Chapter 913: Lu Yunxiao and Zhao Qingqing Assault Core Formation!

“Marriage.” Chu Qingyi’s heart skipped a beat as she pressed her red lips together tightly.

Back when she gave birth to their son Lu Shouzheng, she’d always hoped to make things official with Lu Changsheng.

That way their boy could openly claim his identity and walk proudly in the world.

But now Lu Changsheng had become the Yangming True Lord who single-handedly ended the Liang-Yue War and shook the Southern Desolation and Northern Region. On top of that he’d become dao companions with her own master.

Her heart swirled with confusion and insecurity.

She felt unworthy of him yet tangled in this messy web of relationships.

Lu Changsheng knew Chu Qingyi could be a real knot of emotions when it came to feelings.

Seeing her beautiful eyes filled with bewilderment and timidity he cupped her cheeks gently wiping away the faint bite marks on her lips with his thumb. “If you don’t marry me who else would you choose?” he asked softly.

Without waiting for her reply he leaned in capturing her soft glistening red lips in a tender kiss savoring their sweetness.

Faced with this familiar advance Chu Qingyi’s long thick lashes fluttered as she closed her eyes. Her body gradually melted into his embrace.

A little while later her eyes flashed with shy annoyance. She said in a flustered tone “Shouzheng and Yunxiao are still outside. Don’t get carried away.”

This man had no sense of propriety with the kids right outside the hall.

Lu Changsheng’s hand grasped the soft fullness beneath her disheveled robes. He murmured “A day apart feels like three autumns. I’ve missed my Qingyi far too much.”

With that he pressed closer once more.

Against his bold dominance Chu Qingyi’s tangled thoughts dissolved into a haze of swaying emotions lost in the moment.

Afterward.

Lu Changsheng held her flushed sweat-slicked body close his fingers tracing her curves. “It’s settled then. When your master returns I’ll come to propose and we’ll hold the ceremony to welcome my Qingyi.”

“As for Yunxiao you know your master’s temperament. For now we’ll pretend we don’t know.”

“Once I fulfill my agreement with her everything will sort itself out.”

With Chu Qingyi’s tendency to overthink emotions Lu Changsheng opted to cut through the chaos giving her no time to dwell.

“Agreement?” Chu Qingyi asked puzzled.

Lu Changsheng explained the pact he’d made with Yun Wanshang.

“.” Chu Qingyi’s expression turned distant.

Back then her master had set a fifty-year Core Formation deadline for her junior sister and Lu Changsheng.

Then Lu Changsheng had proposed a fifty-year Nascent Soul pact to her.

Now her master had made an agreement with him to become a top cultivator in the Southern Desolation.

“Why didn’t Master set a Spirit Transformation pact instead?”

The thought crossed Chu Qingyi’s mind. Her junior sister’s was Core Formation hers Nascent Soul—shouldn’t Master’s be Spirit Transformation?

Did Master know Spirit Transformation was too hard almost impossible while becoming a top figure in the Southern Desolation wasn’t so far-fetched?

The idea barely formed before she pushed it away. How could she question her master like that?

It must be Lu Changsheng’s influence rubbing off on her.

Still she couldn’t help wondering if Lu Changsheng could achieve Spirit Transformation if that were the pact.

Records said the Southern Desolation lacked fifth-rank spiritual veins and conditions for Spirit Transformation which is why no such cultivators existed.

But Lu Changsheng didn’t seem bound by normal rules.

“Qingyi what are you thinking? Jealous of your master? Or worried she’ll be jealous?”

Lu Changsheng noticed her soft breaths and wandering thoughts. He pinched her delicate chin gently teasing.

His earlier words had shaken the perfect image of her master in her heart.

But Chu Qingyi wouldn’t let him slander the woman who was like both teacher and mother to her.

“Don’t talk nonsense. How could I… I wouldn’t…”

Chu Qingyi said with frustrated grievance. How could she be jealous of her master?

She just didn’t know how to face this relationship between her master and Lu Changsheng.

“Alright alright.” Lu Changsheng chuckled apologizing. He knew Yun Wanshang held an untouchable place in her heart.

Perhaps only in the future when master and disciple…

“What naughty thoughts are you having now?”

Chu Qingyi noticed a stir and flushed with embarrassment.

They’d just finished and here he was again—definitely up to no good in his head.

After all this time together she knew him well.

“???” Lu Changsheng cleared his mind and said seriously “I have fourth-rank body refinement with vigorous blood energy. It’s perfectly normal. You know how it is with me Qingyi.”

Chu Qingyi propped herself up unwilling to continue this shameless conversation.

Besides their sons Lu Shouzheng and Yunxiao were still outside. They couldn’t keep this up forever.

With his stamina this could go on for days…

Seeing her emotions had steadied Lu Changsheng didn’t push further. They rose together dressed and he cast a cleaning spell over the hall.

“How will you meet Yunxiao later?”

Once tidied up Chu Qingyi asked Lu Changsheng.

“Just like this.” He replied thinking with outsiders he’d use the Kirin Sword Lord guise but this was family—no need.

“Maybe stick with the Kirin Sword Lord appearance for now to get along with Yunxiao?”

Chu Qingyi suggested softly worried her master would find out upon return.

Then pretending ignorance would be awkward.

Lu Changsheng thought she really went out of her way to protect Yun Wanshang.

But seeing her cautious gaze he nodded gently.

Outside the side hall Lu Changsheng played both roles showing concern for his sons Lu Shouzheng and Lu Yunxiao.

Though Lu Shouzheng wasn’t close or fond of him as a father he remained respectful and polite on the surface.

But that very politeness revealed the boy’s subtle distance to both Lu Changsheng and Chu Qingyi.

Lu Changsheng didn’t mind and asked about his cultivation progress with care.

As for Lu Yunxiao he’d only met his father a few times so they weren’t close either mirroring Lu Shouzheng’s demeanor.

“Your mother won’t be back for a while. Let me take you out for a stroll.”

Feeling the awkwardness Lu Changsheng scooped up Lu Yunxiao and left the Azure Cloud Sect to bond as father and son.

Meanwhile his talisman incarnation joined Chu Qingyi and Lu Shouzheng for a family outing.

Though the incarnation from the talisman couldn’t stray too far from the original.

With his late-stage Nascent Soul spirit it was fine as long as they weren’t hundreds of miles apart.

“No need to be so stiff around your old man.”

Lu Changsheng said to Lu Yunxiao.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator the Lu Ancestor saw through his son’s personality at a glance.

If Lu Shouzheng was genuinely serious then Lu Yunxiao was pretending to be.

He put on this mature sensible polite front like a little adult.

But he’d been sneaking glances observing his father with inner musings and critiques.

“Understood.” Lu Yunxiao cupped his hands and nodded sensing his father wasn’t as stern as he looked.

“Did you pick this up from Shouzheng or did your mother teach you?”

Lu Changsheng figured the latter was more likely given Yun Wanshang’s serious upright nature.

“Mother once said without learning etiquette one cannot stand firm. Books say etiquette is the foundation of conduct. Though young I know not to be impolite.”

Lu Yunxiao’s small face stayed calm as he added “Of course interacting with Brother Shouzheng daily I’ve learned much from his words and actions.”

“.” Lu Changsheng was speechless at his son acting like a little grown-up.

Sure kids needed early education.

But the Lu Ancestor preferred lively natural personalities over rigid ones.

“At your age act your age.” Lu Changsheng told him.

“You mean childlike innocence?”

Lu Yunxiao tilted his head thinking perhaps his father preferred a naive adoring childish demeanor.

Though he found it immature if it pleased his father he could play along to build their bond.

“Never mind just be yourself.”

Through his Taiyi Spirit Lu Changsheng sensed his son’s thoughts.

He realized this boy wasn’t your average five or six-year-old—he was remarkably precocious.

“What are your usual interests?” Lu Changsheng asked.

“Reading and sword practice.” Lu Yunxiao replied earnestly.

Truthfully sword practice bored him. Sparring with Lu Shouzheng added some fun but he’d rather meditate with the Da Luo Sword Embryo.

After all he grasped most sword arts instantly without much training.

“Come show your dad what you’ve learned from the sword embryo these years.”

Lu Changsheng smiled faintly eager to see his son’s sword talent and progress.

This boy had a sword Dao body nurtured constantly by the Da Luo Sword Embryo essentially cultivating sword Dao every moment.

“Yes.” Lu Yunxiao didn’t use the Da Luo Sword Embryo but the wooden sword from Lu Shouzheng.

“Use the sword embryo.” Lu Changsheng instructed.

His son hadn’t formally cultivated; his power came from the embryo.

Only using it would unleash his full sword potential.

Lu Yunxiao was surprised aware of the embryo’s power.

But obeying he summoned the Da Luo Sword Embryo from his Qi Sea Dantian into his hand.

Though it could resize it still looked oversized in his small grip.

“Father be careful.” Lu Yunxiao cupped his hands.

“Just go all out.” Lu Changsheng beckoned disliking his son’s overly mature seriousness at such a young age.

Lu Yunxiao said no more his face calm and composed as he struck.

What seemed a simple blow erupted with startling force as it reached Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng formed a sword of magical energy and casually parried.

Lu Yunxiao pressed on his sword steady his aura calm and natural now carrying a sharp edge.

Lu Changsheng could tell his son’s mind was still as water flawless like a state of Sword Heart Clarity profound and mysterious.

“Not bad at all. Sword without arrogance aura without rage spirit like cracking thunder heart like an unmoving icy lake.”

Though he disliked his son’s premature maturity.

Seeing such astonishing sword talent at this age filled him with joy.

“I’m still far from your level Father.” Lu Yunxiao said calmly knowing his skills were nothing before him.

He recalled overhearing his parents talk about Father ambushing Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Heh you’re just a kid yet you’re comparing yourself to me.”

Lu Changsheng laughed continuing the spar.

“How long until I reach your level Father?”

Lu Yunxiao asked his sword steady allowing him to multitask.

Normally one’s children might never reach such heights.

But if meaning his current second-layer Nascent Soul realm…

“At least a century.”

Lu Changsheng said not wanting to discourage him with a longer timeline.

Lu Yunxiao wasn’t deterred knowing cultivation stages: Qi Refining Foundation Establishment Core Formation Nascent Soul.

“Father books say breaking through to Nascent Soul by two hundred is top genius level. Most do it past three hundred.”

Lu Yunxiao knew his talent was exceptional starting ahead of others.

But he didn’t grasp exactly how gifted.

Only that it tied to the Da Luo Sword Embryo.

“Yes two hundred for Nascent Soul is elite but you’re beyond that—a tier above. From birth you’re destined to lead in sword Dao.”

Lu Changsheng smiled treating him as an equal not a child.

“Lead in sword Dao…”

Lu Yunxiao hadn’t realized his talent was that extraordinary.

But it made sense.

Brother Shouzheng’s talent was already excellent yet he far surpassed him.

As they sparred and chatted their father-son bond grew warmer.

But Lu Yunxiao was still a child; using the Da Luo Sword Embryo soon tired him.

“No rush on cultivation. Later I’ll teach you a technique to refine your body.”

Lu Changsheng told him knowing at this stage just attuning to the embryo sufficed.

But with his precocity he could learn the Hundred Refinements Body Technique using medicinal baths to cleanse and strengthen his foundation.

For such prodigiously talented children Lu Changsheng felt compelled to pour in resources.

Eager to see how monstrous his son could become under full nurturing.

He didn’t play favorites.

He prepared a medicinal bath for Lu Shouzheng too.

But with a trip to the Immortal City of Damengze ahead he lacked time to oversee the baths and training.

So he gave the bath method and Hundred Refinements Body Technique to Chu Qingyi to handle teaching both boys.

Beyond his sons he hadn’t forgotten Zhao Qingqing.

She’d long reached peak Foundation Establishment.

After three years of preparation her magical energy was perfectly refined with no further progress possible. She just needed that elusive spark for maximum breakthrough odds.

Lu Changsheng brought Zhao Qingqing to Biyun Peak’s underground palace where the Xuantian Spirit Vine was planted.

With her wood-affinity body and Treasure Cauldron Medicine King Scripture she meshed perfectly with such a heavenly spiritual plant.

Breaking through nearby would provide a boost.

Plus the vine gathered fortune.

The Lu Family’s clan fortune was now immensely robust.

Attempting beside it would grant her the family’s fortune enhancement.

But beyond the vine Lu Changsheng had another trick—Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme!

This rhyme boosted heavenly fortune purified emotional toxins warded poisons and heart demons.

It would greatly aid her Core Formation attempt!

After days of dual cultivation with Zhao Qingqing the peach blossom mark on his brow glowed brilliantly condensing into a petal that drifted onto her.

Zhao Qingqing felt her mind clear as if infused with something profound yet indescribable.

“Qingqing meditate here and break through.”

Lu Changsheng said calling his wife Lu Miaoge to guard her.

“Sister Miaoge it’ll be hard work guarding Qingqing these days. Notify me immediately if anything goes wrong.”

Core Formation took at least half a year.

With his trip to the Immortal City of Damengze he couldn’t stay to watch.

But Zhao Qingqing was fully prepared and with Lu Miaoge and the Sumeru Tree King overseeing it was sufficient.

If worst came he could be notified to intervene and salvage things.

“Thank you husband Sister Miaoge…”

Though Zhao Qingqing mostly cultivated at Azure Cloud Sect.

With both children at Bihu Mountain she often visited getting along decently with Lu Miaoge Lu Miaoyun and the others.

Even so such thorough arrangements for her breakthrough left her deeply touched beyond words.

With matters at Bihu Mountain settled Lu Changsheng didn’t delay. The Misty Dust Banner appeared in his hand as he headed to the Immortal City of Damengze.