Chapter 942: An Anomaly Emerges! Lu Chensha Forms a Heavenly Dao Core!

“Fourth-rank, low grade,” Bai Zhaozhao said.

The art of divination is hard to learn and harder to master. It tests talent and wit.

Even with the Baize Bloodline and a rare gift for it, her divination skill could never exceed her cultivation.

Weighing the depth of the Yangming True Lord’s power—likely a reincarnated grand cultivator—Bai Zhaozhao added that her fourth-rank, low-grade divination might not meet his standards.

“But I cultivate the Tianyan Art. Unless the mists of fate are as deep as late Nascent Soul, I can still glean something.”

The Tianyan Art is Tianyan Sect’s core scripture; not just anyone can practice it.

Only the sect’s Holy Son or Holy Maiden is allowed to cultivate it.

Lu Changsheng didn’t know that.

But from her words he gathered that her Tianyan Art was an exceptionally profound divination method.

He didn’t question it.

After all, even the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art Qu Changge gave his son Lu Quanzhen was of a mystical grade.

It wouldn’t surprise him if these top Southern Desolation powers held Dao-seeking level manuals.

“Alright. I know a thing or two about divination, but some matters are too veiled. I’d like your help, Daoist Bai, to part the mists of fate.”

Lu Changsheng spoke with a smile.

Bai Zhaozhao blinked in surprise.

She hadn’t expected the Yangming True Lord to know divination.

Thinking of the great net of fate woven over Immortal City of Damengze and the haze shrouding him, she felt it made sense.

She realized he was most likely a fourth-rank diviner.

“I’ll do my best,” she said solemnly, a soft holy glow brightening her delicate face.

Though Lu Changsheng turned down her invitation to resist the demonic calamity, she still wanted goodwill between them so he might lend a hand later.

Besides, for the Bai Xi Lineage and because he agreed to spare True Lord Qingcang and the others, he deserved her help.

“When would be convenient, Daoist Bai?”

Lu Changsheng asked, knowing every diviner prepared differently.

“How about three days from now?” Bai Zhaozhao said. She needed time to prepare.

“Alright.” He nodded, chatted a bit more, then left with Hong Lian.

“Husband, that Miss Bai must hold a high position in the Tianyan Sect.”

Back at the City Lord’s Mansion after leaving the Cloud Dream Inn, Hong Lian told him her read of Bai Zhaozhao’s inexperience.

A Nascent Soul cultivator that sheltered rarely from the world usually had an uncommon background.

“Mm. Likely a disciple of a major elder of the Tianyan Sect.”

He’d noticed her straightforward nature too—she revealed her identity, background, and name the moment they met.

Still, he wouldn’t mistake her for a naive pushover.

“From what I know, the Tianyan Sect rarely sends people out unless something major shakes the cultivation world.”

“Her trip is probably for the demonic calamity. If you want her favor and help, you could accept that matter first.”

After so many years together, Hong Lian knew her husband was keen on marriage and children.

It didn’t quite match her early guesses of a Dragon Emperor Dao Body or Central State’s Holy King, but the path was similar.

In that case, a Bai Zhaozhao with Baize Bloodline and mastery of divination fit his eye.

“What are you saying.”

Lu Changsheng might be tempted—he did wish she’d become the mother of his child—but he wouldn’t stoop to that.

She’d asked him to stand against the calamity and spare True Lord Qingcang and the others. There was true compassion there.

If he agreed now and she did become the mother of his child, would he help when the time came?

All the more since she came from the Tianyan Sect with a weighty status.

If that happened, her backing would surely come knocking.

“I was only speaking casually.”

Hong Lian smiled. His tone and look told her he had thoughts about Bai Zhaozhao.

She didn’t press it and returned to the mansion with him.

“Husband.” Ling Zixiao, hair pinned high and dressed in an azure palace robe, called to him.

Having formed her core and run the Immortal City for years, her poise carried a graceful nobility.

She couldn’t quite match Hong Lian in looks or figure, but her presence held its own.

“Zixiao, you’re here.”

He took her jade-like hand, asked after her, and told her not to overwork.

After a moment he said, “Right, Zixiao, send people to feel out the factions behind True Lord Qingcang, True Lord Jinfeng, and the others.”

He’d promised Bai Zhaozhao to spare those five, including Qingcang. Part of it was to ask for her help in divination.

But mainly, he didn’t intend to kill them.

Of the five, all but True Lord Yin Lei had power behind them.

Better than killing them, make them and their factions pay to ransom their lives.

He could have Ah Youduo plant restrictions on them, indirectly take control, and use them for the coming demonic calamity.

“Alright~” Ling Zixiao answered softly, then chatted about news from the Jiang Kingdom.

“Husband, Lingxiao cultivates fire. Places like Da Mengze aren’t suitable. Let him train on Yangming Mountain.”

“Miaoge practices water arts, so she can cultivate here in the Immortal City. And that girl Qingyan has reached Foundation Establishment ninth layer and commands the Black Water Flood Dragon—she can hold the city in the future.”

Now the Jiang Kingdom belonged to her husband, and the Heavenly Sword Sect had become his domain.

So Ling Zixiao naturally felt their son should train on Yangming Mountain.

As for the Immortal City of Damengze, it was only so-so for him.

“Mm, Yangming Mountain suits Lingxiao better.”

Lu Changsheng caught her little thoughts.

Still, Lu Lingxiao was the son tied to his Yangming True Lord identity. Going to Yangming Mountain was perfectly normal.

And as she said, the Immortal City wasn’t ideal for him.

“In a few days I’ll head to Yangming Mountain with Hong Lian. Lingxiao is there now, right?”

He knew both Lu Lingxiao and Lu Qingxian were on Yangming Mountain.

“Mm.” Ling Zixiao nodded. Their son was there, handling matters with the Heavenly Sword Sect.

“Later I’ll have the Zhenhai Seven Sects send a batch of formation masters. Zixiao, bring them to Yangming Mountain and set up the mountain gate’s grand array.”

Both Ling Zixiao and Lu Lingxiao were adept at formations.

Laying down the Yangming Mountain array would be a great chance for them to improve.

“Alright~” Ling Zixiao agreed happily.

With divination scheduled in three days to seek news of Qingluan True Lord and their daughter Mu Que, Lu Changsheng spent some time with Hong Lian and Ling Zixiao, then went to rest and adjust his state.

Before that, he visited the Turtle Immortal Patriarch.

He handed over fourth-rank pills and spirit medicine taken from Ro Fuzish, True Lord Qingcang and the others’ rings, so the old patriarch could heal.

“Many thanks, Master,” the Turtle Immortal Patriarch said, deeply moved.

He had treasures of his own for healing.

But after risking his life for Lu Changsheng, being ignored would have chilled his heart.

“Rest well.” Lu Changsheng patted his stooped shoulder.

Then he went to the Heavenly Yuan Lotus, took out the Two-Headed Earth Dragon’s demon core, and said, “Lingjing, this fourth-rank core is for your cultivation.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Lu Lingjing lit up at the longed-for dragon core and thanked him, thrilled.

“Heh.” He couldn’t help rubbing the little girl’s head as she hugged the core, looking adorable.

Normally, a shapeshifted demon king like her hated anyone ruffling her hair. It was provocation.

But Lu Lingjing had long since been tamed by his endless treats and kindness. She even rubbed her head into his palm.

Three days later, in a side hall of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Lu Changsheng and Bai Zhaozhao sat cross-legged facing each other.

“Please, True Lord,” Bai Zhaozhao said. She wore a snow-white dress, the horn at her brow gleaming.

She signaled he could begin.

“Mm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded, flicked his sleeve, and set out a divination tortoise shell and copper coins, using his karmic link with the Qingluan True Lord to calculate.

As before, without the feather as a medium, her fate was unfathomable, wrapped in layer upon layer of mist—impossible to read.

As the power of fate surged, Bai Zhaozhao immediately summoned her spirit treasure, the 【Heavenly Derivation Chart】.

Ancient coins, jade pieces, and divining sticks rose and circled her, weaving a vast force of destiny.

That force spread like a net of fortune, entangling with Lu Changsheng’s fate.

In an instant, the power of fate around him surged, prying open more threads of destiny.

With Bai Zhaozhao’s aid, he finally pierced the fog. In the river of destiny, splashes rose and blurred scenes surfaced.

“Qingluan True Lord has not fallen into Ro Fuzish’s hands. She’s in the Eastern Region of the Southern Desolation and may meet me before long.”

At the same time, as their destinies intertwined, Bai Zhaozhao felt her Tianyan Art stir with a mysterious resonance toward him.

“This is…”

She focused on that subtle response.

Shock crashed through her like a towering wave.

An Anomaly!

The Yangming True Lord before her was an Anomaly!?

Cultivators of the Tianyan Sect could gauge one’s future through hidden fortune.

They broadly ranked fate as Great Fortunate Ones, Children of Fortune, and Heaven’s Chosen.

Above them stood one more—Anomaly.

Such people had immeasurable talent and limitless futures—the sect’s prime targets.

Through the Tianyan Art’s response, she realized he was exactly that—an immeasurable, limitless Anomaly.

“Is he the Anomaly the Patriarch divined?”

Her main purpose in leaving the mountain was to find the Anomaly the Patriarch glimpsed through the 【Heavenly Derivation Chart】.

She hadn’t expected to find him so soon.

But something didn’t add up.

According to the Patriarch, the Anomaly had either just entered Nascent Soul with the makings of Spirit Transformation,

or reached Nascent Soul ninth layer, becoming a grand True Lord.

The Yangming True Lord before her fit neither.

Bai Zhaozhao tried to sense further and confirm.

But Lu Changsheng had the Heavenly Yuan Lotus and the Lu Family Record shielding his fate.

Only because their destinies were entwined for this divination had she sensed that faint hint.

She couldn’t push any deeper.

Not unless they forged a deep karmic bond and he let her probe.

Sensing her aura waver, Lu Changsheng assumed she’d overexerted herself and halted the flow of fate.

“You’ve worked hard, Daoist Bai.”

Looking at her, warmth rose in his chest.

As expected of a top divination force of the Southern Desolation, the Tianyan Sect!

Her methods were on a different level.

With her help, he’d learned Qingluan True Lord’s situation.

She wasn’t in danger and might return to the Northern Region soon to meet him.

But in Qingluan’s river of destiny he saw no trace of their daughter Mu Que.

That meant Mu Que likely wasn’t with her. Mother and daughter hadn’t reunited.

It left him puzzled.

If his daughter hadn’t met Qingluan, how had her Heavenly Phoenix Bloodline grown during Qi Refining?

What kind of chance had she found?

He wanted to ask Bai Zhaozhao to divine his daughter next.

“You’re too polite, True Lord.” She opened her eyes, pupils tinged with pale gold, still reeling.

Whether or not he was the Anomaly the Patriarch foresaw,

his strength and possible Anomaly-level potential made him worth cultivating ties with.

She’d planned to meet the Bai Xi Lineage, then keep searching for a Child of Fortune and the Anomaly.

Now she had a new plan.

“Let me rest a few days, then I’ll divine again for you.”

Seeing he had more to ask, she volunteered, hoping to tie a karmic thread.

Her initiative boosted his goodwill to the brim. He took several rare spirit medicines from his ring.

“A small token. Please accept it, Daoist Bai.”

Normally moving a fourth-rank diviner was like climbing to the heavens.

But Bai Zhaozhao was easy to talk to, so he wasn’t stingy.

“Thank you, True Lord.” She didn’t refuse, accepted the medicines, and took her leave.

“Tsk, truly a righteous cultivator.”

After she left, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help sighing.

She really was from the righteous Central Domain, the Tianyan Sect.

There weren’t many this helpful.

Even if he guessed she wanted him indebted or closer to her so she could invite him again against the calamity,

he didn’t mind this approach.

It raised his goodwill toward her—and toward the Tianyan Sect and the Central Domain’s Mystic Gates.

Knowing Qingluan was safe and might return to the Northern Region lifted his mood.

He went to the Cloud Dream Inn to trade with True Lord Xuanjian.

He traded True Lord Jinfeng’s soul-bound treasure and some spare fourth-rank materials to him.

True Lord Xuanjian couldn’t help but marvel and envy the list.

The materials in just this trade far exceeded his wealth.

After receiving Jinfeng’s treasure, he swapped for a few more fourth-rank items, cupped his hands in thanks, and felt the trip well worth it.

“You’re too kind, my friend.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and thanked him for making time to help.

After the deal, they chatted a bit. Then True Lord Xuanjian took his leave and left the city.

With Jinfeng’s treasure, his life-bound flying sword could advance again, helping his push to mid-Nascent Soul.

Back at the mansion, Lu Changsheng called for his son Lu Chensha, who had been cultivating in the city, and asked about his progress.

“Father, my magical energy is complete. I’m ready to practice the Core Formation secret technique.”

Lu Chensha, dressed in a blue brocade robe, bowed respectfully.

“Since your Foundation is complete, contract the Phantom Mink.”

Lu Changsheng said, ready to help him bind the already half-tamed mink.

With the Beast Art, that would save years on the Core Formation method and greatly raise the odds and quality of his core.

“Thank you, Father,” Lu Chensha replied with a bow.

At once, Lu Changsheng called Hong Lian and Xu Ruoyin. Using the Beast Taming Ancient Rune, they helped him forge the contract.

After ten years together, the Phantom Mink wasn’t fully tamed, but it knew the score.

It had no path left but to recognize Lu Chensha as master.

Under those terms, it didn’t resist the contract. Backing a big tree meant shade.

With Lu Changsheng and Xu Ruoyin’s help, Lu Chensha completed the contract with ease.

“Boom!”

The instant the contract sealed, his magical energy roared. His Heavenly Beast Dao Foundation blazed, techniques running on their own, as if surging straight into Core Formation.

Heavenly Dao Core Formation!

With the Beast Art and the Phantom Mink’s third-rank foundation, Lu Chensha skipped decades of grinding.

His energy, blood, body, and foundation were all tempered and elevated, even stirring a chance at Heavenly Dao Core Formation.

Xu Ruoyin couldn’t help but envy him.

She’d broken through with her own chances, aided by the Qingluan True Lord’s treasure vault,

but compared to her son contracting a third-rank demon king at Foundation, it was a tier lower.

Hong Lian only smiled and lifted her jade-like hand.

A head-sized golden stone flew in from afar.

It was the Spirit Source Stone Lu Changsheng had gained after slaying True Lord Tiancang years ago.

By Hong Lian’s read, a rare-blooded demon beast was sealed within.

They’d saved it for Lu Chensha’s Core Formation attempt.

If the beast lived, they could contract it while it was weak.

If it was dead, it would still hold rich beast essence.

Either way, it would greatly help a Beast Art cultivator like Lu Chensha.

Hong Lian didn’t split it in one blow but slowly peeled it open with magical energy.