Chapter 914: Xu Ruoyin’s Dreamscape, Meeting Qin Yuning!

As soon as Lu Changsheng arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion, Hong Lian learned of it and rushed over at once.

“Husband, are you done with your business?”

Hong Lian wore a crimson dress embroidered with a Vermilion Bird. Her figure was graceful and willowy. She gazed at Lu Changsheng, eyes brimming with joy and longing.

“Hong Lian.”

Though this time they’d been apart only briefly.

They’d even communicated not long ago through the 【Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror】.

But seeing that look of longing and the delight at the corners of her eyes, Lu Changsheng’s heart softened. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, savoring the warmth of his wife’s divine body.

After a brief embrace, Lu asked, “Hong Lian, what did Ruoyin want with me? Where is Qin Yuning now?”

“The Xu girl broke through to Core Formation while away and shattered the Fetal Mystery. As for Fairy Qin, she has been living in the Immortal City these days,” Hong Lian said softly.

“A great power reborn? She broke the Fetal Mystery?”

Hearing about Xu Ruoyin, Lu Changsheng froze, a little stunned.

Years ago, Hong Lian had assumed he was a mighty one reincarnated and cultivating anew.

As his cultivation rose and the mask of the Yangming True Lord began to shine, more and more people took him for a reincarnated powerhouse.

Even some of his wives, concubines, and children at home guessed as much.

Faced with that, Lu didn’t bother to explain and even acted the part of a reborn great power.

He hadn’t expected an actual reincarnated mighty one to appear right by his side.

He clicked his tongue in wonder. Xu Ruoyin really wasn’t simple.

Back then she’d picked up the Beast Taming Ancient Rune, and she had someone like Hong Lian as a “granny” by her side.

Now she’d reached Core Formation, broken the Fetal Mystery, and awakened memories of a past life.

“Where is Ruoyin?” Lu wanted to learn more about this reincarnated powerhouse.

“Ruoyin is cultivating here at the City Lord’s Mansion. If you have time, I’ll call her over.”

Hong Lian spoke at once.

“Mm.” Lu nodded and went with Hong Lian to the main hall of the City Lord’s Mansion, asking about their son Lu Chensha’s cultivation.

Most matters in the Immortal City were handled by Ling Zixiao, so Hong Lian didn’t know much about the Lu Family disciples here. But she was clear about Lu Chensha, who cultivated at her side.

“At most a year or so and Chensha can reach perfect Foundation Establishment and charge at Core Formation. If he contracts the 【Phantom Mink】, he could reach perfection right away, but I prefer he cultivate to peak Foundation on his own.”

Hong Lian spoke.

Lu Chensha cultivated here in the Immortal City of Damengze and lacked for nothing.

Under her guidance his conditions were even better than at Bihu Mountain. Focused on cultivation, he didn’t need to waste time on mundane affairs.

“All right, we’ll do as you say,” Lu said with a smile.

Though he’d reached Nascent Soul, when it came to teaching and training the children, he wasn’t as good as Hong Lian.

Not long after, a tall woman with a cascade of soft, flame-red hair and a fire-red dress approached.

Seeing the handsome youth, near and easy with Hong Lian, laughing and talking like an exiled immortal, Xu Ruoyin paused and softly greeted, “Husband, Senior Hong Lian.”

Lu knew Xu Ruoyin’s feelings toward him were complicated, unlike his other wives.

Now that she’d awakened the Fetal Mystery and past-life wisdom, her feelings and attitude would naturally shift a little.

He didn’t mind in the least. Wearing a gentle, urbane smile, he stepped up, took her soft hand, and said, “Ruoyin, you’re here.”

“You’ve had it rough these years out there. I heard from Hong Lian that when you broke through to Core Formation, you awakened past-life wisdom.”

Holding Xu Ruoyin’s hand, Lu sat beside her. He keenly sensed how her fingers and slender body went briefly rigid the moment he took her hand.

“Mm.” Xu Ruoyin nodded lightly and admitted she’d awakened past-life wisdom.

Though curious about her former life, Lu didn’t ask right away. Instead he said, “Hong Lian said you had something to discuss with me?”

“From the memories I awakened, I learned the true method to use the 【Beast Taming Ancient Rune】. I’ll need to borrow its power for my subsequent cultivation, so I wanted to discuss it with you.”

Xu Ruoyin looked at the youth before her, as beautiful as a celestial being, and spoke.

The Beast Taming Ancient Rune was critical to her, tied to her Nascent Soul opportunity. She had to reclaim it.

“That rune belongs to you and Hong Lian to begin with. No need to discuss.”

Lu showed great generosity.

In his hands the Beast Taming Ancient Rune was rather chicken ribs, of limited use.

It was handy for Hong Lian in battle and for Lu Chensha to raise a spirit pet.

Since Xu Ruoyin had real use for it, he didn’t mind returning it and seeing the rune’s true power.

Most importantly, Xu Ruoyin was one of his own now.

Whether the Beast Taming Ancient Rune was in her hands or his made no difference.

“Hong Lian, the Beast Taming Ancient Rune is with you. If Ruoyin needs it, let her keep it on her.”

Lu said to Hong Lian beside him.

“Rest easy, Husband.” Seeing Lu agree without a second thought, Hong Lian was delighted.

She’d already guessed what Xu Ruoyin wanted.

She’d only worried that if she agreed on her own without consulting him, it might displease him.

With Lu being this generous and decisive, she was naturally happy to see it.

“The Beast Taming Ancient Rune is with Chensha to help his cultivation. I’ll call him over.”

Besides raising beasts, the rune also boosted cultivation of the Beast Art, so Hong Lian had given it to Lu Chensha earlier.

“No rush.”

Xu Ruoyin felt a little dazed. She hadn’t expected Lu to return the rune so easily.

Though he’d said it belonged to her and Senior Hong Lian.

As long as it stayed with her in daily use, that was enough.

“Ruoyin, what effect did awakening your past-life wisdom have on you?”

Lu asked, curious about her breaking the Fetal Mystery.

From what he knew, breaking the Fetal Mystery and awakening past-life memories came in many forms.

The first was the simplest.

If one’s past life had reached Core Formation or higher, a chance event could awaken those memories and wisdom.

Other than gaining some past-life memories and inheritances, there might be nothing else.

The second was top cultivators who used secret treasures, secret arts or natural treasures to reincarnate and cultivate anew.

Those were at least Nascent Soul cultivators, who might begin awakening at a certain age and realm.

Besides past-life memories and insights, there could be many legacies, backhands, or a great boost to the spirit-soul.

Even within those two, there were all sorts of cases.

For example, awakening only a little past-life wisdom; awakening a great deal; or even having your present mind overwritten, with the past life becoming dominant.

“I only awakened a few fractured memories. It hasn’t affected me. It’s just that sometimes, in my dreams, a hazy mist stirs in the depths of my mind and some terrifying scenes appear,” Xu Ruoyin said softly.

When she broke through to Core Formation and shattered the Fetal Mystery, her spirit-soul soared, reaching the peak of Core Formation.

Yet even with a peak Core Formation spirit-soul and spiritual sense, she couldn’t see through or gauge Lu Changsheng at all.

He felt like towering mountains and deep still waters—unfathomable.

In that, she didn’t dare lie to him.

She knew that in front of a high-realm cultivator, a low-realm one had no secrets.

Especially before someone like Lu Changsheng, a top-tier great power cultivating anew.

“Mist, shattered memories?” Lu arched a brow and asked if those scenes were tied to any power in the Northern Plains cultivation world.

“I don’t know either. The memories and dream scenes are very blurry. I only remember an ancient battlefield where countless cultivators, living beings, and Demon Kings were locked in brutal combat.”

“Besides that, I seem to dream of myself sleeping in an ice palace, being worshiped by many cultivators and ice-soul beings.”

Recalling those memories, Xu Ruoyin’s voice trembled.

The dream felt too real.

In the slaughter of the ancient battlefield, she felt as if she were there.

Facing a melee of beings beyond Core Formation—at least Nascent Soul and fourth-rank—their power and pressure left her shaken.

As for the ice palace, though it lacked the battlefield’s terrifying might.

Looking at the sleeping “self,” she felt an indescribable flutter and awe.

As if she were both the one asleep and one of the beings bowing to “her.”

With a late-stage Nascent Soul spirit-soul and fourth-rank divination, Lu could tell from Xu Ruoyin’s words and expression that she wasn’t lying.

He thought to himself that her past life was no simple thing.

At least a top Nascent Soul giant, maybe a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator.

“Don’t worry. I don’t fully understand it yet, but with your husband here, whatever comes we can handle.”

Lu squeezed her hand and spoke gently to comfort her.

Awakening past-life wisdom was good, bringing legacies and divine arts.

But if the past life’s realm was too high and the memories outweighed the present, one’s nature could change and the past life could take over.

Many cultivators found that hard to accept.

And if the past life’s karmic ties were too strong, they could even carry into this life.

So reincarnating to cultivate anew wasn’t always a blessing. Fortune often came with risk.

“Thank you, Husband,” Xu Ruoyin said softly.

From those fragmented memories and dreams, she knew her past life was extraordinary, and she did worry about the future.

Gaining Lu Changsheng’s help would be a good thing.

It was one reason she’d chosen to be open about her past-life memories.

After the three chatted for a bit, Lu Chensha was called over.

“I’ve seen Father, Mother, and Senior Hong Lian.”

Lu Chensha wore a teal brocade robe. His features were fair, a touch delicate, and he cupped his hands to the three.

“Chensha.” Lu smiled and nodded, asked after his son, then asked if the Beast Taming Ancient Rune was on him.

Lu Chensha immediately produced the rune from his sleeve.

“Ruoyin.” Lu flicked a finger and the Beast Taming Ancient Rune fell into Xu Ruoyin’s hand.

“Thank you, Husband.”

Xu Ruoyin stared at the rune, a little moved.

“Your mother will need this rune for a while. If you need it, ask her to lend it to you.”

Lu said to Lu Chensha.

“I don’t have much use for it day to day.”

Lu Chensha’s control over the rune was limited.

Beyond raising spirit beasts, he mostly carried it to slightly boost his cultivation efficiency. Its effect was ordinary.

“Keep these resources. Reach perfect Foundation as soon as you can. When the time comes, I’ll help you contract the 【Phantom Mink】.”

Lu tossed a bundle of resources to Lu Chensha.

To contract a third-rank Demon King like the Phantom Mink, you needed a Core Formation spirit-soul.

For the Lu Family, that wasn’t an issue.

Long ago Lu had bestowed Soul-Nurturing Wood, Lotus Seeds for Nourishing the Spirit and other natural treasures on Lu Chensha to push his spirit-soul to Core Formation.

And with the Defiled God Insects under his command, over the years his spirit-soul already surpassed his peers, so he’d met that requirement.

“Thank you, Father. I’ll reach perfect Foundation as soon as possible.”

Lu Chensha cupped his hands happily, thinking this life really was comfortable. He never had to worry about resources.

With enough resources, he could cultivate forever and never leave home.

Lu didn’t rush to linger with Hong Lian and Xu Ruoyin to share their longing. He had Ling Zixiao send a message to Qin Yuning.

He told her he’d arrived and asked what she needed.

Qin Yuning replied at once to Ling Zixiao’s transmission, saying she was free and wished to pay a visit.

“Cloud Dream Inn, private room nine.”

Using the identity of Changsheng True Lord now, Lu naturally wouldn’t meet at the City Lord’s Mansion, so he set the meeting at the Cloud Dream Inn.

A quarter-hour later, Lu met Qin Yuning at the Cloud Dream Inn.

“I don’t know what brings Fairy Qin to see me?”

Lu cupped his hands to the elegant, stunning Qin Yuning before him.

They were acquainted, and he’d even gotten into the Divine Maiden Palace through her.

But as Changsheng True Lord, he wasn’t supposed to know her.

“So you are Changsheng True Lord?”

Qin Yuning looked over the man before her, a little surprised.

Men would always steal extra glances at an outstanding woman.

Women too would linger when they saw a man handsome and extraordinary.

It wasn’t vulgarity.

It was simply appreciation for the beautiful things in this world.

Like a flower in full bloom—if you don’t stop to admire it, you’re the one being ungracious.

As a disciple of the Divine Maiden Palace’s master, Qin Yuning’s looks, talent, and vision were beyond question.

Over the years she’d seen more outstanding men and women than she could count.

Yet this Changsheng True Lord’s looks and bearing ranked among the very best of any man she’d ever seen.

His features were flawless.

Just looking at him calmed the heart and eased the mind.

She’d already asked around and seen his portrait through her master’s Jade Slip.

But a portrait couldn’t capture that face or the air he carried.

“I am Lu Changsheng,” Lu said with a nod.

“Can you prove it?”

Qin Yuning asked, a hint of apology in her tone.

Her master had sent her to deliver a message. Now that she’d met the Changsheng True Lord, she had to be extra careful.

“…” Lu was a little speechless.

She’d come to see him, and now that she was looking at him, he still had to prove he was himself?

Still, considering she was likely acting under the Great Palace Master Shen Jianjia’s orders and this was about Shen Yiren and her son Shen Yuanming…

He tamped down his impatience, handed over his Deputy City Lord’s token, then flicked his fingers to cast a talisman art. He frowned and said, “Now, can you tell me who sent you and why you’ve come?”

“I was presumptuous. Please forgive me, True Lord.”

Qin Yuning knew she’d been a bit discourteous.

She bowed and said, “I came at my master’s order to deliver this Jade Slip to you.”

As she spoke, a cerulean Jade Slip appeared from her Storage Ring and she handed it to Lu Changsheng.