Chapter 863: Ripples in the Starry Sea

Starry Sea, within the vast Great Void.

Endless black turbulent currents rolled like great waves, surging and crashing out in all directions.

Violet-blue storm winds flared with bursts of thunder, mingling with the darkness and erupting in terrifying blasts, as if to erase all existence.

“Whoosh—”

A streak of starlight shot through, tearing apart layer after layer of turbulent void streams, leaving a boundless trail of nebula in its wake.

The Star King carried a celestial chart in his hands, his body bathed in shimmering starlight, moving at breakneck speed as if the storms and turbulence around him were nothing.

No one knew how long he had fled. Only when the omen of disaster finally dispersed did the Star King come to a stop, letting out a weary sigh.

Cultivators who break through to Nascent Soul and master the power of the void can escape through the Great Void itself.

But the Great Void is filled with kaifeng storms and turbulent lightning, so maintaining flight demands constant focus and immense energy.

What’s more, along the way he’d repeatedly used his star divination powers to conceal his own destiny, erasing every trace of his magical aura.

“Who is this man? How could he suppress the Turtle Immortal Patriarch with just a talisman command, binding even that great beast to his will!”

Thinking back on the events at Fuhai Sect, the Star King still couldn’t contain his shock.

He’d never fought against the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, but had witnessed that elder’s strength firsthand.

Even if that old turtle hadn’t broken through to the late fourth rank, he was surely close.

With that bloodline and power, he could probably go toe-to-toe with even the strongest late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Yet a legendary demon king of this level was flattened in a single exchange—the so-called ‘Eastern Emperor’s Heir’ crushed him effortlessly with a single command.

Such a feat was simply unbelievable.

If he hadn’t seen it happen with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

“This person can’t possibly be the Eastern Emperor’s Heir!”

The Star King rejected the idea that Lu Changsheng was really the Eastern Emperor’s successor.

It wasn’t just that the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror didn’t look like the fabled Eastern Emperor Mirror.

It was because the true Eastern Emperor’s Heir could never wield such methods!

Maybe the reincarnation of the Eastern Emperor, that he could believe.

After all, there was a prophecy in his own Starrymoon Hall—a great sun would rise from the eastern seas.

The Eastern Emperor would never really die. One day, he’d return and rebuild the Sun-Moon Star Palace!

“Could this man be the Eastern Emperor reincarnated? Or perhaps the reincarnation of the Yuhai Mountain Lord?”

The Star King couldn’t help but speculate.

Granted, the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror did differ from the Eastern Emperor Mirror described in the records of the Starrymoon Hall.

But the resemblance still couldn’t be denied.

So he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that this mirror really was the Eastern Emperor Mirror.

As for suspecting the Yuhai Mountain Lord—that was simple.

Lu Changsheng’s situation was so far beyond anything he understood as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Only the reincarnation of a cultivator at the Divine Transformation level could explain it all.

The Zhenhai Seven Sects themselves had their roots in Yuhai Mountain, a top force from the Eastern Sea cultivation world.

The Turtle Immortal Patriarch was a descendant of Yuhai Mountain’s sacred beast.

If Lu Changsheng was really the mountain lord reincarnated, possessing some secret method to subdue that old turtle directly might actually make sense.

“Eastern Emperor reborn… Yuhai Mountain Lord reborn…”

Faced with these guesses, a bitter smile flickered across the Star King’s otherwise stern features.

Whether Eastern Emperor or Yuhai Mountain Lord, both were cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage.

Even their reincarnated forms, judging by their abilities, were leagues beyond his ability to handle.

“I wonder what became of the Zhenhai Patriarch and the Turtle Immortal Patriarch…”

He cast a worried glance toward Fuhai Sect, hoping the Turtle Immortal Patriarch had managed to break free and the Zhenhai Patriarch had escaped.

Otherwise, his own fate might soon be dire.

Thinking back on his fortune-telling with Yue Zun, the Star King finally decided to return to Starrymoon Hall for a new attempt—maybe he could divine what lay ahead.

And besides, Starrymoon Hall was his stronghold, protected by many defenses and even a fourth-rank grand forbidden formation.

Even if the enemy and the Patriarch stormed in, he’d stand his ground.

Not to mention, they still had Elder Yue Zun—a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator.

The only problem was Yue Zun’s intentions. He favored the Eastern Emperor’s bloodline, wanting to support them.

If Yangming True Lord really was the Eastern Emperor reborn, Yue Zun might simply surrender rather than join him in resistance.

“That man cannot be the Eastern Emperor reborn! It must be the Yuhai Mountain Lord, or another mighty reincarnate who’s come into possession of one of Sun-Moon Star Palace’s heirloom relics!”

The Star King’s voice was cold as he spoke to himself.

He then lifted his celestial chart, the glow of starlight streaming over him, and sped through the void back toward Starrymoon Hall.

For years now, the Flood Dragon Holy Son from Beast God Mountain and the Holy Maiden of the same mountain had vanished from the battlefield.

Powers in Liang Kingdom, Yue Kingdom, and Jiang Kingdom all speculated that the two were secluded in a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

After all, both the Holy Son and Maiden were said to possess such rare talent.

The Holy Son, especially.

From a mere servant, he had risen to become Beast God Mountain’s revered Holy Son—a true legend.

He had talent and destiny to spare—a child of fate, a peerless prodigy.

Even the Nascent Soul True Lords of Yue and Jiang Kingdoms believed that his breakthrough was only a matter of time.

But the spies that Yue Kingdom had planted inside Beast God Mountain found not a single clue about either the Holy Son or the Maiden. Many even perished trying.

Right now, Beast God Mountain, forbidden grounds behind the main peak.

All these years, a powerful formation had isolated the forbidden rear mountain, keeping outsiders from even seeing what went on inside.

“True Lord Mingsha is dead? Yangming True Lord?”

Deep in the mountain, at the center of a blood-soaked pool, an old man in a black cloak studied a jade talisman, muttering softly.

True Lord Mingsha had been a key piece in his elaborate scheme.

Who could have guessed that someone would actually kill him.

He’d heard of Yangming True Lord’s name before.

He figured the man was a genius from some great central domain, sent here for tempering.

Surely, nowhere as wild and poor as the Southern Desolation and Northern Region could produce a monster who could pit Core Formation against Nascent Soul.

“He killed True Lord Mingsha just to disrupt my plans?”

Moruo thought it over, never even considering pure revenge as the motive.

How could something so conveniently timed be a coincidence?

He’d come to this backwater on his sect’s orders, working for years to bring about a calamity and fill the land with demonic energy.

Everything was nearly in place—then suddenly, the man appeared out of nowhere and slew True Lord Mingsha at the Yin Ghost Sect.

“Hmph. I’d like to see just how you plan to foil my game!”

Moruo snorted silently, then gazed out over the great blood pool. There, the shadowy shape of a dragon writhed and thrashed, stirring up howling ghost winds.

“Huangquan, Youyue—it’s time. Now that you’ve broken through to Nascent Soul and your powers are stabilized, go and settle the Liang-Yue War.”

With his help, both Huangquan and the Holy Maiden Youyue had already achieved Nascent Soul.

They’d spent these years using the blood pool to master their divine abilities.

But now that True Lord Mingsha was dead and the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood supply was gone, there was no point in staying.

Besides, with righteous cultivators interfering, he needed to end this war quickly before any more plans went awry.

His voice faded.

The shadowy dragon in the blood pool reared up and roared, summoning howling ghost winds like thousands of vengeful spirits weeping in agony.

“Splash—!”

A tidal wave of Huangquan energy crashed forth, with ringing demonic chants.

A tall, powerfully built youth strode out of the blood pool. His sharp features, dragon horns sprouting from his head, and bare chest marked by a vivid Huangquan dragon tattoo—his presence was wild and domineering.

His pale golden slit-pupiled eyes glinted as he gazed back at the pool, his voice gentle as he called, “Youyue.”

In answer, a wolf’s howl rang out.

A tall woman emerged next—a wild mane of deep violet hair draped down past her hips, her skin traced with faint purple markings and sparkling with a strange light.

Her outfit was dangerously revealing: just a purple bandeau and a short skirt that showed off a body sculpted with wild beauty and strength.

Her legs were especially striking—not just powerful and sensuous, but so flawless and smooth they seemed carved from the finest white jade, a masterpiece that begged to be admired.

Even after merging fully with the Huangquan dragon spirit and breaking through to Nascent Soul, the Holy Son’s heart couldn’t help but race at the sight of the Maiden—his eyes full of awe and longing.

She was simply breathtaking.

To him, there wasn’t a woman in the world to compare with the Holy Maiden.

“Sigh.”

Far off, Moruo watched it all and shook his head.

He’d thought the Holy Son would grow more cold-blooded after merging with the dragon’s soul at last.

But the boy still looked at Youyue the same way.

With his talent and power, even if the Maiden had advanced to Nascent Soul as well, she couldn’t match him.

If he wanted, he could simply overpower and win her over by force.

In Moruo’s view, a woman like her only admired the strong.

Only brute strength and directness could conquer her, not tender affection.

But the Holy Son always remained the same.

“Greetings, Exalted Envoy!”

The Holy Son and Holy Maiden stepped forward, bowing with cupped hands to Moruo.

Though both stood at the Nascent Soul stage now, they still respected the envoy’s bottomless strength.

“True Lord Mingsha has been slain. Go find True Lord Nine Spirits and end the Liang-Yue War without delay.”

Moruo looked at the pair and ordered.

“True Lord Mingsha is dead?”

Both Holy Son and Maiden looked up, startled.

On one hand, Nascent Soul cultivators possess soul escape, making them extremely hard to kill.

On the other, True Lord Mingsha possessed the treasure Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool, making his combat ability a match for any seasoned Nascent Soul True Lord.

Yet such a powerful figure had still been killed.

But the two didn’t ask any more questions.

They bowed, then left the forbidden grounds, heading to meet True Lord Nine Spirits.

“Excellent, excellent!”

True Lord Nine Spirits was huge and broad-shouldered, his mane of gray-white hair cascading down like a lion’s.

He beamed with delight at the sight of the Holy Son and Holy Maiden.

At last, his efforts had paid off.

Beast God Mountain was at the height of its power, with four Nascent Soul True Lords!

Especially the Holy Son.

He’d just reached Nascent Soul but already rivaled veteran True Lords—his future held limitless promise.

“Huangquan, once the Liang-Yue War is over, I’ll arrange your wedding to the Holy Maiden!”

Nine Spirits smiled at the Holy Son, knowing full well his feelings for Youyue.

He was more than happy to see it happen.

If the Holy Maiden hadn’t insisted on further cultivating before, he would have joined them long ago.

“Thank you, Supreme Elder!”

The Holy Son replied with unabashed joy.

True, the Elder had promised long ago that, once he reached Nascent Soul, their union would be allowed—but now, to hear the Elder personally setting a date and arranging the wedding, excitement bubbled over anew.

The Holy Maiden, Youyue, might not really love the Holy Son yet.

But she still knew he was her ideal Dao companion, so she didn’t resist.

“Supreme Elder, how stands the Liang-Yue front? Is there anything you need me to do?”

Holy Son’s eyes burned with fighting spirit—he wanted the war’s end as soon as possible.

“Since the Exalted Envoy has spoken, we’ll end this swiftly.”

Nine Spirits turned to look toward the battlefield, his voice deep.

If Moruo hadn’t ordered delay—waiting until the Holy Son and Holy Maiden’s powers stabilized—he would have attacked long before.

But now, both had mastered their divine abilities, and news of Mingsha’s death at the hands of Yangming True Lord had come. There was no more reason to wait.

“Take my token, go to the vault for a spirit treasure if you need one, then we’ll head to the front together.”

Nine Spirits spoke generously, giving them free access to the treasures.

One was his family’s descendant; the other, its greatest hope. He spared no generosity.

Just thinking of seeing Beast God Mountain destroy Yue and Jiang Kingdoms under his command—the excitement even made this old lord’s heart beat faster.

Lu Changsheng and True Lord Xuanjian flew back toward the Immortal City of Damengze on the Golden-Winged Roc.

After experiencing how useful the transport formation between Zhenhai and Fuhai Sects was, Lu Changsheng planned to have Zhenhai’s formation masters build another in the Immortal City.

Otherwise, these long round trips would just be a headache.

Before long, as they neared the city, Lu Changsheng turned to True Lord Xuanjian: “Friend Xuanjian, I’ll return to the city first to put things in order, then join you for the trip to Yue Kingdom.”

“Very well. I’ll wait for you at the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

Xuanjian didn’t join him in returning, instead heading for his own sect to record all he’d learned in Starry Sea.

He’d also consider which other sect cultivators to send across Da Mengze to Starry Sea.

After these days of investigation, he knew Starry Sea was far more prosperous than Jiang Kingdom.

And since Lu Changsheng had slain many demon kings on the way, it wasn’t nearly as deadly as his own texts made it out to be.

With luck, maybe his own Grand Core Formation cultivators could even improve their odds of breaking through to Nascent Soul there.

“Very well.” Lu Changsheng nodded and drew out his Misty Dust Banner, teleporting himself and the roc straight to the City Lord’s Mansion.

If it hadn’t been for True Lord Xuanjian’s company, he would’ve used the banner to hurry back long ago.

Watching Lu Changsheng vanish into a ripple of the void, True Lord Xuanjian’s eyes narrowed.

He hadn’t done much on this Starry Sea journey, yet he’d gotten to know this Dameng City Lord—and the more he spoke with Lu Changsheng, the more mysterious and unfathomable he seemed.

One after another, new treasures and unpredictable moves—especially the business at Fuhai Sect—left too many questions.

“So long as he means my Heavenly Sword Sect no harm, that’s enough.”

True Lord Xuanjian decided not to overthink things, transforming into a sword light that tore through the void toward his sect.

His own sense was that Lu Changsheng was still a principled righteous cultivator.

As long as they kept good relations, he didn’t mind swallowing a few losses.

City Lord’s Mansion.

Hong Lian greeted Lu Changsheng’s quick return with delight in her eyes and concern in her voice. “Husband, did things go smoothly at Fuhai Sect?”

“Smoothly—very.”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes sparkled with a broad grin.

All he’d planned was to do some recon at Fuhai Sect.

Yet by chance, he’d ended up resolving Zhenhai Seven Sects’ whole crisis—and secured himself a top demon king as a servant, too.

The gains from this trip were beyond lucky—almost like the heavens themselves had smiled upon him.

“Looks like you picked up some more blessings along the way?”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s happy face, Hong Lian smiled gently as she poured him some tea.

“That’s right.”

Lu Changsheng had never been one to keep secrets from his wife.

He liked to share everything with her.

Seeing her warm, smiling eyes and gentle curiosity, he began relating the tale.

“When I scouted out Fuhai Sect, little did I know the Zhenhai Patriarch had already set a trap for me…”

Lu Changsheng sipped his tea, letting the rich flavor settle as he spoke, unhurried.

Even though Hong Lian sensed he must have dealt with whatever danger arose, she still listened with an anxious, expectant look—giving him the perfect audience.

“Of the three strongest there, the real monster wasn’t even a human cultivator, but a demon king barely one step from late fourth rank!”

Even thinking back, Lu Changsheng had to admit it was a perilous situation.

If not for the Demon Subjugation Talisman, he never could have stood against those three peak Nascent Soul experts.

“And as luck had it, I just happened to have a talisman called the Demon Subjugation Talisman—perfect for restraining demonkind,” he said, smiling.

“Such a talisman actually exists in the world?”

Hong Lian’s eyes went wide in disbelief.

In her last life, she’d been a high-rank Beast Tamer.

She knew all kinds of tricks and tools for binding or controlling demon beasts.

Beast rings were common enough.

Even her own Beast Taming Ancient Rune brought demons to heel.

But to enslave and subdue a mid-fourth rank demon king—simply unheard of!

In her mind, nothing less than a fifth-rank talisman could manage that.

“A fifth-rank talisman?” Even her heart trembled at the thought.

Talisman makers usually hit a wall at fourth rank because of material limits.

That made anything above mid-fourth rank exceedingly rare—fifth-rank talismans had become almost mythical.

But thinking of her husband’s background as a reincarnated powerhouse—already holding treasures like the spirit-fetus peach-wood and even Celestial Treasures—it was only fitting that he’d have something so rare.

Her eyes glowed with worship and admiration. “So my husband turned that demon king and solved the crisis?”

“That’s right.” Lu Changsheng gave a soft laugh, and continued to explain the connection between the Turtle Immortal Patriarch and the Zhenhai Patriarch.

“A split soul? A pureblood True Spirit?”

Hong Lian was stunned—she never would have guessed the Zhenhai Seven Sects’ patriarch, a mid-tier Nascent Soul master, was just the clone of a demon king.

It defied belief.

“So by enslaving the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, you’ve basically taken command of the whole Zhenhai Seven Sects?”

Hong Lian almost couldn’t find words for her shock. Her husband had gone out for a short trip and brought back a top demon king—along with indirect control over a massive power.

“Exactly. Once you’re ready to break through to Nascent Soul, you can head straight for Zhenhai Sect—no need to risk the Myriad Beasts range.”

Lu Changsheng clasped her delicate hand, gently assuring her that the sect would be safer and more convenient for her breakthrough.

Once Hong Lian advanced, she could even practice in Fuhai Sect and help keep order.

Gazing at his handsome face, Hong Lian was awash in amazement at everything he’d accomplished.

She used to think her own spirit-fetus body gave her a chance to keep growing at his side.

But now, after only a few decades, he’d surged to heights she’d only ever reached in her previous life.

Even though he’d just stepped into Nascent Soul, and she could soon catch up—she still felt it would be impossible to bridge the gap.

For a moment, the pressure weighed on her heart.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Changsheng noticed her mood, squeezing her soft hand with concern.

“I’m just a bit emotional, Husband—thinking how far you’ve come on your own, I worry that soon I won’t be able to keep helping you at all.”

Hong Lian wasn’t someone who usually dwelled on her troubles.

But in front of Lu Changsheng, she often played the gentle wife, happy to please his sense of pride.

“Come now—how could that be? We’re husband and wife. I’ll still need your help for plenty more things ahead.”

Lu Changsheng understood his rapid progress was bound to pressure his wife.

He hadn’t expected Hong Lian to feel that way, so he pulled her close to comfort her.

A little later.

Lu Changsheng asked Hong Lian about Sun-Moon Star Palace and Yuhai Mountain.

“I’ve only seen a little in the records. I don’t really know the details,” she replied.

Her home region in the Northern Plains had only fragmentary reports about the Eastern Sea world—Sun-Moon Star Palace and Yuhai Mountain were only vague names.

She knew nothing about their destruction.

Lu Changsheng didn’t mind. After a little time with Hong Lian, he went to see Lu Lingjing.

“Lingjing, the trouble with Zhenhai Seven Sects has been dealt with.”

“Now you can take the Cheng Lu Pan to the Sea Eye for rest, and gather celestial dew. If anything feels dangerous, run back and send me word, all right?”

With the danger over, Lu Changsheng could finally put the pan to good use.

Still, to unlock its true potential, he’d need to build a sky-reaching tower connected via grand formation to the heavens.

He’d originally planned to build it in Immortal City.

But now, with the Turtle Immortal Patriarch as his servant and the Zhenhai Patriarch under control, maybe Zhenhai Sect was a better base.

Of course, there was a downside.

Being one of the top forces in Starry Sea, Zhenhai Sect drew lots of attention from cultivators.

A sudden giant tower would surely set the Nascent Soul experts wondering—and instantly expose the Cheng Lu Pan’s power.

Even with the support of his two patriarchs, Starry Sea’s politics were anything but simple. Beyond the Seven Sects and Starrymoon Hall, there were other top powers and Nascent Soul old monsters.

If they all got greedy for the pan, it would be a real headache.

Plus, with Starrymoon Hall’s deep roots in Sun-Moon Star Palace, and Zhenhai’s Turtle Immortal as their guardian beast, no one knew what great powers still lurked in the sea.

And besides the human powers, Forbidden Sea was home to demonkind too.

From Lu Lingjing’s experience alone, it was clear that celestial dew attracted not just cultivators, but demons as well.

Invite a top demon king from Forbidden Sea into the mess, and things would turn ugly fast.

So Lu Changsheng remained torn.

Should he build the tower in Immortal City, Zhenhai Sect, the Sea Eye in Da Mengze, or the ley lines of Heavenly Sword Sect?

Lu Lingjing, eyeing the Cheng Lu Pan, remembered the taste of celestial dew and unconsciously started drooling.

“Master, I understand.”

She immediately took the pan and set out for the Sea Eye, ready to leave the City Lord’s Mansion.

“Really?” Lu Changsheng watched her rush off, amused that she cared more for the dew than the big events with Zhenhai Seven Sects.

“Make ten drops first, then you can eat the rest,” he called after her, not minding letting her have a little treat.

After all, Lu Lingjing’s wounds hadn’t completely healed. A little celestial dew would speed up her recovery.

“Aw…” When she heard she’d have to collect ten drops before tasting, a look of conflicted disappointment crossed her face.

After all, sneaking an early taste, then making up the quota, just felt better than being forced to do the job first.

“Fine. Two drops before you start the real work.” Seeing her long face, Lu Changsheng relented with a wave.

“Thank you, Master!” In an instant her gloom vanished. Excited, she darted off toward Immortal City.

Watching her go, Lu Changsheng scooped her up and teleported her to Xuan Whale Island using the Misty Dust Banner. Then he returned to the City Lord’s Mansion, heading for the Puppet Hall.

“Xiao Yan,”

For this trip to Yue Kingdom, Lu Changsheng planned to bring Qian Zhuyan along.

He didn’t need her help in battle.

But the Ancient Puppet Sect and the Endless Desert were just west of Yue Kingdom.

It was a good chance to look into the Thousand Bamboo Sect and Ancient Puppet Sect, and help Qian Zhuyan resolve her grievances.

“Ancient Puppet Sect!”

Working on her Faceless Homunculus, Qian Zhuyan’s soul-flame blazed the moment she heard the sect’s name.

“Thank you, Master!”

She’d waited for this day—longing for vengeance.

If not for her soul crystal letting her puppet spirit ascend and Lu Changsheng cleansing her spirit of those raging emotions, she’d still be drowning in hatred.

Even so, her obsession lingered.

“Get yourself ready. We’ll head out soon.”

Lu Changsheng gently stroked her puppet body, his voice warm.

Hopefully, once vengeance was done, her spirit would finally be free.

After spending a few days in seclusion with Ling Zixiao, he departed with Qian Zhuyan and the Golden-Winged Roc for Bihu Mountain.