Chapter 841: Intriguing Schemes and Unforeseen Encounters

Gather as much intel on this person as possible.

Inside the palace, Turtle Immortal Patriarch donned a dark, flowing robe. His broad, arched back resembled that of a lurking old turtle, exuding an aura both ancient and deep.

Although his bloodline aptitude sensed this action as auspicious,

Turtle Immortal Patriarch knew all too well that fate is fickle and divinations are never absolute.

At times, what seems like a stroke of luck in destiny can instantly turn into imminent disaster!

This mission, in particular, involved the Eastern Emperor’s Heir.

The opponent’s Eastern Emperor Mirror—a treasured heirloom of the Sun-Moon Star Palace—could unleash terrifying power if it burned its Essence to forcibly awaken its might.

Even though he was a pure-blood True Spirit descendant capable of rivaling titans at the Nascent Soul stage, he dared not take this lightly.

Extreme caution and thorough preparation were imperative.

“Hmm.”

Star King’s expression hardened as he nodded solemnly.

Known for his haughty demeanor, he usually scorned others.

But when faced with the unpredictable Eastern Emperor’s Heir—a figure who even signaled impending ill fortune—he immediately swallowed his pride, as if standing on the brink of an abyss.

Especially when both Zhenhai Patriarch and Turtle Immortal Patriarch displayed unusual caution; even he was affected.

After lengthy deliberations, Zhenhai Patriarch went off to inspect the progress in the seizing and reincarnating of True Lord Zhenhai, Tunhai True Lord, and Lingbo True Lord.

They planned to allocate more resources to help them revert to the Nascent Soul stage sooner, bolstering this operation!

Jin Kingdom, Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

True Lord Guima had just quelled a rampage of demon beasts in a mining vein and, looking exhausted, returned to his base.

Every faction has its own strategic posts for missions.

Ideally, they are situated in Immortal City.

Next come key strongholds or well-established outposts.

For someone like him venturing into the frontiers of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, command posts were the least desirable.

Not only were the surroundings harsh and the tasks numerous, but the risks were unpredictable.

Yet, there was no alternative.

Back then, due to his affair with Qu Changtian, Yangming Zhenren was forced to descend to the Mountain Gate,

which resulted in disgrace for the sect, severe injuries to several high-ranking members, and the settlement of debts with one Third-Rank Lifespan Extension Pill, two Condensing Crystal Pills, a top-grade Core Formation Spirit Treasure, and a Vajra Sarira.

Thus, for over sixty years, to settle the sect’s debts and the medical bills of several elders, he had no choice but to shoulder these dirty, exhausting tasks.

After Supreme Elder True Lord Mingsha’s breakthrough to Nascent Soul, the sect had been striving ever higher.

Otherwise, in past years, undertaking such grim work might not have yielded the resources available today.

“In another nine years, everything will be fully repaid.”

True Lord Guima returned to his cave residence, exhaling a long, weary sigh as he hoped to clear his debts soon.

As he sat cross-legged and attempted to rest, a sudden intuition prompted him to glance outside the base.

“Is that the Supreme Elder arriving?”

He sensed the aura and call of his own Supreme Elder’s spirit pet, the Ancient Blood Bat.

True Lord Guima was taken aback. He wondered why his Supreme Elder would come here—could the sect be planning another operation in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range?

After all, the previous ruthless slaughter in that region had even provoked Fourth-Rank Demon Kings, only pacified by the Supreme Elder’s intervention.

Without further thought, he hurried out of his cave to greet the visitor.

However, the next sight left him utterly dumbfounded.

The Ancient Blood Bat descending was not his Supreme Elder’s pet,

but rather the Yinming Sect Leader accompanied by a refined young man;

a remarkably handsome young man;

a delicate, demure maiden;

and a golden-haired youth clad in resplendent golden armor;

“Qu Changtian!”

Before True Lord Guima could react in his shock, his Supreme Elder’s pet, inexplicably carrying another, caught his eye.

Immediately, his gaze shifted to Lu Quanzhen, whose eyes blazed with murderous intent and hatred.

He clearly remembered his grudge against Lu Quanzhen.

For sixty long years, his hatred and desire for retribution had only grown.

After all, had it not been for Qu Changtian, he would never have been left so battered by Zhen Tian the Old Demon.

He’d fled back to the sect, only to have Yangming Zhenren come demanding explanations, ultimately saddling him with a huge debt.

Though he dared not harbor hatred towards Yangming Zhenren,

his heart still screamed for Qu Changtian—to strip him raw, tear out his tendons, devour his flesh, and break his bones!

If not for Qu Changtian, True Lord Guima wouldn’t have fallen so far.

Sixty years—

Do you know how he managed all these years?

Not only did he toil relentlessly without any progress in cultivation,

but he also accumulated numerous hidden injuries that could shorten his life by decades!

“Qu Changtian, how did you end up here!”

Yet as hatred and murderous intent surged, True Lord Guima snapped back to attention, sensing something amiss.

Besides, aside from his Supreme Elder’s pet Ancient Blood Bat, no one other than the Supreme Elder or the Supreme Elder should be used as transportation.

Even his own sect leader now appeared almost subservient in the presence of Qu Changtian.

True Lord Guima’s suspicions flared; he couldn’t fathom why his own sect leader would act so humbly.

“How dare you! Showing such insolence toward the Young Lord!”

But barely had his words left his lips when the Yinming Sect Leader’s face twisted into a fierce snarl. With post-Core Formation power surging out, he delivered a vicious slap to True Lord Guima’s face.

Although the Yinming Sect Leader sustained heavy injuries under Lu Changsheng’s overwhelming aura,

he was still a cultivator at the late Core Formation stage.

His strength far surpassed that of True Lord Guima.

Moreover, in that moment, True Lord Guima was too caught off guard to respond.

“Thud!”

True Lord Guima’s withered, gaunt face was instantly bloodied and mangled as he was flung across, spewing blood, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

Young Lord!?

Had Qu Changtian now become his own Young Lord?

But where had the Young Lord of the Yin Ghost Sect come from?

True Lord Guima was utterly perplexed.

Straining to rise, he attempted to question his sect leader about the turn of events, when suddenly he saw the leader respectfully say to Qu Changtian, “Young Lord, True Lord Guima is here. How would you have me handle him?”

The Yinming Sect Leader showed deference towards Lu Quanzhen.

After all, not only did his opponent possess overwhelming strength, he was also the son of Yangming Zhenren.

Beside him stood a Fourth-Rank Transformation Demon King acting as guard.

“True Lord Guima, after all these sixty years, I see you still remember me so well.”

Lu Quanzhen, draped in a dark robe with subtle ink patterns, stepped forward and said in a low voice.

He remembered True Lord Guima all too well.

It was the first time he had come face-to-face with a Core Formation cultivator!

He vividly recalled the despair he felt then.

Before him, True Lord Guima had been completely powerless,

his control over his power shattered in an instant, his body convulsing as if seized by cramps,

unable to tap into even his hidden reserves.

Even now, Lu Quanzhen could hardly recall a solution from that fateful moment.

Much like when his own father decimated True Lord Mingsha,

in the face of absolute power, no scheme or stratagem could make a difference!

But that was the past.

Now, True Lord Guima could be eliminated with ease.

As Lu Quanzhen’s words faded, he stepped forward. His dark leather boots gleamed with a cold light as he advanced with the silent roar of a demon king, exuding a calm yet dominating aura.

“Danger!”

“Peril!”

Despite True Lord Guima’s stagnant cultivation over the years,

he remained exceptionally alert to danger!

As clarity returned, he instantly sensed a strong, overwhelming threat.

This menace stemmed not only from the Ancient Blood Bat, the Yinming Sect Leader, and the uneasy atmosphere,

but directly from Lu Quanzhen himself!

“Who are you? Why assume the guise of Qu Changtian to toy with me?”

True Lord Guima swallowed his blood and, his voice hoarse, accused Qu Changtian of imposture.

After all, sixty-two years ago, Qu Changtian was nothing more than a Foundation Establishment insect.

If not for Zhen Tian the Old Demon’s intervention, he would have long been dissolved into mere blood and soul by the Blood Sha Gourd, his spirit absorbed into the Myriad Souls Banner.

Now, sixty-two years later, even with Yangming Zhenren as his father, there was no way he could have grown this powerful.

“Toying with me?”

Lu Quanzhen let out a cold chuckle before speaking evenly, “True Lord Guima, back then you ambushed me with your son, and I struck you down. Later, you sent men to hunt me down, leaving me barely clinging to life, fleeing into the misty marshes.”

“My father once led me to the Yin Ghost Sect to demand an accounting. I said then I would settle this vendetta myself.”

“Now that I have broken through Core Formation, I have come to settle the score.”

Lu Quanzhen’s tone was calm and indifferent, his eyes devoid of much malice.

Sixty-two years had passed in a flash, and his former foe was no longer even worthy of being his adversary—only fueling his inner hatred.

“Y-you…”

Upon hearing this, True Lord Guima’s face turned ashen, as if struck by lightning, his body trembling as he realized the man before him was none other than Qu Changtian.

Yet he could not fathom how the little creature of yesteryear had grown so formidable.

Moreover, he was now addressed as the Young Lord by his own sect leader.

In that instant, one name flashed through his mind:

Yangming Zhenren!

He knew all too well of Yangming Zhenren’s deeds.

Together with Qingluan Zhenren, he had slain two Nascent Soul True Lords in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands!

Such exploits were simply legendary!

Now with Qu Changtian resurfacing, his newfound prowess was likely connected to Yangming Zhenren.

After all, countless rumors swirled in the cultivation world—of Nascent Soul usurpations and transcendent reincarnations—each affirming Yangming Zhenren’s unparalleled nature.

As years passed, should he break through to Nascent Soul…

“Qu Xiaoyou, it was once my fault. If you spare my life, I would be honored to serve you faithfully.”

No further speculations from True Lord Guima; the situation with the Yinming Sect Leader already spoke volumes about the peril at hand.

Even if he managed to wriggle free from Qu Changtian’s grasp, escape from the Yinming Sect Leader’s clutches was unlikely.

Given that, better to live in submission than to die.

True Lord Guima had long come to accept his fate.

“You sure know how to play both ways,”

Lu Quanzhen remarked calmly,

And that was the truth—no hint of insult.

At first glance, True Lord Guima’s gaze brimmed with murderous intent and hatred,

but in an instant, that resolve dissolved into submission.

Many cultivators could never stoop so low.

“The more you persist, the harder it will be for you to break free,”

Lu Quanzhen whispered.

Then, abruptly shifting tone, he added, “But I will give you a chance.”

“If you can escape my grasp, I’ll let you live—and perhaps even take you on as a servant.”

Lu Quanzhen said softly, even stepping aside to gesture a beckoning.

Seeing this, Lu Minghuang and Lu Mengchan were taken aback.

Though they knew of their elder brother Lu Quanzhen’s strength, they wondered if this wasn’t a bit too audacious.

Yet, when Lu Quanzhen recounted the events of old, Lu Minghuang suspected he was testing their resolve.

Both he and Lu Mengchan fell silent in deference.

Meanwhile, the Yinming Sect Leader maintained a placid expression, convinced that True Lord Guima’s end was near.

Could he really flee from Lu Quanzhen, or escape the clutches of the Ancient Blood Bat and the Fourth-Rank Transformation Demon King?

“Thank you, Young Friend!”

At these words, True Lord Guima rose to his feet, clasped his hands in a formal salute, and declared in a determined tone.

No sooner had he spoken than his True Core in his Qi Sea Dantian began trembling violently. His refined blood and True Core Essence erupted in a frenzied blaze as he unleashed the Ghostly Escape Technique, transforming into a flash of eerie light as he vanished.

The Ghostly Escape Technique—renowned for its ability to vanish into the nether—was a skill in which True Lord Guima had long excelled.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!”

During the escape, True Lord Guima even created several illusory afterimages that spread out in every direction to confuse his pursuers.

After roughly fifteen minutes, a sudden sense of foreboding gripped him.

He had planned to flee using the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range as cover,

but during his escape, not a single demon beast or Demon King appeared.

In the next moment, a chill ran down his spine as he looked up to see a figure bathed in radiant golden light—with slight black mottling that swirled—resembling a human-shaped Peng bird. Instantly, his entire body tensed in terror.

“How is this possible!?”

True Lord Guima cried out, utterly unaware of when Lu Quanzhen had materialized before his eyes.

“When I faced my seniors back then, I was in no state at all. No, I should have been even more helpless,”

Lu Quanzhen murmured, recounting his past experiences.

“Y-you…”

True Lord Guima’s throat went dry, desperate to speak yet incapable, as he pleaded, “Young Friend, please have mercy. I beg you—save at least a shred of my dignity.”

In an instant, Lu Quanzhen appeared right before him, his slender, glimmering golden hand closing around his neck, twisting forcefully.

A body was severed.

Then, with power surging like an endless tide, a shadowy Peng bird roared behind Lu Quanzhen, gaping wide to engulf True Lord Guima’s severed corpse.

“Only true strength endures, immutable and real,”

Lu Quanzhen remarked with a placid expression as he savored the sheer thrill of power.

Yet, in his heart, there was little delight—only a philosophical resignation.

He knew that his rapid ascent, thanks to a fortunate break through with his father’s assistance and the Peng bird’s legacy, was not something to be taken for granted.

His current strength, though impressive for a Core Formation cultivator, was no match for a Nascent Soul True Lord.

It could very well trigger a replay of the despair he once experienced facing True Lord Guima.

“Now, this is only the beginning. My power is still insignificant—nothing to boast about.”

“Only by achieving the status of a Nascent Soul True Lord can one truly step off the chessboard and seize their own fate!”

Lu Quanzhen did not grow complacent, viewing his current state merely as a starting point—Nascent Soul being his first real step in cultivation.

After all, the realm of cultivation is ever-changing, and only the Nascent Soul True Lords truly belong to the higher echelon.

On his journey to Jin Kingdom, his father, Lu Changsheng, had once told him that though a Nascent Soul True Lord might seem awe-inspiring, they were ultimately vulnerable.

Just as True Lord Mingsha—a mere Nascent Soul cultivator—was effortlessly obliterated by his own father!

Lu Quanzhen believed that True Lord Mingsha’s very existence was due to his unparalleled talent and temperament—qualities that far surpassed his own.

After all, if even one person were to perish by his father’s hand, and he himself had merely evaded fate thanks to his father’s luck and the Peng bird’s favor, there was no room for either arrogance or complacency!

Otherwise, one might meet an unexpected end without even knowing how.

“Cultivation is like battling upstream; lose even a single step and all previous gains vanish. One must uphold a lofty ambition and never let the transient clouds obscure the view!”

Muttering to himself, Lu Quanzhen flicked his sleeve and, with the majesty of a soaring Peng bird, returned to the Yin Ghost Sect’s base.

Behind him, a vague silhouette of a Peng bird lingered.

Throughout True Lord Guima’s fleeting escape, his refined blood, True Core, and magical energy gradually dissipated, transforming into the very essence of the Peng bird.

After all, the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Demon Art was a demonic technique in its own right.

Using the Demonic Fetus Parasitism Technique, he had managed to be reborn through a Kunpeng hatchling, inheriting its legacy.

Now, under the Peng bird’s influence, that demon art was even more domineering, malicious, and wicked.

It wasn’t that the Peng bird was inherently demonic,

but as part of the demon race, its very nature was to devour, plunder, and assimilate without hesitation.

Lu Quanzhen harbored no qualms about employing such taboo methods;

after all, power is neither good nor evil—it’s all about remaining true to oneself.

“Young Lord,”

As soon as Lu Quanzhen returned, the Yinming Sect Leader bowed respectfully.

“As mentioned before, aside from the few well-established mining veins and bases, everything else should either be abandoned or handed over to the Five Poisons Sect and the Heaven Corpse Sect.”

Lu Quanzhen declared.

Now that the Yin Ghost Sect had collapsed and the reins had been taken over, they needed to consolidate their forces.

Especially in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range—if unrest broke out again, support would be nearly impossible.

It was better to either give up or hand things over to the Five Poisons Sect and the Heaven Corpse Sect.

“Understood,”

the Yinming Sect Leader replied, sending word to the outpost in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

“Minghuang, Mengchan, let’s go.”

Lu Quanzhen called his younger siblings to join him in handling matters here, curious to hear their views on True Lord Guima.

Lu Minghuang felt conflicted about the escalating violence;

he wondered when the endless cycle of bloodshed would cease.

Yet he also believed that mercy had no place when confronting a cultivator of demonic arts.

However, upon reflection, he realized that not only was his own mother of the demonic path but that their ties to that world ran even deeper.

Although Lu Mengchan was gentle and compassionate, having been raised by Meng Xiaochan from a young age, she still clung to the belief that survival was a law of nature—a conviction that such matters necessitated the complete eradication of threats.

While she acknowledged that the righteous might be good and the demonic evil, she never dwelled on it.

“Whether it’s the righteous or the demonic, if you believe you are right, then you are right,”

Lu Quanzhen said, patting his younger brother’s shoulder.

“I say, if it’s right, then it’s right.” Lu Minghuang’s handsome face showed a brief flicker of hesitation.

“Exactly. Your father is Yangming Zhenren, and your mother is the Heavenly Spider Emissary of the Five Poisons Sect, ranking just behind the Sect Leader.”

Lu Quanzhen snorted softly before continuing, his gaze lifting to the endless Myriad Beasts Mountain Range:

“The principles of this world are set by the strong; why should you confine yourself to another’s rules?”

“In our family, we make our own rules.”

“Come on, let’s go and prove your words.”

Lu Quanzhen smiled as he led him forward, ready to let the power and respect born of strength nurture his soul.

He could hardly believe that his younger brother, having grown up in the Demon Sect, could still be so pure-hearted.

It was likely the sheltered demon ideology of his youth, compounded by a lack of guidance after coming to Bihu Mountain.

Although he recognized the difference between the righteous and the demonic, he’d always been a delicate flower, unexposed to the harsher realities of the world.

Especially since, in recent years, Bihu Mountain had been under the stewardship of Lu Ping’an, whose influence could not be ignored.

As for Lu Mengchan,

knowing that she possessed the Calamity Poison Body and was mastering top-tier poison techniques, Lu Quanzhen dared not instruct her recklessly.

He thought it best for someone with her constitution to remain in a calm state, lest catastrophe strike.

Yin Ghost Sect.

In recent days, Lu Changsheng and the sect’s artifact refiners had secluded themselves in the Artifact Refining Hall of the Yin Ghost Sect.

Although the Yin Fire from the Yin Ghost Sect’s lungs was unsuitable for forging a Starrealm Compass, it was perfect for repairing and remaking the Danghun Bell.

After months of hard work, Lu Changsheng chanted intricate gestures, inscribing several seals onto the Danghun Bell resting on the forge, before delivering a decisive strike.

In an instant, a slightly larger copper bell, shrouded in an eerie, ghostly glow and echoing with the wails of resentful spirits, landed in his hands.

Its surface was graced with mysterious, timeworn patterns and winding, cryptic runes that radiated a daunting aura.

“Though it’s merely a low-grade Spirit Treasure, it should still affect the Spirit Body of a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, right?”

Lu Changsheng examined the Danghun Bell closely.

The original bell had been a dilapidated low-grade Spirit Treasure, its spirit nearly extinguished.

Now, after his repair and re-forging, its effectiveness had increased by one level, though still far from that of a mid-grade Spirit Treasure.

Not only did it require a vast amount of rare spirit materials, but it also demanded time and energy to nurture its spirit!

Even his secret technique from the Divine Creation Refinement Art for enhancing artifact spirit wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.

“Congratulations, True Lord, on forging a Spirit Treasure!”

Several artifact refiners in the hall bowed deeply to Lu Changsheng with humble expressions.

Previously, they had been compelled by Lu Changsheng’s might as Yangming Zhenren,

but having witnessed his masterful forging techniques, they were simply in awe.

Lu Changsheng was generous with his guidance,

even preparing to pass on parts of the Divine Creation Refinement Art to help them forge artifacts and recast Spirit Treasures.

After all, the Spirit Treasures he had acquired from True Lord Loushan, True Lord Zicang, and True Lord Pinghai were completely unusable in their current form.

They all required fusion and re-forging.

Such labor-intensive work now had its place, as these refiners were ready to help him forge a batch of top-grade artifacts to showcase the legacy of Bihu Mountain.

Otherwise, there would be cases like Lu Qingxian’s—breaking through Core Formation only to find no suitable artifact at home, having to resort to the Azure Cloud Sect to purchase or forge one.

“I appreciate your hard work these past days,”

Lu Changsheng acknowledged the skillful refiners with respect, not treating them like mere slaves. He then produced a few Storage Rings, several Pills, and a pile of Spirit Stones as remuneration.

“Thank you, True Lord!”

The refiners beamed as they gratefully accepted the rewards, feeling that their True Lord was indeed approachable.

Now that the Danghun Bell had been restored and re-forged, Lu Changsheng took a brief respite and left the Artifact Refining Hall.

The Five Poisons Sect still had several matters to attend to; Ah Youduo had already returned, leaving only Nangong Mili, Meng Xiaochan, and a few senior cultivators of the Five Poisons Sect on site.

However, Nangong Mili informed Lu Changsheng that the Heaven Corpse Sect Master had come by recently, wishing to see him, and was now resting in the side hall.

Lu Changsheng raised a brow, wondering what business the Heaven Corpse Sect Master could possibly have with him.

Hadn’t their sect’s artifact refiners already arrived?

“Pretending now, are we?”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s puzzled expression, Nangong Mili coyly pursed her vermilion lips, a trace of playful envy in her tone, implying that he was merely putting on airs.

“And what exactly am I putting on airs about?” Lu Changsheng replied wearily.

He knew all too well Nangong Mili’s disposition.

In a flash, he deduced that the Heaven Corpse Sect Master had probably brought a concubine.

After all, the woman was known to be rather jealous.

Not only was she dissatisfied with his many wives, but she also clashed with Yi Na from the Five Poisons Sect.

Under such circumstances, seeing the Heaven Corpse Sect Master arrive with a beautiful lady would surely set her off.

“Haha, but did the Heaven Corpse Sect Master really send a consort?”

Lu Changsheng immediately grasped her fair, delicate hand and, with a smile, replied.

Though his relationship with Nangong Mili was built on years of affection, it was far from a soul-stirring love, yet affection ran deep.

Lu Ancestor was one to cherish memories, especially when it came to his late partner.

Moreover, Nangong Mili’s jealousy only added to the charm.

Soon, Lu Changsheng showered her with sweet words.

Though such words barely stirred a centenarian female cultivator—almost laughable—the art of courtship was all about tailoring your words to the audience.

After all, Lu Changsheng, as a Nascent Soul True Lord who had once single-handedly eradicated the Yin Ghost Sect and vanquished True Lord Mingsha, spoke with an authority that was unmistakable.

Even though Nangong Mili was well-versed in his methods, his honeyed words still had a disarming effect.

But moments later, she retorted stiffly, “Perhaps you should save those lines for the newcomers.”

“So that’s what it is? I never imagined my sincere heart would be so easily misused.”

Lu Changsheng sighed softly before, as if embracing Nangong Mili’s enchanting figure, expressing his feelings through actions.

Using the harmony of Yin and Yang, he dispelled the fatigue of forging from his body.

Refreshed, he proceeded to the side hall where the Heaven Corpse Sect Master awaited.

“Greetings, Master,”

the Heaven Corpse Sect Master stepped forward, bowing deeply with utmost deference upon seeing Lu Changsheng.

“Lord of the Sect,” Lu Changsheng nodded, inquiring about the purpose of his visit.

“Previously, the Five Poisons Sect Leader mentioned that you were willing to take on a disciple from the Heaven Corpse Sect as a concubine, so I have brought her here,”

the Heaven Corpse Sect Master explained.

When he had heard Yangming Zhenren promise a consort, his heart had leapt with joy.

However, upon returning to the sect, he found himself in a quandary.

After all, finding a trusted aide with both high-level cultivation and outstanding qualities—a woman who was capable of bearing children—was a daunting task.

Especially given that this lady also needed to meet Yangming Zhenren’s aesthetic standards.

Although he suspected that, as a transcendent incarnation, Yangming Zhenren was used to high-caliber female cultivators—and might have rather unique tastes—

the Heaven Corpse Sect possessed several treasured female corpses.

Using soul-transference or spirit-nurturing techniques, they could imbue these corpses with consciousness, serving rather unconventional purposes.

Yet, such processes were time-consuming, and he wasn’t sure if these women could even conceive.

After contemplating for a long moment and recalling Ah Youduo’s youthful beauty along with the reputation of Jin Kingdom’s most beautiful woman Nangong Mili, he chose a more conservative approach.

As his words ended, footsteps sounded.

A petite, pale-skinned maiden with a somewhat sickly look and a curvaceous figure approached.

Her silky silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, while her deep black eyes, devoid of typical feminine brightness, exuded an eerie, macabre beauty.

Beside her strode a tall woman—about a meter in height—who looked less like a living person and more like a jade corpse from a tomb.

Her skin was as white as ancient cold jade, with a faint bluish-gray tint, as if she had never seen daylight.

Up close, delicate, dark purple veins intertwined with the bluish-gray, creating a bizarre, morbid elegance.

The tall woman wore a voluminous robe mingled in black and red, exuding a stately, austere beauty.

Yet, the purple-tinged, lacquered nails peeking from under her sleeves, along with her bare, pale feet, undercut that imposing image.

Her face, though pleasing at first glance, combined the pallor of a corpse, lashes like frozen crystals, blood-red eyes, and thin, bruise-like lips in an indescribable, eerie beauty.

Lu Changsheng saw through this tall woman’s guise—she was not alive,

but rather a corpse, or some sort of shadowy undead!

What did the Heaven Corpse Sect Master mean by this?

Sending a concubine along with a corpse?

Why offer a corpse as a consort?

“I, Yin Yuge, pay my respects to Yangming Zhenren!”

At that moment, the silver-haired maiden curtsied before Lu Changsheng.

Though petite, her figure was exquisitely charming—an epitome of youthful allure.

With the tall, corpse-like figure beside her, her delicate form looked even more enchanting.

“True Lord, Yuge is my disciple. If you wish, have her serve by your side,”

the Heaven Corpse Sect Master stated.

This disciple had been accepted to elevate Yin Yuge’s status.

Even the tall, lifeless woman beside her was temporarily contract-bound to amplify her charm.

After all, as a transcendent incarnation, Yangming Zhenren’s tastes were likely to be extraordinary.

Relying solely on Yin Yuge might not win his favor.

And that corpse, endowed with a certain bloodline and being an undead, might catch the True Lord’s eye.

“Do you consent?” Lu Changsheng asked Yin Yuge softly.

“To serve my True Lord is an honor beyond measure!”

Yin Yuge responded with utmost respect, having been forewarned of the visitor’s identity.

“Then from this day forward, you shall be my consort,”

Lu Changsheng replied with a calm composure, unaffected at heart.

After all, Lu Ancestor had always offered such consort slots to forge ties with the Heaven Corpse Sect.

Why worry about a woman’s appearance?

Thus, as long as the woman wasn’t hideous, Lu Ancestor would accept her.

And Yin Yuge, with her fair skin, graceful looks, and ideal figure—plus being a Core Formation cultivator—was perfectly acceptable.