Chapter 951: Here to Congratulate, Deep Bonds of Siblings

True Lord Hunyuan brought True Lord Yuanqi to visit the Immortal City of Damengze.

Hearing that Yangming True Lord was on Yangming Mountain, they turned back at once and headed there, to what was once Heavenly Sword Mountain.

As they drew near, True Lord Hunyuan immediately saw the grand array over Yangming Mountain roaring to life. Spiritual energy gathered around the main peak in great tides and spinning vortices.

“This is…”

Though Yangming Mountain was shrouded by a grand array,

the mountain-guarding formation now only had the power of a quasi-fourth order array.

So True Lord Hunyuan could faintly see the celestial signs and stir of a cultivator assaulting a Nascent Soul breakthrough.

“A Nascent Soul breakthrough? Could it be the City Lord’s wife of the Immortal City of Damengze, Li Muwan?”

True Lord Hunyuan’s heart gave a jolt.

Not long ago, news of the great battle at the Immortal City of Damengze spread: the City Lord’s wife, Li Muwan, wielded Yangming True Lord’s sword and fought True Lord Golden Roc and True Lord Qingcang’s trio, displaying Nascent Soul level combat power.

But according to word, this City Lord’s wife was not a Nascent Soul True Lord,

but a Core Formation cultivator.

So True Lord Hunyuan first guessed that this City Lord’s wife had begun her assault on Nascent Soul.

Seeing at the gate a heroic youth in a gold dragon-embroidered robe and a gold mask, True Lord Hunyuan understood at once and judged it highly likely the City Lord’s wife was in seclusion to break through.

He slowed at once. He and True Lord Yuanqi revealed themselves and walked openly to the mountain gate.

Breaking through to Nascent Soul is a matter of utmost importance for anyone and any faction. It must not be disturbed.

If he and True Lord Yuanqi drew near rashly and Yangming True Lord sensed them, he might mistake their intentions. That would be bad.

“Young Lord.”

True Lord Hunyuan and True Lord Yuanqi stopped at the gate and greeted Lu Lingxiao with polite respect.

Under normal circumstances, a Core Formation cultivator like Lu Lingxiao had no right to speak with him.

But the other party was Yangming True Lord’s own son.

That alone warranted serious courtesy.

“Greetings, True Lord Hunyuan.”

Lu Lingxiao recognized True Lord Hunyuan and noticed him at once. He cupped his hands and asked, “May I know why you have come to Yangming Mountain, True Lord?”

“I have matters for which I wished to visit your honored father. After going to the Immortal City of Damengze and learning that Yangming True Lord was away, I came here,”

True Lord Hunyuan said with a gentle smile. “Is your honored mother attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough? If it’s inconvenient, I will come again after she succeeds.”

“Please wait a moment, True Lord. I’ll inform Father.”

If an ordinary Core Formation cultivator had come, Lu Lingxiao would have dismissed him,

or had him wait outside the gate.

But True Lord Hunyuan was a Nascent Soul cultivator and an ally.

As he spoke, Lu Lingxiao glanced at the True Lord Yuanqi beside him.

He didn’t recognize this True Lord Yuanqi.

He only felt the man’s aura was strange, like a Core Formation cultivator yet also like a Nascent Soul cultivator, hard to pin down.

“Father, True Lord Hunyuan has come to visit—”

Lu Lingxiao sent a message to Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng received it and extended his spirit-soul perception, looking toward the two outside the gate.

In an instant, True Lord Hunyuan and True Lord Yuanqi felt a terrifying spirit-soul aura descend.

Their hearts pounded and their minds trembled by instinct.

True Lord Yuanqi even felt his magical energy turn unstable.

Seeing that the two were not Ro Fuzish or other cultivators in disguise, Lu Changsheng sent a voice transmission: “My wife is attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough. It’s inconvenient to receive guests. May I know what brings you here, Hunyuan?”

He had time to meet,

but under the current circumstances, if it wasn’t important he had no wish to receive anyone.

“It’s not urgent. After your honored lady completes her breakthrough, I will come again,”

True Lord Hunyuan offered first.

He knew now was not the time to discuss allegiance.

“Very well,” Lu Changsheng did not ask further.

“Young Lord, pardon the disturbance.”

True Lord Hunyuan cupped his fists to Lu Lingxiao, then took his leave with True Lord Yuanqi.

When they had left Yangming Mountain by several hundred miles, True Lord Yuanqi drew a deep breath and instinctively looked back toward Yangming Peak. “Senior Brother, that spirit-soul pressure just now—”

“Yangming True Lord’s spirit-soul pressure is at least sixth-layer Nascent Soul, perhaps even late Nascent Soul.”

True Lord Hunyuan was full of shock and awe.

Previously, when he interacted with Yangming True Lord, he hadn’t directly sensed the man’s strength.

Now the spirit-soul aura alone, the fluctuation of its pressure, made his heart race.

He realized that during the Liang-Yue war, Yangming True Lord had not shown his full strength.

“Late Nascent Soul…”

Hearing this, True Lord Yuanqi felt his throat go dry.

Before, when True Lord Hunyuan planned to attach themselves to the Immortal City of Damengze, he had been reluctant.

Now that he’d felt Yangming True Lord’s strength firsthand, that reluctance had vanished without a trace.

“This true lord’s lady is attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough. She is all but certain to succeed. We should return and prepare a heavy gift. Then you come wait here. The moment she succeeds, step forward to offer congratulations.”

True Lord Hunyuan spoke to True Lord Yuanqi.

Though breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul is extremely perilous,

with most cultivators having only a twenty to thirty percent chance,

for Hong Lian, the City Lord’s wife and Yangming True Lord’s Dao companion, he saw no possibility of failure.

No reasoning needed. For the sole reason that she is Yangming True Lord’s Dao companion.

“Yes, Senior Brother.” True Lord Yuanqi knew True Lord Hunyuan was paving a path for him, giving him a chance to show his face before Yangming True Lord.

“What does Senior Brother plan to gift? News of this City Lord’s wife attempting her breakthrough will spread quickly and all the major forces will know.”

“Since our Hunyuan Sect intends to attach itself to Yangming True Lord, our gift must surpass the others.”

As someone who had broken through to Nascent Soul, True Lord Yuanqi knew gifting was a skill of its own.

True Lord Hunyuan glanced at him, seeing he had been completely won over by Yangming True Lord’s strength, and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. I have it arranged.”

Time slipped by.

The Nascent Soul phenomenon over Yangming Mountain grew louder and grander.

Many cultivators and powers watching the Immortal City of Damengze and Yangming True Lord guessed this was the City Lord’s wife, Yangming True Lord’s Dao companion, attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough.

As with True Lord Hunyuan earlier, no one dared approach and disturb her.

At most, some Core Formation cultivators came to within a few dozen miles of Yangming Mountain and, using artifacts and eye arts, watched from afar.

Others, upon receiving the news, informed their factions to prepare lavish gifts and get ready to offer congratulations at the first moment.

After all, for years many had wanted to pay respects to Yangming True Lord but had no chance.

Now that his wife, his Dao companion, someone close to him was attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough, it was a perfect opportunity.

After seeing Yangming True Lord, even without asking for anything, simply presenting a gift so he would remember them was worth it.

If he happened to be in a good mood and a cooperation could be struck, that would be an unexpected joy.

Forces like Zicang Mountain and those under True Lord Luo Yu, who had gone to visit the Immortal City of Damengze, sent word the moment they heard, telling people to gather natural treasures and prepare heavy gifts.

They hoped that while Yangming True Lord was in high spirits over his Dao companion’s breakthrough, he would let their own true lord off.

Black Desert Immortal City.

“What a pity.”

Hearing that someone on Yangming Mountain was attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough, Mo Luo felt a pang of regret.

He thought that if the five including True Lord Qingcang had seized this moment to provoke on Yangming Mountain, the result might have been completely different.

Yangming True Lord, concerned about his Dao companion’s breakthrough, would not dare make a big scene.

They could also interfere with Yangming Mountain’s array to distract him.

He himself could have used the chance to probe Yangming Mountain once.

But the moment had passed. Mo Luo only sighed a little and had no intention of rushing over to cause trouble.

“Send this news to Luofu Mountain.”

Though there was still no word from the people he’d sent to Luofu Mountain,

Mo Luo still sent this news there at once.

He wanted to see whether that Lord of Luofu Mountain would have any new moves.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Region of the Southern Desolation,

within the Layer of Nine Heavens’ Gale, a blue-green luan bird tore through bands of cutting wind, flying toward the Jiang Kingdom.

After hearing that Yangming True Lord had pacified the Liang-Yue war, captured six Nascent Soul cultivators in a single go, and broke Beast God Mountain, Qingluan True Lord realized Ro Fuzish might go and cause trouble for Lu Changsheng.

She wanted to return to the Jiang Kingdom as soon as possible, to join forces with Lu Changsheng against Ro Fuzish and take revenge on those who had ambushed her.

So after subduing and refining the Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Fire at Godfire Ridge, she left at once for the Northern Region and the Jiang Kingdom.

But the journey from the Eastern Region to the Northern Region and then to the Jiang Kingdom was very far.

Even with a fourth-rank Qingluan to ride, it would still take months.

“I should make it in time…”

Clad in a luxurious jade-green robe, tall and straight like a noble young lord, Qingluan True Lord kept sensing Lu Changsheng’s condition.

Though her Five-Virtues Qi was exhausted and her divination had fallen off sharply,

she and Lu Changsheng had a strong bond. Through divine abilities she could sense hidden omens of fortune and danger.

If a great calamity befell him, she would faintly sense it.

She hadn’t gone to her daughter Mu Que first because her divination showed no great misfortune for the girl at the moment.

It was just hard to sense her exact whereabouts.

The news of Yangming True Lord’s Dao companion attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough caused quite a stir in the Jiang Kingdom,

but it spread mostly among the countries neighboring Jiang.

Further realms cared little for such a matter and didn’t really pass it along.

However, the news that five Nascent Soul True Lords had gone to provoke at the Immortal City of Damengze, and that the Lord of Luofu Mountain had likely lost to Yangming True Lord, kept spreading among the forces of the Southern Desolation and the Northern Region.

After all, as a top overlord of the Northern Region, Ro Fuzish had people watching his every move.

He had stood up for True Lord Qingcang and the others in the Immortal City of Damengze, then left without a word, letting Qingcang and the others be suppressed by Yangming True Lord. That result made people think.

Especially those cultivators who knew Ro Fuzish.

They knew he was not someone who yielded or retreated easily.

If he chose to withdraw and let True Lord Qingcang and the others be suppressed, then at the very least he hadn’t been able to do anything to Yangming True Lord, not to mention defeat him.

As for his body and qi being destroyed, no one guessed that.

For Ro Fuzish to be a top overlord of the Southern Desolation and the Northern Region, his strength was beyond doubt.

Driving him back would already be astonishing.

Many forces even seriously questioned the rumor and doubted its authenticity.

Still, quite a few cultivators with grudges against Ro Fuzish immediately sent people to verify and scout out the truth.

In the Central Region of the Southern Desolation, at the Piaomiao Sect.

“Someone in the Northern Region could make Ro Fuzish suffer?”

On a mist-wreathed peak stood a tall woman in a moon-white gauze dress, graceful and poised.

Her features were exquisitely cold, as if carved from immortal jade. Ebony hair was swept up with a white jade phoenix-pin, a few soft curls falling over her shoulder.

Her clear eyes held a dreamlike glaze, nose high, lips rosy as if lightly painted, a winter plum in snow.

At the slit of her flowing skirt, a pair of snowy jade legs showed in tantalizing hints, sheathed in glossy lotus-white stockings.

Her delicate feet, faintly flushed, rested in silver-white heels, her whole bearing otherworldly and ethereal.

“Yangming True Lord…” A touch of lonely cold glinted deep in her beautiful eyes as she etched the name into her heart.

Many Nascent Soul cultivators of the Central Domain and the Northern Region knew Ro Fuzish was not native to the north but came from the Central Region of the Southern Desolation.

For certain reasons he had offended someone, so he went far away to settle in the Northern Region.

The one he offended was her,

the previous Saintess of the Piaomiao Sect, Gu Changrao,

now one of the Piaomiao Seven Fairies.

Back then, her younger brother had been slain by Ro Fuzish in a secret realm.

She wanted revenge but was no match, so through the Piaomiao Sect she issued a bounty.

She even declared publicly that anyone who could kill Ro Fuzish would marry her.

Those who gravely injured him would also receive rich rewards and heavy gifts.

In the Central Region, though the Piaomiao Sect was not on the level of the Mystic Gates Five Sects or the Seven Demonic Sects, it was still a major power with a late-stage Nascent Soul elder in residence.

Most of all, as the Piaomiao Sect’s Saintess, she was famed for her beauty and noble status.

Her spirit body and cultivation method on the dual-cultivation path were also renowned, highly enticing to other cultivators.

At her call, many young prodigies of the Central Region, even old Nascent Soul monsters, moved against Ro Fuzish.

But Ro Fuzish was extraordinarily strong. Unless a dragnet was set or a late-stage Nascent Soul elder made a move, killing him was almost impossible.

Late-stage Nascent Soul elders rarely moved and would not lower themselves to join such a farce.

Beset again and again, Ro Fuzish was badly wounded in one secret realm and chose to leave the Central Region for the Northern Region.

Though a hundred years had passed, Gu Changrao’s desire for revenge had never cooled.

She kept track of Ro Fuzish’s movements, seeking a chance to end him.

Now, seeing this news, she realized Yangming True Lord could be drawn in, invited to join a siege against Ro Fuzish.

With the cultivators she could invite now, and adding this Yangming True Lord, there might be a chance to kill Ro Fuzish once and for all.

“It’s a pity the Central Region is in turmoil and a great tribulation could erupt at any moment. It’s not convenient to go north.”

Gu Changrao looked toward the north and sighed softly.

As a major power of the Central Region, they all sensed that the Seven Demonic Sects were moving.

The unrest and endless fighting among the major powers these years had the Seven Demonic Sects and the Mystic Gates Five Sects pushing from behind.

Her Piaomiao Sect had also been affected.

“Little brother, rest easy. Your sister will avenge you.”

Gu Changrao’s gaze turned icy as she murmured.

She was born with an Invisible Spirit Body but had been frail and sickly since childhood.

If not for her younger brother scrounging with wild dogs, begging from door to door, she would have died from cold and hunger.

She would never have awakened her spirit body, joined the Piaomiao Sect, and become the high-standing Nascent Soul True Lord she was now.

So after joining the Piaomiao Sect, she cared for her brother with all her heart.

After her brother was killed by Ro Fuzish, she was willing to pay with her own Dao to avenge him.