Chapter 941: A Perfect Candidate to Be the Mother of My Children

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian arrived at the Cloud Dream Inn, to the private box where they usually received guests.

Before long, a youthful-looking girl with snow-white hair in a pure white dress arrived.

Seeing her, Lu Changsheng was a little surprised.

In the cultivation world you shouldn’t judge by appearances,

but most high-level cultivators still show the marks of time in their eyes, bearing, and aura.

Like Ah Youduo.

She may look like a seven- or eight-year-old girl,

yet the moment you see her, the weight of her authority and presence hits you.

The girl before him carried none of that weathered air.

Her petite face was exquisite, carved like pink jade, her eyes clear and pure like the brightest gem.

If not for his late-stage Nascent Soul spirit-soul faintly sensing a Nascent Soul aura from her, he would hardly have taken her for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Lu Changsheng didn’t stare. He gestured for her to sit and smiled. “Thank you for alerting my wife. May I ask where you’re from and what business you have with me?”

Bai Zhaozhao looked at Lu Changsheng.

She felt a hazy mist shrouding him, cutting him off from the weave of fate.

Even her Tianyan Art turned obscure before him, making it hard to sense destiny and fortune.

“Greetings, Yangming True Lord and Lady Li.”

Bai Zhaozhao cupped her hands to Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, very courteous, then introduced herself: “My name is Bai Zhaozhao, from the Tianyan Sect.”

“The Tianyan Sect?”

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian exchanged a look.

They didn’t know much about the powers in the Southern Desolation, but they had heard the Tianyan Sect’s name.

It was the top divination power in the Southern Desolation, famed for the claim that nothing under heaven is beyond calculation.

Lu Changsheng wondered why she had come to him.

From what he knew, though the Tianyan Sect was one of the Mystic Gates Five Sects, it was unlike the others.

Its disciples were few, seldom traveled, and rarely took part in worldly affairs.

Only when major events shook the cultivation world would its cultivators go out.

Was this about the demonic calamity?

“I came for two reasons. First, I heard of True Lord’s renown and came to pay my respects. Second, I’d like to ask about the White Snake bloodline.”

Her voice was crisp and youthful, without a trace of arrogance.

She might be the Tianyan Sect’s Holy Maiden, but her cultivation was only early Nascent Soul, far below Yangming True Lord.

“The White Snake bloodline?” Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes, thinking, How does she know my family has that bloodline?

He had indeed obtained his daughter Lu Baixi’s true spirit bloodline.

But that bloodline had merged straight into his Chaos Body, leaving no White Snake aura of its own.

Bai Zhaozhao, bearing the Baize bloodline and versed in divination and physiognomy, instantly sensed her words had made Yangming True Lord wary.

She explained at once: “On my way to the Jiang Kingdom to visit you, I sensed a wisp of White Snake bloodline aura. I went to check and saw a young girl undergoing a breakthrough.”

“I tried to approach, but a golden roc stood guard at her side. I recognized it as your spirit pet, so I hoped to ask you about the White Snake bloodline instead.”

Her voice was as clear and sweet as a girl next door’s, carrying none of a Nascent Soul True Lord’s majesty.

“I see.”

Lu Changsheng understood. She must have run into his daughter Lu Baixi.

Yet to recognize the bloodline from a single glance and aura alone—so this was the heritage of a top Southern Desolation sect.

“What would you like to know, Daoist Bai?”

Since she had met his daughter and identified her bloodline, he saw no need to deny it.

“When you pacified the Liang-Yue War, did you encounter cultivators from the Seven Demonic Sects?”

Instead of asking about the bloodline, she inquired about the war and the demonic calamity.

“Mm.” Lu Changsheng nodded.

“I assume you’ve heard the rumors about the demonic calamity.”

Lu Changsheng dipped his chin, already guessing her intent.

“It isn’t rumor. According to our elders’ calculations, the calamity is upon us and could erupt at any time. We’ve been ordered to descend the mountain to invite willing cultivators to stand together and resist it.”

She stated her purpose plainly.

Her small face grew solemn. “Since you’re acquainted with a White Snake descendant, you must be a righteous cultivator. I hope you’ll lend your strength when the calamity breaks.”

“As long as you agree, whatever you need in the future, the Tianyan Sect is willing to help.”

The Tianyan Sect seldom intervened directly, but it often provided indirect aid.

For example, when they foresaw a calamity brewing, they sent disciples to assist and guide heaven’s favored ones, children of fortune.

“As expected.”

He had already guessed she came to invite him to stand against the demonic calamity.

From Qu Changge’s account and records on the calamity, he knew it wasn’t something he could stop.

Even if he brought the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, the Zhenhai Seven Sects, the Five Poisons Sect, and the Heaven Corpse Sect, they still couldn’t halt it. At best, they’d add a grain of sand to the scales.

When poor, attend to yourself; when accomplished, aid the world!

If he had the cultivation of a great Nascent Soul True Lord, Lu Changsheng wouldn’t mind doing his part for the common folk.

But he was only at the second layer of Nascent Soul.

All he could do was keep the flames of war from reaching the Jiang Kingdom.

“The demonic calamity was stirred up by the Blood Sea Patriarch to break through to Spirit Transformation. How could I possibly stop a cataclysm like that?”

Lu Changsheng shook his head.

He might be righteous at heart,

but righteousness needs strength to be carried out.

Bai Zhaozhao was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected him to know the cause—that the Blood Sea Patriarch was seeking Spirit Transformation.

Her own sect had only deduced that in the past few decades.

Even more unexpected, he refused her invitation outright.

A man favored by a White Snake descendant and father to her child—shouldn’t he be brimming with righteous zeal, agreeing at once?

“A calamity like this can’t be solved by one person or one sect. As long as those with a will unite, in the end, evil won’t suppress the right.”

“With your strength, True Lord, you can play a crucial role in the calamity.”

Her small face stayed earnest.

On the surface, the Mystic Gates Five Sects were weaker than the Seven Demonic Sects,

but if most Southern Desolation powers joined hands, they could drive the calamity back.

“No need to say more, Daoist Bai. I still have many matters to attend to and no time for this calamity. If it sweeps our way, I’ll act then.”

Lu Changsheng spoke mildly.

He could have agreed in words and taken favors from her and the Tianyan Sect,

but his plan was set: if the calamity hit the Northern Region and the Jiang Kingdom, he’d evacuate his clan at once to the Starry Sea, even the Eastern Sea cultivation realm.

Bai Zhaozhao sighed, a little disappointed. She had thought he would answer the call the instant he heard of it.

She went on, “May I ask where the White Snake elder is? Could I pay a visit?”

From her observation, Yangming True Lord wasn’t a White Snake descendant himself. Likely, as she had guessed, he had earned the favor of one and fathered the girl she’d seen.

With that assumption, she believed the White Snake elder was at least fourth-rank, perhaps mid–fourth-rank like Yangming True Lord.

“A White Snake elder?”

Lu Changsheng frowned. He didn’t know any White Snake clan cultivator.

Bai Zhaozhao formed a hand seal, letting her aura flow. A beautiful, dazzling sheen bloomed over her flawless, sculpted face.

A moment later, a single horn shone at the center of her brow, radiating holy, pristine light.

“A true spirit bloodline?!”

He had sensed something unusual about her aura earlier and chalked it up to her cultivation method.

He hadn’t expected her to possess a true spirit bloodline.

As that true spirit aura spread, her looks and presence rose another level.

Snow-white hair and rosy lips, that gleaming, delicate face, those sacred clear eyes and the horn—despite all he’d seen, even Lu Changsheng felt a flicker of awe.

“To be frank, I bear the Baize bloodline. From my bloodline memory, the Baize and the White Snake are kin. Since I sensed a White Snake bloodline, you must know a White Snake descendant, so I’d like to pay my respects.”

She wanted to meet the White Snake bloodline, yes,

and also invite that elder to stand against the demonic calamity.

According to her bloodline memory, the White Snake race was born kind, despised demons and devils, and even took demon-slaying as a duty. They would surely be willing.

“She’s mistaking little Ling’er for a White Snake descendant.”

Lu Changsheng had a guess.

Bai Zhaozhao had seen his daughter Lu Baixi and sensed her true spirit bloodline.

She assumed the girl had been born of a powerful White Snake elder.

“Well, that’s…”

He couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.

He didn’t blame her, though.

If not for 【Yin-Yang Fusion Spirit Pill】, how could he and Bai Ling have had a daughter like Lu Baixi with such a bloodline?

Even Bai Ling, under the pill’s effect, had awakened some bloodline, but it was far weaker than their daughter’s.

“But this girl actually has the Baize bloodline…”

He looked at Bai Zhaozhao’s flawless, doll-like face and felt a stir.

After fathering Lu Baixi and obtaining True Spirit Nine Transformations, he had spent a lot of time studying true spirit bloodlines.

His knowledge was limited, but he did know a few things.

Baize understands the natures of all beings and the affairs of spirits and gods.

It isn’t keen on combat, but it knows many hidden truths, can divine the future, and sense fortune and disaster.

By his estimation, the Baize bloodline granted extraordinary talent in divination and calculation.

She came from the Tianyan Sect and was versed in divination—perfect to test that theory.

If she could become the mother of his children, maybe she could bear him a few sons and daughters with top-tier divination talent.

Diviners are standard for any great power.

Lu Changsheng had fourth-rank divination himself, but he couldn’t sit at home forever watching over his clan and Immortal City.

He needed people at home who understood the art.

His son Lu Qingxuan had picked it up and reached second-rank,

but the boy’s talent was average. Only with the Taiyi Spirit had he become a second-rank diviner.

If he poured too much time and effort into it, he’d likely shorten his lifespan and top out at third-rank.

If he had a few children with the Baize bloodline, Lu Changsheng could cultivate them carefully.

Even his own fourth-rank divination wasn’t quite enough now for Nascent Soul–level matters.

He either had to improve further or burn years off his life.

If he fathered children with the Baize bloodline and merged that bloodline into his Chaos Body, his divination talent could advance again.

For a moment, he found himself deeply tempted by the girl before him.

What a perfect mother for his children.

“But she’s from the Tianyan Sect. Making her the mother of my children won’t be easy.”

He sighed inwardly.

The Tianyan Sect was a top power of the Southern Desolation.

Though only in early Nascent Soul, with the Baize bloodline her status was clearly special.

Winning her over wouldn’t be easy.

Unless he catered to her goals.

But agreeing to fight the demonic calamity just to win her over would be a terrible trade.

“She’s not around right now.”

Lu Changsheng said at last, thinking to use this White Snake connection to keep in contact with Bai Zhaozhao.

Bai Zhaozhao pressed her rosy lips together. “Where is this senior now? Would it be convenient for me to visit?”

“Not for the moment,” Lu Changsheng shook his head, then asked, “How long will Daoist Bai remain in the Jiang Kingdom?”

“I’ve already delayed quite a while coming to visit you. I still have other places to be,” Bai Zhaozhao said.

There was no urgent crisis,

but the calamity could break at any moment. She had to keep seeking children of great fortune and the anomaly her ancestor mentioned.

“I’ll ask her later whether it’s convenient to meet you.”

After a moment of thought, Lu Changsheng spoke.

“Thank you, True Lord.” Bai Zhaozhao cupped her hands to him.

“It’s nothing,” Lu Changsheng said, then asked her a few things about the demonic calamity.

He had heard much from Qu Changge, but more never hurt.

Though he hadn’t agreed to fight the demonic path,

she still answered his questions one by one, showing goodwill in hopes he would lend a hand when the time came.

“The four Nascent Soul cultivators you captured before, as far as I know, aren’t demonic. If you kill them outright, it could spark turbulence and more bloodshed. I hope you can spare their lives, or let them atone in the future.”

She pointed out that with calamity looming, those Nascent Soul cultivators could become part of the resistance.

If they died, their factions would shake.

“Since you’ve asked, I can agree to spare them,”

Lu Changsheng said after a beat. “But I have a favor to ask in return, Daoist Bai.”

“Please speak, True Lord.”

Seeing him so readily spare the four, Bai Zhaozhao thought, This Yangming True Lord is kind at heart and stands with the righteous.

“How are your divination skills, Daoist Bai?”

Lu Changsheng wanted her help to divine the fates of Qingluan True Lord, his daughter Mu Que, and Luofuzi.