Chapter 855: Tides of Intrigue

Since that’s the case, it’s settled.

Inside the meeting hall of the Zhenhai Sect, after a brief discussion among the three, the Zhenhai Patriarch spoke up.

They prepared to dispatch spiritual soldiers to inspect the situation at the Fuhai Sect.

At the first opportunity, he planned to have the Turtle Immortal Patriarch and the Star King use the Zhenhai Sect’s teleportation formation to catch the enemy off guard.

As for True Lords Zhenhai, Tunhai, and Lingbo, they were not included.

The body-seizing window was too brief to revert to the Nascent Soul stage, so they had to forgo it.

Yet his own auspicious signs ensured all would be well, leaving the Zhenhai Patriarch untroubled.

After all, his trio’s strength—bolstered by the Zhenhai Seven Sects’ spiritual soldiers and a Fourth-Rank Demon King—could even challenge late Nascent Soul cultivators.

Once the Patriarch departed, the Star King produced a celestial chart bathed in an eerie light, continuously calculating omens.

Though fate is unpredictable and divination not infallible,

the diviner still trusted in the art of omens.

Aware of the risks in this battle, he proceeded with utmost caution.

If the situation turned sour and they failed to capture the enemy, he would withdraw without delay.

Observing the Star King’s wary expression, the Turtle Immortal Patriarch used his bloodline aptitude to interpret the omens.

No matter how he read them, the signs remained favorable!

He wondered if the Star King’s ominous indications were due to the Eastern Emperor lineage countering his own.

Otherwise, with such an impressive lineup, how could any bad omens arise?

However, his understanding of the Sun-Moon Star Palace was limited, leaving him unsure about the specifics of the three lineages.

He only regretted that Yue Zun had not arrived.

Otherwise, the battle would have been completely foolproof.

Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng remained oblivious to the events at the Starry Sea.

He was entirely absorbed in drafting a Fourth-Tier Talisman.

Half a month later, Lu Changsheng received a message from his wife, Lu Miaoge.

His daughter, Lu Wangshu, had broken through to Core Formation.

This came as no surprise to him.

After informing Hong Lian, he used the Misty Dust Banner to return to Bihu Mountain, Sumeru Cave Heaven.

The moment he entered the cave residence, he sensed subtle movements.

He extended his divine sense.

There, his daughter Lu Wangshu was mid-breakthrough to Core Formation, exuding immense vigor.

Her third-rank body refinement, Core Formation spirit, awe-inspiring foundation, and top-tier Spirit Body all synchronized perfectly with her cultivation technique.

It even surpassed the achievements of previous Lu Family disciples in breaking through to Core Formation!

Lu Changsheng eagerly anticipated his daughter’s full Core Formation breakthrough.

Without lingering, he returned to the Hall of Everlasting Life to resume drafting his Fourth-Tier Talisman.

He planned to assist her with Yin-Yang Origin at the crucial moment of her breakthrough.

At the Yue Kingdom Front Lines,

True Lord Xuanjian received an urgent secret letter from True Lord Juejian, leaving his face a mixture of astonishment and doubt.

The contents were shockingly dire.

First, the Yin Ghost Sect had been annihilated, and then the Five Poisons Sect, Heaven Corpse Sect, and the Immortal City of Damengze had formed an alliance.

Next came news about the Lord of Dameng City, discussions of the Zhenhai Seven Sects, territorial exchanges between Liang Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom, and True Lord Juejian’s analysis of Lu Changsheng.

Even as ‘Jiang Kingdom’s Top Man,’ True Lord Xuanjian was struck dumb, as if it were an impossible tale.

Had it not been for the secret letter from his junior brother, True Lord Juejian, he might not have believed it.

“Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord.”

Taking a deep breath, True Lord Xuanjian slowly exhaled, marveling that the once ‘little man’ had grown into such a formidable force so quickly.

He recalled how, when True Lord Juejian first described the Lord of Dameng City as Yangming True Lord, he had been taken aback.

Now, even more alarming news had arrived sooner than expected.

At that moment, True Lord Xuanjian felt intense apprehension towards Lu Changsheng, whom he scarcely knew, and longed for a face-to-face meeting.

“A fortuitous encounter, preparing for the great tribulation,” he mused.

Reading one line from the letter, his eyes deepened with thought as he wondered why the other party had come to Jiang Kingdom.

Was it truly fate aligning their many identities as a preparation for the impending calamity?

To be honest, he was skeptical.

Yet he remembered his earlier deductions about the Immortal City of Damengze.

He knew the enemy possessed methods to block heavenly secrets and held a treasured relic, rendering predictions uncertain.

“I wonder if this person is friend or foe,” he pondered.

If the other party was genuinely cooperative, True Lord Xuanjian would have no objections.

After all, territorial exchanges between Liang Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom meant little loss for the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The only uncertainty was the true intention behind their actions.

A premature alliance might drag them into the enemy’s conflicts, risking the millennia-old foundation of the Heavenly Sword Sect and leading to irreversible calamity.

It was a high-stakes gamble.

And as True Lord Juejian had stated,

if the opponent possessed mid-Nascent Soul powerhouse strength, two spirit pets, and a Dao partner—whose abilities were questionable but possibly that of a Nascent Soul cultivator—constantly safeguarding their territory, sealing the deal might be wise.

At that moment, True Lord Xuanjian recalled an early, painstakingly deduced piece of information.

“Tribulation and the Sword!”

He had forewarned that the Heavenly Sword Sect would face a great tribulation.

And that the key to overcoming the crisis lay in the sword.

He spent a long time analyzing the information, speculating on various possibilities.

“Could this sword be none other than the Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord?”

True Lord Xuanjian mused.

He recalled that when True Lord Juejian first contacted him, a similar thought had crossed his mind.

However, he had been unsure of the strength of this Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord, and remained doubtful.

If this person possessed mid-Nascent Soul power capable of confronting the demonic hand behind Beast God Mountain, then he might be the catalyst Xuanjian had predicted.

Though, based on his conjectures, the ‘sword’ might also refer to the Dao partner of Caiyun True Lord, the ‘Kirin Sword Lord.’

Now, True Lord Xuanjian even suspected that the ‘Kirin Sword Lord’ could be the same as the Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord.

The reasoning was simple.

This person had inexplicably settled in Jiang Kingdom with multiple identities and a mysterious background—even an extra couple of identities wouldn’t be surprising.

Moreover, he had partnered early with True Lord Qingluan by inviting an alliance and was scheming through territorial exchanges between Liang Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom.

Even Yun Wanshang’s unexpected breakthrough to Nascent Soul seemed to be part of his plan.

Especially since both the Lord of Dameng City and Yangming True Lord had offspring.

Yun Wanshang was also expecting.

Remember, high-level cultivators typically disdain having heirs.

The Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord, and that elusive Kirin Sword Lord all shared notable similarities.

“Juejian, you hold the fort in Yue Kingdom while I visit the Lord of Dameng City for talks!”

After a long moment, True Lord Xuanjian used a treasured relic to reply, asking True Lord Juejian to replace him on the frontline.

He intended to personally meet the Lord of Dameng City, Yangming True Lord to negotiate an alliance and cooperation.

Then he would visit the Azure Cloud Sect to check on Yun Wanshang, confirming if her condition matched his suspicions.

At the Starry Sea,

After completing his preparations, the Zhenhai Patriarch took a jade medallion from his bosom and inquired of Haiqin and Cangjue about Yangming True Lord’s recent status.

Although the two maidens had been given to Lu Changsheng as servants, they were his planted informants.

At his prompt, they immediately reported.

“Reporting, Patriarch: Yangming True Lord has remained in seclusion all these years, never venturing out.”

“In seclusion all these years?”

The Zhenhai Patriarch was not surprised.

For Nascent Soul cultivators, a period of seclusion could last for years or even decades.

It had only been just over two years since he converted the Fuhai Sect into compensation for the enemy.

After a brief thought, the Zhenhai Patriarch set off for the Fuhai Sect, planning to concoct an excuse for his visit.

“Greetings, Patriarch!”

“Greetings, Patriarch!”

When the Zhenhai Patriarch arrived at the Fuhai Sect, Haiqin and Cangjue immediately came to pay respects, their expressions marked by deference.

The Patriarch said nothing, silently scrutinizing the two.

He wanted to ensure they hadn’t been tampered with by any secret techniques from Yangming True Lord.

To his knowledge, the Starrymoon Hall possessed a Soul-Manipulating Puppet Technique that could manipulate one’s divine soul like a marionette.

Since Yangming True Lord was the heir of the Eastern Emperor and a descendant of the Starrymoon lineage, he might well master a similar art.

Noticing that the two maidens appeared untampered, the Zhenhai Patriarch finally said, “Report that I have arrived; I have matters to discuss.”

“Yes, Patriarch!”

The two immediately left for Lu Changsheng’s mansion to convey the message.

The Zhenhai Patriarch waited patiently, making no further demands.

After all, when Nascent Soul cultivators seclude themselves, prompt responses are rare.

However, a few days later, noticing that Yangming True Lord hadn’t replied, the Patriarch grew uneasy.

Surely, when one is visited, one should respond?

After several more days, the Patriarch realized something was wrong.

He suspected that Yangming True Lord was no longer residing in the cave.

Being cautious, he refrained from using his divine sense to probe.

In any place, using divine sense to examine someone’s residence was taboo.

If Yangming True Lord were secluding himself there, offending someone was the last thing one wanted.

Thus, after another half-month, the Patriarch activated a secret technique, employing the Fuhai Sect’s formation to capture and analyze Lu Changsheng’s aura.

After a long while, he was nearly certain that Yangming True Lord was no longer at the Fuhai Sect!

“When did he leave?”

The Patriarch’s expression turned grave.

He had initially agreed to use the Fuhai Sect as compensation.

And sending Haiqin and Cangjue to Lu Changsheng as servants was meant to stall the enemy and buy time.

Never did he expect that in just over two years, the enemy would vanish from the Fuhai Sect.

If they had left temporarily, it might have been acceptable.

But if they fled upon sensing danger, it would spell real trouble.

After a moment’s thought, the Patriarch left the Fuhai Sect and rushed back to the Zhenhai Sect to relay the news to the Star King and the Turtle Immortal Patriarch.

“Not at the Fuhai Sect?”

Instantly, the Star King furrowed his brows.

Earlier, even he and Yue Zun had failed to divine any clue about the enemy’s whereabouts.

Thus, his attempts to divine the trail of this ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’ were futile.

Like the Patriarch, he feared that the ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’ had fled upon sensing danger.

“Unless this person is a Fourth-Tier Divination Grandmaster, it’s impossible to sense impending danger,” he said.

The Star King spoke coldly, confident in his own methods.

He had previously used divination to confuse and obscure heavenly secrets.

Unless the ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’ was a Fourth-Tier Diviner with a heavenly secret treasure, his spiritual perception would be clouded.

Beside him, the Turtle Immortal Patriarch shared his astonishment.

No matter how he read the omens, they all indicated fortune.

Yet, how could it be auspicious when no one was present?

“Turtle Immortal Patriarch, Star King, what do you think?”

The Zhenhai Patriarch looked at them with mounting frustration.

They had prepared extensively, dispatched spiritual soldiers, arranged their forces, and waited at the Fuhai Sect for so long.

In the end, the enemy had vanished.

“I have muddled the heavenly secrets—unless this person is a Fourth-Tier Diviner with a heavenly secret treasure, it’s hard to sense impending danger; so it’s most likely he left temporarily,” said the Star King coldly.

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch nodded in agreement.

After a brief discussion, the three decided to wait a little longer to see if the enemy would return.

If Yangming True Lord did not come back, they would set an ambush, forcing his close associates from the Immortal City of Damengze to compel him out.

Although this would make a surprise attack nearly impossible and capturing him dead much harder,

they were unwilling to prolong the standoff any further.

Especially since the Star King felt his ominous signs growing stronger; if they delayed any longer, the Zhenhai Patriarch might lose this ally.

At Bihu Mountain,

inside Sumeru Cave Heaven’s Hall of Everlasting Life, Lu Changsheng was completely absorbed in drafting talismans, almost forgetting himself.

Suddenly, he felt an infusion of magical energy surge into his Qi Sea Dantian.

Normally, breakthroughs by his children wouldn’t concern him.

After all, at his level, their gains were only marginal.

But this energy was far purer and denser than any before.

“Could this be… a breakthrough by Quanzhen?”

Lu Changsheng’s heart stirred with a hopeful guess.

Currently, the highest cultivation among his children was his son, Lu Quanzhen.

From this surge, he deduced that his son had broken through to the later stage of Core Formation.

After finishing the talisman, he opened his system interface to check.

[Name: Lu Quanzhen]

[Lifespan: 123/813]

[Aptitude: First-Class Spirit Root, Kunpeng Body (Dao Body)]

[Cultivation: Seven Layers of Core Formation]

[Talent: Technique Compatibility (98%)]

“As expected,” he murmured.

Seeing his son at seven-layer Core Formation filled Lu Changsheng with pride, and he eagerly anticipated his son’s breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

With a Kunpeng Body, Lu Quanzhen’s path to Nascent Soul was destined to be smooth.

“However, we must be well prepared for the Heart Demon Tribulation,” he reflected.

Lu Changsheng quietly pondered that his son’s rapid growth meant it was time to secure spirit items and pills for the tribulation.

After all, the Heart Demon Tribulation was treacherous and unpredictable; no amount of talent alone could overcome it.

Legend had it that while the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation filtered out mediocrities, the Heart Demon Tribulation distinguished true geniuses.

Even the world’s greatest talents weren’t guaranteed survival, much like himself.

Without the Demon Breaking Life Saving Pill, he might not have survived his own tribulation.

“But a lack of experience isn’t entirely a bad thing,” he mused.

Recalling cases Hong Lian once mentioned, he knew that while some cultivators with years of hardship developed fatal flaws, others with a pure heart passed through unscathed.

Thus, his son’s youth and inexperience might not be entirely negative.

Still, he worried about the potential downsides of demonic arts.

A domineering demonic art could prove far more dangerous during a breakthrough to Nascent Soul than other paths.

After letting his thoughts wander briefly, Lu Changsheng refocused on drafting talismans.

He decided his son’s matters could be addressed gradually.

Before long, the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror trembled.

News from Hong Lian arrived that True Lord Xuanjian had come for a visit.

“True Lord Xuanjian is here?”

Lu Changsheng was visibly surprised.

He hadn’t expected that after True Lord Juejian’s earlier message about negotiations, True Lord Xuanjian would come directly to the Immortal City of Damengze.

Lu Changsheng knew that True Lord Xuanjian had been stationed in Yue Kingdom all these years,

so his rushing from Yue Kingdom back to Jiang Kingdom clearly underscored the Heavenly Sword Sect’s commitment.

After a moment’s reflection, it made sense.

Recalling conversations with True Lord Juejian from his Foundation Establishment days in the Nine Heavens Immortal City, Lu Changsheng, who held True Lord Xuanjian in high regard, felt admiration once more.

“It’s good that True Lord Xuanjian is here,” he said, exhaling a murky breath as he prepared to meet him.

He felt a strong affinity for the renowned figure.

He remembered with awe the tales of True Lord Xuanjian single-handedly overcoming two opponents and top Nascent Soul giants from Jin Kingdom.

He also recalled the early frontier wars when True Lord Xuanjian had decisively slain True Lord Tiansha and easily defeated both Ah Youduo and the Heaven Corpse Sect Master.

Moreover, discussions with True Lord Juejian had revealed that many decisions depended on True Lord Xuanjian’s judgment.

Now that True Lord Xuanjian had arrived, negotiations could finally move forward.

Lu Changsheng stepped out of the Hall of Everlasting Life, and the Taiyi Spirit reached out to glance at his daughter, who was still in mid-Core Formation.

She had passed the three Core Formation milestones and was condensing the embryonic form of Core Formation.

It was clear that his daughter Lu Wangshu’s progress was impressive; even before fully consolidating Core Formation, she showed subtle signs of the Golden Core.

“Ah, back in my day, I never had these advantages,” he sighed.

Lu Changsheng shook his head, reminiscing about the hardships he faced during his own breakthrough.

Not only were his talisman materials inferior to his daughter’s, he didn’t even possess a third-rank Spirit Vein.

He had only relied on the Yin-Yang Golden Core technique, his second Dantian, the Spiritual Eye Fountain, and burning Spirit Stones to break through Core Formation.

Without delay, Lu Changsheng stepped out of the cave residence, and the Misty Dust Banner in his hand shimmered like cascades of colorful light, sending ripples through the void as he vanished.