

She immediately fully activated the fourth-rank array of the cave residence, sent word to her master Nangong Mili, and engaged the sect’s mountain-protecting grand array to avoid too vast a celestial phenomenon.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

Upon receiving the message, Nangong Mili activated the grand array at once, notified the sect leader of the Yin Ghost Sect, and soothed the sect’s cultivators.

Even so, cultivators at Core Formation and above still noticed the celestial phenomena in the deepest part of the mountain.

Gales rose, heaven and earth’s aura gathered, as if a deity or ancient sage had condensed and stood there. Broken golden light and silver radiance intertwined and spread, forming bands of auspicious glow.

They knew Yangming True Lord was cultivating a mystical secret technique.

They recalled that five months ago, when Yangming True Lord cultivated a divine ability, it caused a massive celestial disturbance.

Why was there another so soon?

And this one was even grander than the last.

Even with the sect’s grand array running at full, they couldn’t fully block or cover it.

Time slipped by. The phenomena lasted roughly half a month before gradually settling.

Inside the closed cave residence.

Lu Changsheng felt his Spirit-Soul Perception reach an unprecedented height.

As if all things under heaven lay in his grasp.

He opened his eyes.

In that instant, all the spiritual energy, yin energy, and ghostly qi in the cave gathered around him, seeming to move with his will and thought.

“So this is the sensory reach of a late-stage Nascent Soul’s divine sense?”

Lu Changsheng murmured.