Chapter 950: Seals, Hong Lian Charges into Nascent Soul

“Alright.” Hearing Lu Changsheng’s words, Hong Lian smiled, then steadied her breath, calmed her mind, and slowly set her cultivation art in motion.

Her cultivation had long reached the peak of Core Formation, round and unbroken, flawless and seamless.

With a single thought she could shatter the bottleneck and strike for Nascent Soul.

But she wasn’t in a rush.

She adjusted her magical energy, divine sense, and state of mind again and again, seeking the best moment, like a heavenly chance to condense the Nascent Soul.

During this, memories surfaced of the moment she awakened from the Beast Taming Ancient Rune.

After waking and learning her situation, she began teaching and nurturing Xu Ruoyin, then sensed the aura of a heaven-rank demon beast on Lu Changsheng and came with Xu Ruoyin to Bihu Mountain.

From there she followed Lu Changsheng, obtained the Peachwood Spirit Fetus, and rebuilt her body.

Snippets from the past century flashed quickly through her mind.

Aside from the series of shocks brought by Lu Changsheng, a peerless powerhouse reincarnate, those hundred-odd years were as placid as still water.

Then fragments of her previous life—years and experiences—surfaced from the depths of her mind.

As a child she was gifted beyond measure, bearing a Fire Heavenly Spiritual Root and a Superior Spirit Body.

Competed over by several powers, she finally joined the Vermillion Bird Palace, then a Nascent Soul-tier force.

With top-tier talent she broke through Foundation Establishment, then Core Formation, and eventually reached Nascent Soul.

Though once at Nascent Soul, the advantages of her spiritual root waned.

It could no longer give her the immense boost it had during Foundation Establishment and Core Formation.

Even so, by virtue of deep foundations, fortune, and providence, she advanced from early to mid Nascent Soul within a century and came to lead the Vermillion Bird Palace.

After that, it was as if her luck had run dry.

Her advancement slowed to a crawl; every layer was a struggle. She ultimately stalled at the sixth level of Nascent Soul.

As a top Nascent Soul powerhouse, she was deceived within a ruin secret realm, her mind clouded, and chose to self-detonate her Nascent Soul.

Even though centuries have passed, whenever she recalls it, ripples still disturb the lake of her heart.

But the past is smoke, the former life mere dust.

Now, with the Peachwood Spirit Fetus, her foundation is in no way inferior to her previous life.

She is also Dao companions with Lu Changsheng, a great figure like an immortal reincarnate—her future is destined to surpass the past.

So what once were regrets have become opportunities and fortunes.

Hong Lian’s state of mind settled, growing steadier and tougher.

Seeing her aura climbing smoothly, Lu Changsheng didn’t linger. He slipped away and sent a message to Chu Qingyi, saying she could come observe the ceremony.

Then he went to a side hall and summoned Ah Youduo.

“Master.”

Ah Youduo, in a deep violet-red dress with a silver coronet and hairpin, bowed to Lu Changsheng.

After the battle at the Immortal City of Damengze, she looked at him with even more respect than before.

Lu Changsheng nodded with a smile, then patted his storage pouch. An exquisite, compact ancient furnace with graceful lines—like a reclining goddess—appeared.

Ah Youduo eyed the Divine Maiden’s Furnace with a hint of doubt.

With a resonant hum the lid opened. Dreamlike mist rolled out, carrying figures that spilled down one after another.

“Hm!?” Seeing the five figures before her, her small face tightened in shock.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator who had long stabilized her realm, she naturally recognized True Lord Qingcang, True Lord Yin Lei, and the rest.

But according to the rumors, hadn’t five fled with only one escaping?

So why was True Lord Luo Yu—the one said to have escaped—here too?

Ah Youduo instantly realized the rumors were off.

Or rather, Luo Yu only managed a public escape.

In truth he never slipped past Master’s palm.

The thought left her inwardly shocked and moved.

Five Nascent Soul True Lords acted together, and only one managed to flee—that alone was terrifying.

And in the end even that last one failed to truly get away.

“Ah Youduo, use the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex to plant the Ten Thousand Calamities Life-Death Curse and the Poison Spirit Seal on all five of them.”

Lu Changsheng spoke to Ah Youduo.

He understood both methods and his cultivation far surpassed hers.

But he hadn’t formally cultivated the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex.

And enslaving someone’s life and death through restriction seals isn’t simple.

It takes follow-up to fully subdue them.

He had plenty on his plate and no interest in fussing over the details, so better to let Ah Youduo handle it.

She wasn’t good at head-on combat anyway.

If she could enslave and drive a few Nascent Soul cultivators, it would make future errands much easier.

Ah Youduo had guessed he would assign her something.

But she hadn’t expected him to let her seize the life and death of five Nascent Soul True Lords.

This… this…

What trust this was!

Her emotions surged like a storm-tossed sea, hard to calm for a long time.

If Master had her plant the restrictions on the five, wasn’t he handing their lives over to her?

Wouldn’t that mean she could drive them as she pleased?

Granted, planting restrictions didn’t automatically make them obey.

But at Nascent Soul, most cherish their lives.

With some effort, bringing them to heel wouldn’t be hard.

“Yes, Master!”

Ah Youduo answered quickly, a touch of tender affection in the way she looked at Lu Changsheng.

To her, this was the most heartfelt confession of trust.

True Lord Qingcang and the other four were close to Ah Youduo in cultivation.

Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for her to plant restrictions on them.

But now all five were weakened.

Their magical power and Nascent Soul spirit bodies were sealed by Lu Changsheng.

So planting the Poison Spirit Seal and the Ten Thousand Calamities Life-Death Curse in their sea of consciousness and on their Nascent Soul spirit bodies was child’s play.

Seeing Ah Youduo finish with True Lord Qingcang’s sea of consciousness and Nascent Soul spirit body, Lu Changsheng stepped up to inspect.

He frowned at the Poison Spirit lurking in the depths of Qingcang’s sea of consciousness and the Ten Thousand Calamities Life-Death Curse coiled around his Nascent Soul spirit body.

The two restrictions themselves were sound.

Once triggered, they could easily take True Lord Qingcang’s life.

But at best they restrained early Nascent Soul cultivators.

If a mid-stage expert skilled in such arts, or even a late-stage grand cultivator, intervened, they might suppress or undo them.

The odds were small.

But thinking of Luo Fuzi’s case, Lu Changsheng felt it necessary to prepare for the worst.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

Noticing his expression, Ah Youduo asked at once.

“These two restrictions are superb and hard to undo for peers, but a mid-stage Nascent Soul adept in such methods could likely suppress or even remove them.”

Lu Changsheng himself had several ways to break them.

First, by using the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex.

Second, by suppressing them with the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra.

Third, by using unique talismans from the Nine-Nine Profound Talisman Sutra to suppress them.

If he paid a small price and drew a few mid-grade fourth-rank talismans, then stacked the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra’s effects, he was even confident of dissolving them outright.

Beyond talismans and arts, the cultivation world has pills and treasures that erase restrictions.

Ah Youduo wanted to say even mid-stage Nascent Soul would struggle to break these.

Or would at least have to pay dearly.

But right now, Lu Changsheng wanted absolute safety.

If someone did remove the restrictions, those five would surely turn on them.

“Master, these two divine arts are only at small accomplishment for me. I’ll put my full focus on them next and push them to perfection.”

Ah Youduo cupped her hands, unwilling to let his trust down.

She hadn’t invested that much time or effort in them before.

The reason was simple.

Poison Spirit Seal and the Ten Thousand Calamities Life-Death Curse are extremely advanced restriction methods.

At small accomplishment they already let her control anyone below Nascent Soul.

Even same-realm Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to break them once planted.

That was more than enough for her needs.

Why think about what to do if a mid or late Nascent Soul intervened?

Faced with that level, they’d just storm in and kill you.

Why bother cracking your restriction first.

“Spend some more time on this.”

Lu Changsheng spoke softly, not blaming her for lacking mastery.

After all, expecting an early-stage Nascent Soul to use restrictions that even mid or late-stage experts struggle to break is asking a lot.

As he finished, he remembered the Poison Spirit he’d taken from Ao Long. Turning his palm over, he produced a jade box sealed with several talismans.

“Ah Youduo, a gift for you.”

Lu Changsheng handed her the sealed Poison Spirit.

“A gift?”

The little girl froze, eyeing the jade box with curiosity.

Just from the sealing talismans she could tell the gift was anything but ordinary.

“Thank you, Master!” She didn’t refuse and accepted the box respectfully.

“Open it and take a look. Careful.” Lu Changsheng smiled.

At his words, Ah Youduo carefully tore off the talismans, channeled her energy, and opened the jade box.

In an instant, a wave of virulent poison spilled out.

Her energy surged as she cast the divine art Myriad Calamities Poison Spirit Hand, tightly wrapping the box.

“This is…”

A heartbeat later, she saw what lay inside.

A Poison Spirit.

A top-tier Poison Spirit.

Not just lower grade or even mid grade—it had reached upper grade among fourth-rank Poison Spirits.

Ah Youduo’s small face went from shock to joy as she looked at Lu Changsheng.

She hadn’t expected him to gift her something so precious.

Both of the Poison Spirits she had refined herself were fourth-rank lower grade.

Fourth-rank mid grade was already hard for her to obtain.

As for fourth-rank upper grade, she hadn’t even dared dream of it.

If she refined this one, the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex and all her related arts would jump a tier in power.

Including the Poison Spirit Seal she’d just used.

It might even give her a little push toward mid-stage Nascent Soul.

“Thank you, Master!”

She felt she’d done nothing to deserve such a gift.

But with fortune right in front of her, she certainly wouldn’t refuse. She bowed her thanks.

“As long as you like it.”

Lu Changsheng smiled lightly.

Yes, it was valuable enough to trade for superb natural treasures.

But he had always been generous with those at his side.

Besides, Ah Youduo had long since given him her loyalty. At this point she was one step away from being the mother of his child—only the child was missing.

“Master’s kindness is beyond what I can repay,” Ah Youduo said, more certain than ever that following him was the best decision she’d made.

Not only had she gained the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex and recovered her inherited treasure, the Gu God Cauldron—

Now he had bestowed a top-tier Poison Spirit as well.

“Heh, it’s just a Poison Spirit. Perform well and I won’t shortchange you,” Lu Changsheng said with an easy smile.

Ah Youduo never doubted his words. Her trust in him was absolute.

On one hand, under the influence of the Seven Absolute Gu, she already felt affection and trust toward him.

On the other, the strength and methods he’d displayed over the years had completely won her over.

“I’ll help you refine it. Later you can test the Poison Spirit Seal again.”

Lu Changsheng spoke to Ah Youduo.

Once she refined this Poison Spirit, the Seal’s effect would rise a full tier.

Then even mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators should find it hard to suppress or dissolve.

Planting the restrictions on True Lord Qingcang and the others would be far safer.

“I’ll trouble you then, Master.” Ah Youduo did not refuse.

She could refine it herself, but with Lu Changsheng’s help it would take half the effort.

Time slipped by.

Deep in the cave residence, as Lu Changsheng helped her refine the Poison Spirit, it felt as if a Vermillion Bird divine bird shot into the sky, crying to the heavens and birthing an endless sea of flame.

“Hm?”

Sensing it, Lu Changsheng sent his divine sense toward Hong Lian as she struck for Nascent Soul.

Her aura had climbed to the limit. Energy roared through her body, forming a Vermillion Bird that pried at the hidden mechanisms of heaven and earth.

“So fast?”

He was a little surprised. He’d thought she would at least settle and adjust for half a month, maybe a month.

The faster it was, the more it showed how ready and deep-rooted her foundation was.

He split his focus, helping Ah Youduo refine while keeping an eye on Hong Lian.

As the Vermillion Bird cried, the spiritual qi in all directions roared and formed a tide, spreading from the cave to cover the entire peak.

“Is the Nascent Soul attempt starting?”

In another cave, Bai Zhaozhao sensed it and looked toward Hong Lian’s cave.

She had known of Hong Lian’s attempt in advance.

A Nascent Soul assault stirs vortexes and tides of spiritual qi, throwing the ambient qi into disorder.

So Bai Zhaozhao stopped cultivating and watched the process of Hong Lian’s breakthrough.

From the battle in the Immortal City of Damengze, she had seen that Hong Lian’s foundation was anything but ordinary—she possessed a Nascent Soul-level Spirit-Soul Perception.

Watching now would reveal more hints and secrets.

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch watched with calm, unruffled eyes.

He simply told several formation masters to pause their geomancy work so the main peak’s vein and Hong Lian’s attempt wouldn’t be affected.

“What’s that commotion?”

“Is Master starting her Nascent Soul breakthrough?”

“Someone’s striking for Nascent Soul!”

As the vortex and tides of qi surged, drawing on all the ambient qi of Yangming Mountain, cultivators across the area were startled and looked toward Yangming Peak.

Lu Lingxiao and Lu Wangshu knew at once it was Hong Lian attempting Nascent Soul.

Though their father was already a famed Nascent Soul powerhouse in the Northern Region,

and the number of Nascent Souls he’d slain exceeded the count of two hands,

seeing their Master—Senior Hong Lian—strike for Nascent Soul still left them excited.

After all, this was Nascent Soul.

The realm all cultivators yearn for.

Anyone who witnessed a Nascent Soul attempt couldn’t help but feel their heart surge with longing.

All the more since the one attempting it was their master, their close family.

Lu Lingxiao didn’t delay. He activated Yangming Mountain’s grand array at once and took the seat at the mountain gate.

The array was rough and damaged, still being rebuilt, currently only at quasi-fourth-rank strength.

But at full capacity it could still ward off petty troublemakers.

Lu Qingshan, who had been immersed in the Nine-Leaf Sword Technique, opened his eyes and looked toward Yangming Peak, wondering who was breaking through.

He had a guess and walked out of the palace, gazing toward his father’s cave residence.

For cultivators with hopes of Nascent Soul, the process of a breakthrough is a chance of its own—one not to be missed.