Chapter 846: Bloodlines Awakened and Paths Chosen

Lu Linghe and Lu Baixi sat cross-legged inside the cauldron, circulating their cultivation techniques.

The Ten Thousand Spirit Blood and powerful medicinal energy slowly flowed into their bodies.

During this process, Lu Changsheng noticed that his daughter, Lu Baixi, absorbed the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood far better than Lu Linghe.

It even seemed to stir her bloodline power.

Around her, a dignified and holy serpent spirit with a human face and snake tail shimmered in and out of view, the air filled with a barely audible, beautiful melody.

“So the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood has this kind of effect too?”

Lu Changsheng was taken aback.

Unfortunately, True Lord Mingsha only had a single portion of fourth-rank Ten Thousand Spirit Blood left.

“I wonder if the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood Pill has the same result?”

Lu Changsheng recalled what he’d gained from the Yin Ghost Sect—a bottle of pills known as the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood Pill, said to help break through realms.

However, these pills held dense yin, blood, and evil energy—not suitable for cultivation, mainly meant to feed ghost kings and demon beasts.

Still, Lu Changsheng had a way to deal with that.

He only needed to purge the pills of that malevolent energy.

Of course, doing so would seriously diminish their effect, making them almost useless.

There was another way.

He could use the high-grade Celestial Dew from the Cheng Lu Pan to cleanse and balance the effects of the pill.

But…

Lu Changsheng glanced at his daughter Lu Baixi, her little face tense as she fought through intense discomfort, and gently shook his head.

He knew her White Snake bloodline naturally rejected and despised evil energies.

The Ten Thousand Spirit Blood looked pure and crystalline, like bloody spirit milk.

But at its core, it was forged through slaughter, condensed from the flesh and blood of living beings, so some demonic taint remained.

Even after Lu Changsheng diluted it repeatedly with heaven and earth spiritual liquid and many rare herbs, he could never fully remove it.

Seeing his daughter fighting through obvious suffering, Lu Changsheng sighed softly and spoke warmly: “Little Creek, if it feels too much, there’s no need to force yourself.”

After all, his Chaos Body had merged with the White Snake bloodline.

He knew that kind of revulsion came from deep in one’s bloodline, an instinct nearly impossible to overcome.

“Daddy, I’m fine.”

Lu Baixi opened her eyes, now tinged with silvery-white platinum, biting her lip as she spoke. She understood the path of cultivation was filled with hardship.

This bloodline instinct was something she had to conquer herself.

And according to the Little Roc King’s advice, she’d grown too comfortable, too protected, lacking the battle and struggle needed to awaken her bloodline’s full potential.

Only relentless battle followed by devouring could truly draw out everything hidden within her blood.

If she couldn’t even beat these instincts, how could she hope to face the harsher trials and hardships ahead?

Though her environment was privileged and she didn’t need to push herself, she still longed to strive for more.

Lu Changsheng watched the resolve and stubborn determination on his daughter’s tight little face and saw no need to say more.

But he dismissed the thought of giving her any more Ten Thousand Spirit Blood.

Instead, he’d have Lu Ping’an prepare her a top-grade medicinal bath later.

After a long while, Lu Baixi refined all the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood, platinum serpentine patterns flickering on her brow. She opened her eyes, looked up at Lu Changsheng and said, “Daddy, I want to go out and train.”

She wanted to do as the Little Roc King suggested—awaken her bloodline in true battle.

“Wait until you break through to third-rank before heading out.”

Lu Changsheng never really restricted his children’s freedom to leave.

But after what happened to Lu Wangshu in the past, he just couldn’t feel at ease letting Lu Baixi or Lu Mengchan venture out.

Lu Baixi stood out no matter where she went—her looks, her aura, and especially the platinum snake pattern on her brow.

If she ever encountered evil cultivators, it could be extremely dangerous.

Besides, her cultivation was at the peak of the second rank.

With a few more years of steady training, she’d be ready to break through to third rank.

Seeing the brightness in her daughter’s eyes fade a little, Lu Changsheng softened and asked why she suddenly wanted to go out.

“The Little Roc King said I need more combat experience.”

Pure as ever, Lu Baixi spoke honestly.

“???”

Lu Changsheng’s expression darkened—he wanted to find the Golden-Winged Roc and have a word.

His daughter was adorable, obedient, blessed with rare musical gifts—why push her to fight through slaughter?

While the Lu Ancestor never interfered in his children’s lives,

A father’s heart always favored his daughters. He couldn’t bear seeing them suffer more than necessary.

But on second thought, he had to admit the Golden-Winged Roc had a point.

Lu Baixi’s bloodline, though unlike that of true battle clans like the Roc, didn’t mean she lacked fighting potential.

The Golden-Winged Roc’s true spirit bloodline was thick, and from an early age that bird was tested by the harshest trials—even those led by Meng Xiaochan and Lu Mengchan to face down demon beasts.

Now, at the very peak of the second rank and on the verge of breaking through, Lu Baixi had never actually faced a true life-or-death struggle.

“Let her try leaving home. Maybe it’ll help Little Creek after all.”

With that, Lu Changsheng decided aloud: “How about this—later I’ll ask the Little Roc King to escort you to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.”

He couldn’t let his daughter wander alone.

But with the Golden-Winged Roc watching over her, he could relax.

“Thank you, Daddy!”

In an instant, joy bloomed on Lu Baixi’s small face. Deep within her eyes, platinum light swirled around her pupils—holy and serene.

“Daddy, I want to go too!”

Lu Linghe, hearing this, immediately opened her eyes and declared.

Now that Meng Meng had gone to Jin Kingdom to prepare for her Core Formation breakthrough and Little Creek was working so hard, as the older sister, she couldn’t lag behind. She had to hone herself in battle as well.

After all, she’d sparred so much with her older brother Lu Ping’an that she could shake mountains with a single punch.

But her brother and their aunt would never agree to let her go out for training.

“You stay home and let Daddy guide you through the Diamond Maitreya Technique.”

Lu Changsheng refused without hesitation.

The biggest threat now was still the Zhenhai Seven Sects.

But since the Zhenhai Seven Sects hadn’t shown any sign of action, he chose to work on his divine arts for now.

During this time, he’d remain on Bihu Mountain to help Lu Wangshu achieve Core Formation and to tutor Lu Linghe’s cultivation.

“Okay, Daddy.” Lu Linghe didn’t protest and nodded sweetly.

Once both daughters finished refining the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood, Lu Changsheng took them to visit the other Lu Family disciples.

Lu Xingchen had already reached the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.

That speed was decent, but compared to his son Lu Xuangen, paled in comparison.

Lu Xuangen, just sixty-two years old, was now at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.

He’d just recently advanced, but it was still impressive.

Lu Xuangen’s resources weren’t extravagant—just relatively high quality, nothing too over the top.

For decades, aside from one trip to the Abyss Secret Realm, he rarely left home, so lucky opportunities were few.

All things considered, this level of achievement came from sheer top-tier talent alone.

Of course, his pace owed much to the Five Elements Unity Sutra and the Dao artifact inheritance from the Wang Family of Five Elements.

Lu Changsheng looked at this grandson and figured he might reach Core Formation even before his son Lu Xingchen.

Since he was already visiting, Lu Changsheng shared the diluted Ten Thousand Spirit Blood with his son Lu Xingchen and also generously gifted a training resource each to Wang Yanjing and Lu Xuangen.

“Xuangen has the aptitude for a top-grade Golden Core. Jing’er, keep guiding him closely. Don’t rush the Core Formation, build a solid foundation first.”

Lu Changsheng offered this advice.

Thanks to the Myriad Spirits Bottle, their family could supply the outside world with rare, priceless Five Elements Spirit Fruit, often called the “Golden Core Fruit.”

This could directly raise the chance of breaking through to third-rank or forming a top or first-grade Golden Core.

With all this, their odds at those supreme cores skyrocketed.

“Understood, Father-in-law.”

Wang Yanjing replied respectfully.

Early on, she realized her husband’s family—and especially her father-in-law—were extraordinary, not at all as simple as they seemed.

But when her Core Formation approached and her family provided Condensing Crystal Pills, Five Elements Spirit Fruit and Celestial Dew, she was completely stunned.

It dawned on her—the Talisman Lu Family’s foundation far exceeded anything she’d ever imagined.

And after breaking through, she began to sense that the family’s true depths were nearly unfathomable.

Not only was her brother-in-law Lu Ping’an’s aura as deep as the sea and intimidating beyond comprehension,

Her mother-in-law, Lu Miaoge, gentle and serene as she seemed, also carried an unfathomable, boundless presence.

Even Lu Chensha, who regularly begged Lu Xingchen for “Spirit Awakening Pills” and “Beast Nourishment Pills” for his spirit pets, exuded a faint third-rank demon king aura.

But wasn’t Lu Chensha just a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

How did he have the presence of a third-rank demon king?

As a former direct daughter of the Wang Family and a seeded Core Formation candidate, Wang Yanjing had keen insight.

Yet looking back on her own Foundation Establishment days, her view of Bihu Mountain was as narrow as a frog’s at the bottom of a well.

Now, having reached Core Formation, she saw the truth—the Talisman Lu Family was just the tip of a far greater iceberg.

And she realized the source probably came down to the Lu Ancestor in front of her, the sovereign of Bihu Mountain, the True Immortal of Changsheng.

So, facing this fair and ethereal father-in-law, she acted even more respectfully.

“Mm.”

Lu Changsheng then asked whether she had any questions about cultivation.

At present, Wang Yanjing had delved deepest into the Five Elements Unity Sutra, having already achieved Core Formation.

Her understanding of the technique might not surpass Lu Xuangen’s, but it was still enough to help illuminate several paths.

As the most widespread technique among Lu family disciples, she also taught it regularly.

Wang Yanjing laid out her current cultivation questions, especially regarding her next steps in divine abilities.

Lu Changsheng answered them one by one.

He then took out a jade slip from his storage ring, branded it with some cultivation insights, and passed it to Wang Yanjing.

After reaching Nascent Soul, his comprehension of various methods had grown deeper.

Before, these insights had all been granted through his system—sudden understanding and mastery.

But teaching, truly conveying every secret and detail, was much harder.

Often, he knew what to do, but finding the right way to explain it or share the feeling as a lesson wasn’t easy.

After this last breakthrough, he could finally translate a lot of it into clear explanations.

Under his guidance, both Wang Yanjing and Lu Xuangen felt as if clouds parted—a sudden clarity dawned.

Lu Chensha wasn’t with Lu Qingxian at the battlefront because he was busy looking after the Phantom Mink.

Lu Changsheng checked in on them and gave him some diluted Ten Thousand Spirit Blood.

He also handed over several lotus seeds of the Nurturing Spirit Lotus, plus a handful of rare treasures that strengthen the soul.

He hoped that after Lu Chensha attained the ninth Foundation Establishment level, his spirit could break through to the Core Formation stage.

Only then, when the time was right, could he and Hong Lian work together to help him tame and bond with the Phantom Mink—a third-rank demon king.

Considering his day-to-day care of spirit pets and all the spirit insects needing cultivation, Lu Changsheng added five hundred thousand spirit stones for him.

“Thank you, Father.”

Lu Chensha was delighted—this solved his immediate problems.

When Lu Qingxian headed to the battlefront, he’d been conflicted.

Given the state of the Liang-Yue war, it was obviously better not to go.

But as someone with advanced cultivation and multiple spirit pets and insects to care for, staying home meant he simply didn’t have enough resources.

The mountains near Bihu Mountain could never supply what he needed.

Beastmasters and insect tamers were far stronger than cultivators at the same level, but their expenses were many times higher.

And he didn’t just control insects—he handled beasts too.

After a few encouraging words, Lu Changsheng went to visit his other children.

In this way, he spent time checking in on every son and daughter currently at home.

But the second generation of the Lu Family based at Bihu Mountain was now rather small.

They either held the fort at the market and spiritual lands, managed family affairs, or headed out to Da Mengze.

Lu Changsheng made sure not to neglect any of them.

Those close by, he’d wait and see in person. For those farther away, he’d send resources through trusted hands.

Six days later, in the Sumeru Cave Heaven—

Lu Changsheng stood quietly, watching Lu Wangshu before him. Misty, colorful clouds shrouded her as she seemed to undergo nirvana and transformation.

Through this process, she radiated waves of magical energy—almost as if on the verge of breaking through to Core Formation.

But before long, this surging force was pressed back down.

For Lu Wangshu at this point, even the chance for Heavenly Dao Core Formation was no big deal.

Missing it meant little.

Now, what mattered was using the Butterfly Transformation Gu to push her nirvana to the limit.

Half a day later, the rainbow mist transformed into a dreamlike butterfly and fully merged into Lu Wangshu’s body, washing through every muscle, organ and inch of skin.

In that moment, she became ethereal and flawless—like a fairy bloom in the wind, glowing with soft shimmering light.

Even her hair glistened with peerless purity, not a single flaw visible anywhere.

At the same time, Lu Changsheng sensed the tremor of her spirit root being upgraded.

His daughter, under the influence of the Butterfly Transformation Gu, was transforming—her body, magical energy, spirit, foundation and talent all taking a leap, and even her spirit root advancing.

However, the change was very subtle.

It showed her spirit root didn’t make a giant leap, just improved from fourth-rank to third-rank.

But even that was quite enough.

Besides Lu Quanzhen, who gained a big boost through demonic rebirth,

Everyone else, even with Heaven Mending Pills, could only raise a fourth-rank root to third-rank at best.

By comparison, the Butterfly Transformation Gu worked even better than one of those legendary pills.

“Dad!”

Lu Wangshu opened her eyes, delighted, feeling the immense transformation brought on by nirvana and the Butterfly Transformation Gu.

She felt so much closer to entering the realm where she could truly sustain the Heavenly Dao Core Formation.

“How do you feel?” Lu Changsheng asked gently, eyes full of doting affection.

Lu Wangshu excitedly poured out her current state—she’d never felt so good.

Not only had her level broken through, but she also sensed an invisible shackle shatter.

Lu Changsheng, seeing her high spirits, was full of relief.

He figured that after refining the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood, she might even reach the Dao Golden Core.

After all, compared to himself at her age, she surpassed him in every way—talent, physique, foundation, everything.

With a wave of his hand, a vial of Ten Thousand Spirit Blood appeared.

“There’s more?!”

Lu Wangshu was shocked. Besides the Butterfly Transformation Gu and Heaven Mending Pills, her father had more rare treasures for her.

Immediately, a look of worry appeared in her eyes. She asked tentatively, “Dad, you’re not about to leave on some dangerous long journey, are you?”

Her father often gave her resources, but never so generously—this was out of character, and made her uneasy.

She dreaded the thought of him vanishing for ten years or more like before, leaving a mountain of rare gifts behind.

“What are you imagining? I just happened to gain some things, and since you’re falling behind Lingxiao, I want to help you catch up in talent and foundation.”

Seeing her so worried, Lu Changsheng flicked her smooth forehead, scolding her dotingly.

“Really?” Lu Wangshu didn’t mind the playful flick—it was never hard.

“Of course it’s true,” Lu Changsheng sighed.

“Heehee, then I won’t worry anymore,”

Lu Wangshu’s smile chased away her anxiety, and she accepted her father’s gifts without guilt.

So, just like Lu Linghe and Lu Baixi before her, she entered the cauldron under her father’s guidance and began refining the diluted Ten Thousand Spirit Blood.

As she absorbed the blood, the potential unlocked by the Butterfly Transformation Gu surged within her—her magic, strength, and body all rising to new heights.

But right at that moment, deep within Lu Wangshu’s body, faint threads of bloody light started to stir.

Like tadpoles, they formed mysterious, arcane runes.

“What’s this?!”

Lu Wangshu was instantly alarmed.

She hadn’t expected the rare spirit her father gave her to have such shocking effects.

It was actually awakening her Blood Talisman Spirit Body.

No, it was more than that—it was nurturing, watering it from within!

And Lu Wangshu wasn’t the only one stunned.

Lu Changsheng, standing nearby and witnessing the transformation, was floored as well.

He’d already been surprised when the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood awakened Lu Baixi’s bloodline.

But this—his daughter’s Blood Talisman Spirit Body being fed and awakened by the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood—was simply beyond imagining.