Chapter 870: Taking Over Immortal City, Shocking All Major Forces!

Red Peak Immortal City.

The captured cultivators from Jiang Kingdom and Yue Kingdom stared in stunned disbelief as they were freed from their bonds. Their faces showed a mix of shock and confusion.

What in the world was happening?

Just three days ago, True Lord Ziguang had fled the city under the siege of four Nascent Soul True Lords from Liang Kingdom. This led to the fall of Red Peak Immortal City, turning them into prisoners of war.

Yet in the blink of an eye, Yue Kingdom had somehow reclaimed the city?

Wasn’t this a bit too absurd?

Stepping out of the prisoner camp, they caught sight of Lu Lingxiao. He stood tall and imposing, clad in a dark golden robe embroidered with dragon patterns.

“The fourth-rank Beast King of Beast God Mountain has been slain by my father. True Lord Youyue has also been subdued by him.”

Lu Lingxiao, wearing a gilded mask, gazed at them with sharp, brilliant eyes. His voice rang out clear and commanding. “From now on, all of you will follow my orders. Begin fortifying the Immortal City.”

Though he appeared weakened, his tone carried undeniable authority.

“A fourth-rank Beast King slain? True Lord Youyue captured?”

“The Lord of Dameng City?”

Though Lu Lingxiao was only at the early Core Formation stage,

having spent years on the Yue Kingdom front lines, the Core Formation cultivators of both Jiang and Yue Kingdoms recognized him.

They knew his father was none other than the Lord of Dameng City in Jiang Kingdom.

However, most people’s understanding of the Lord of Dameng City was similar to that of the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain.

Though he possessed Nascent Soul-level combat strength, rumors suggested he suffered from a physical ailment, which kept him confined to Dameng City.

Yet now, Lu Lingxiao claimed that this very Lord had slain a fourth-rank Beast King and captured the Holy Maiden?

Wasn’t that simply unbelievable?

“Young Friend, is this true?”

“Where is your esteemed father?”

Among these freed cultivators were not only several Core Formation practitioners but also a Core Formation Grand Cultivator.

At this moment, none of them were willing to take orders from a junior like Lu Lingxiao.

They wanted to meet the Lord of Dameng City himself to understand the situation.

Lu Changsheng, daring to send his two weakened sons—both at early Core Formation—to take control of the Immortal City, naturally had preparations in place.

A piercing cry tore through the sky.

The Golden-Winged Roc, which had been gnawing at the corpse of the fourth-rank Beast King, let out a sharp screech. It transformed into a boy of about eleven or twelve, with a cold, striking face and brilliant golden eyes. He strode to Lu Lingxiao’s side.

“Little Roc King!”

“Greetings, Little Roc King.”

Lu Lingxiao and Lu Qingxuan quickly bowed in respect.

Though the Golden-Winged Roc was their father’s spirit pet, it was still a fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon King.

In daily interactions, they treated the Roc with the respect due to an elder.

“Hmph.”

Clad in dark golden armor embroidered with a roc battling a dragon, the Golden-Winged Roc’s sharp brows were etched with golden demon patterns. His demeanor was icy, showing no warmth toward Lu Lingxiao.

The reason was simple.

This kid had also used its Refined Blood to cultivate the True Spirit Nine Transformations.

Thus, without sufficient benefits, the Little Roc King held no fondness for any of the Lu Family disciples.

“A fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon King!”

The freed Core Formation cultivators felt a chill as they sensed the terrifying demon power radiating from the small frame of the Golden-Winged Roc. They quickly bowed in reverence.

“Greetings, Roc King!”

“Greetings, Roc King!”

Though the Golden-Winged Roc appeared young,

and Lu Lingxiao and Lu Qingxuan addressed him as Little Roc King,

none of them dared to call him that.

“This King is named True Lord Golden Roc!”

The Golden-Winged Roc spoke up, declaring that names like Golden Roc or Little Roc King were reserved for his Master and the Lu Family.

Others must address him respectfully as Golden-Winged Roc King or True Lord Golden Roc.

Now, standing in this Immortal City alongside his Master and facing human cultivators, he chose to take human form and adopt the title True Lord Golden Roc.

“We pay our respects to True Lord Golden Roc!”

“We pay our respects to True Lord Golden Roc!”

Hearing this, the cultivators hurriedly bowed again with utmost respect.

Yet in their minds, they wondered about the origins of this True Lord Golden Roc.

The Golden-Winged Roc, with a cold expression on his youthful face, gave a slight nod. He scanned the cultivators, looking for any sign of disrespect to make an example of them.

Seeing their trembling deference, he spoke again. “Obey the commands of these two. If you dare defy them, don’t blame this King for showing no mercy!”

As he spoke, a sharp killing intent mixed with demonic aura surged forth, pressing down on the cultivators.

“Rest assured, True Lord Golden Roc!”

The Core Formation cultivators, faces pale with fear, hurriedly responded with deference.

Forget that they were still gravely injured.

Even at their peak, they wouldn’t dare act recklessly before a fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon King like the Golden-Winged Roc.

Lu Lingxiao and Lu Qingxuan said nothing more.

They led the cultivators, along with the surrendering demonic path practitioners, to the treasury to retrieve their Dao-Comprehending Artifacts.

They also confiscated the magical instruments and Storage Pouches of the Liang Kingdom’s demonic path cultivators in the city.

With the Golden-Winged Roc, a fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon King, overseeing the process, everything proceeded smoothly.

During this time, the cultivators from Jiang and Yue Kingdoms learned what had transpired in Red Peak Immortal City.

A fourth-rank puppet!

A fourth-rank shapeshifting Demon King!

The Lord of Dameng City had slain a fourth-rank Beast King with a single sword strike! He’d even captured True Lord Youyue alive!

They gazed up at the towering puppet standing above the Immortal City, its cold metallic sheen glinting ominously. A shiver ran through them.

Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that the Lord of Dameng City, rumored to be physically frail, was none other than Yangming True Lord, who had risen to fame in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands!

Not only had he achieved a Nascent Soul breakthrough, but his spirit pet had also reached the fourth rank. On top of that, he possessed a fourth-rank puppet!

Yet what shocked them most was how he’d slain a fourth-rank Beast King and captured True Lord Youyue with a single strike!

Thirty years ago, during the opening of the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, Yangming True Lord had been just a Core Formation cultivator.

How could he have grown to such heights in just thirty years? It was beyond comprehension!

These questions lingered unanswered, and they dared not ask.

They could only obediently follow the commands of Lu Lingxiao and Lu Qingxuan, taking control of Red Peak Immortal City’s grand formation from Liang Kingdom’s hands.

Meanwhile, at a Liang Kingdom stronghold.

“What!? Red Peak Immortal City has fallen? Youyue has been captured?”

Though Lu Changsheng had broken through Red Peak Immortal City, leaving no survivors to escape,

when the fourth-rank Beast King was instantly killed and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain was subdued, a few warning and distress signals had still been sent out.

This news reached the Supreme Elder of Beast God Mountain, True Lord Nine Spirits, almost instantly.

True Lord Nine Spirits was utterly stunned by the report.

He immediately suspected the information might be false.

After all, he had just received a message from the Holy Maiden not long ago,

informing him that Yangming True Lord had arrived at Red Peak Immortal City.

How could the city fall so quickly?

And how could the Holy Maiden be captured?

It defied all logic.

Yet as the Supreme Elder of Beast God Mountain, a Nascent Soul cultivator who had witnessed countless illogical and unreasonable events, True Lord Nine Spirits quickly realized this news might very well be true.

“Huangquan, Tiancang, return at once! Do not head to Red Peak Immortal City!”

True Lord Nine Spirits made a swift decision. Forcing out a drop of Refined Blood, he activated a secret technique to trigger an emergency communication talisman, calling back Flood Dragon Holy Son and True Lord Tiancang, who were en route to Red Peak Immortal City.

Earlier, upon receiving the Holy Maiden’s message about Yangming True Lord’s arrival, he had instructed the two to abandon their pursuit of True Lord Ziguang and rush to support Red Peak Immortal City.

If the news he’d just received was true—if Red Peak Immortal City had fallen in such a short time and the Holy Maiden captured—it meant Yangming True Lord’s strength was far more terrifying than he’d imagined.

He might even possess mid-stage Nascent Soul combat power!

If True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Huangquan went there, not only would they be of no help, but they might also face mortal danger.

“Just who is this Yangming True Lord?”

True Lord Nine Spirits’ eyes gleamed like bells, his towering and burly frame resembling a mighty lion.

He had always taken Yangming True Lord seriously.

Back during the battle in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, many had focused on Qingluan True Lord, believing Yangming True Lord’s ability to challenge Nascent Soul cultivators relied solely on secret techniques, treasures, and Qingluan’s aid.

Yet through the incident with the Heaven Corpse Sect Master, and from True Lord Tiancang’s firsthand account as a participant, he knew Yangming True Lord was no ordinary figure.

He might even be a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator who had undergone seizing and reincarnating.

Mo Luo had also offered a theory that this man could be a prodigy from the Central Domain’s profound sects, here for training.

“Report this to the Envoy!”

True Lord Nine Spirits acted with extreme caution.

Instead of directly joining Flood Dragon Holy Son and True Lord Tiancang, he chose to inform Mo Luo of the situation.

After all, Yangming True Lord’s ability to breach Red Peak Immortal City in such a short time and capture the Holy Maiden alive spoke of staggering strength. Even if he went himself, he’d likely be no match.

Moreover, if this news reached True Lord Hunyuan and True Lord Juejian, and they rushed to support, there was a risk of being ambushed.

At this very moment,

True Lord Tiancang and Flood Dragon Holy Son, hurrying to support Red Peak Immortal City, received True Lord Nine Spirits’ urgent message.

Flood Dragon Holy Son’s expression shifted to one of alarm as he realized the Holy Maiden might be in grave danger.

After all, not long ago, the Supreme Elder had informed them of Yangming True Lord’s arrival at Red Peak Immortal City,

urging them to rush to her aid.

Now, the Supreme Elder sent another urgent message, ordering them to turn back and avoid Red Peak Immortal City.

Flood Dragon Holy Son immediately activated an emergency communication talisman linked to the Holy Maiden, waiting anxiously for a response.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths passed.

As no reply came from the Holy Maiden, Flood Dragon Holy Son’s chiseled face grew darker by the second.

Then, casting a glance toward Red Peak Immortal City, he sped off in that direction.

“Huangquan, where are you going? The Supreme Elder ordered us to return at once!”

Seeing this, True Lord Tiancang shouted after him.

“Youyue is likely in danger. I must save her!”

Flood Dragon Holy Son’s magical energy surged around him, stirring up a wave of murky Huangquan currents. Without looking back, his voice carried a frenzied edge laced with killing intent.

“???”

True Lord Tiancang knew Flood Dragon Holy Son harbored deep feelings for the Holy Maiden.

But he hadn’t expected the man to disregard even the Supreme Elder’s orders for her sake.

“Huangquan, the Supreme Elder commanded us to return. Red Peak Immortal City is likely extremely dangerous right now. If you go, you might walk into a trap or face grave peril!”

True Lord Tiancang also realized Red Peak Immortal City was probably in a dire state.

Yet his words only fueled Flood Dragon Holy Son’s urgency, intensifying his fear that his beloved goddess and future wife was in danger.

“Huangquan!”

Seeing Flood Dragon Holy Son’s recklessness, True Lord Tiancang didn’t know what to do.

Under normal circumstances, he’d accompany Flood Dragon Holy Son to check the situation, at least to watch his back.

But knowing Yangming True Lord was at Red Peak Immortal City, he hesitated to go.

After all, back when Yangming was just at the Core Formation stage, he could already hold his own against him.

Now that he’d achieved Nascent Soul, how could he possibly be a match?

Yet he couldn’t simply ignore Flood Dragon Holy Son.

If anything happened to him, how could he face True Lord Nine Spirits?

True Lord Tiancang hurriedly used a secret technique to send a message to True Lord Nine Spirits, informing him of Flood Dragon Holy Son’s actions.

True Lord Nine Spirits’ expression froze upon receiving the message.

He cursed himself for overlooking this detail.

“Tiancang, you and Incinerating Wither do everything you can to stop Huangquan. I’m on my way!”

True Lord Nine Spirits made a decisive call.

He knew sending a message to Flood Dragon Holy Son now would be useless. The situation needed to be stabilized.

Though based on the reports, Yangming True Lord’s strength was astonishing,

surely he couldn’t take down three Nascent Soul cultivators in such a short time, right?

As long as he arrived swiftly, he could avert disaster.

“Damn it!”

Yet thinking of Flood Dragon Holy Son’s defiance in such a critical moment, True Lord Nine Spirits’ anger flared.

With a fierce punch, he shattered a distant mountain into rubble.

The cultivators at the stronghold looked on in confusion and fear, wondering who had provoked their Supreme Elder.

“Golden Lion!”

True Lord Nine Spirits summoned a token in his hand, calling for his spirit pet, the Golden Lion King, before rushing toward Red Peak Immortal City.

True Lord Ziguang, noticing that Flood Dragon Holy Son, True Lord Tiancang, and True Lord Incinerating Wither had abandoned their pursuit of him, fled back to Purple Light Sect. His face was pale, breath ragged, and magical energy in disarray.

Earlier at Red Peak Immortal City, fully activating the grand formation had taken a heavy toll on him.

Moreover, Flood Dragon Holy Son’s strength had far exceeded his expectations, leaving him in a disheveled state against the trio.

Fortunately, both Flood Dragon Holy Son and True Lord Incinerating Wither had only recently achieved Nascent Soul, and True Lord Tiancang, having had his body and Qi destroyed by Yangming True Lord years ago, had suffered a significant loss in strength and stagnated for years. His combat power was middling at best.

Thus, True Lord Ziguang hadn’t sustained severe injuries, only a substantial drain on his vitality.

“They’ve abandoned chasing me. Are they heading to support somewhere else?”

True Lord Ziguang immediately contacted True Lord Hunyuan, relaying the situation at Red Peak Immortal City and his own circumstances.

Though True Lord Hunyuan was irritated by True Lord Ziguang’s decision to abandon Red Peak Immortal City and flee,

as fellow Nascent Soul cultivators and allies, he couldn’t reprimand him too harshly.

He only urged him to heal quickly and hurry over to provide support, awaiting the arrival of True Lord Xuanjian and the Lord of Dameng City to discuss the situation.

However, shortly after True Lord Ziguang and True Lord Hunyuan’s exchange, the Core Formation cultivators of Jiang and Yue Kingdoms at Red Peak Immortal City retrieved their Storage Pouches. They immediately activated emergency communication talismans to report the city’s status.

“???”

Both True Lord Ziguang and True Lord Hunyuan were stunned upon receiving the news from Red Peak Immortal City.

What in the world?

The Lord of Dameng City had single-handedly breached Red Peak Immortal City.

Not only that, he’d slain a fourth-rank Beast King of Beast God Mountain and captured True Lord Youyue.

Based on their earlier discussions, weren’t True Lord Xuanjian and the Lord of Dameng City supposed to take some time to arrive?

How had he gotten there so quickly and resolved the situation at Red Peak Immortal City?

Both found it hard to believe and sought to verify the information further.

After a while, realizing the news was likely true, True Lord Hunyuan felt a surge of joy.

With the Lord of Dameng City and True Lord Xuanjian on their side, this war seemed winnable.

As for the Lord of Dameng City being Yangming True Lord, he didn’t dwell on it.

After all, with such strength, even if the man held great opportunities or secrets, they weren’t something he could covet.

Better to seize this chance to build a good relationship.

True Lord Ziguang, however, looked grim.

Having fled the city, he felt like a clown in the face of the Lord of Dameng City’s feats.

This escape not only handed over the war merits but also highlighted the other’s strength.

The strategic resources of Red Peak Immortal City and the enemy captives would all fall into the Lord’s hands.

“Damn it! If he could arrive so quickly, why wasn’t I informed in advance!”

True Lord Ziguang’s face darkened with cold fury, suspecting the other had done this deliberately.

Perhaps he’d wanted him to abandon the city and flee, drawing away the enemy’s Nascent Soul forces, only to swoop in and claim Red Peak Immortal City along with the spoils of war!

Yet thinking of the reported strength of the Lord of Dameng City, he could only swallow his frustration for now.

Red Peak Immortal City, prisoner camp.

Lu Changsheng was unaware of the ripples his actions had caused in Liang and Yue Kingdoms. At the moment, he was using the Divine Maiden’s Furnace to disrupt and influence True Lord Youyue’s thoughts and consciousness.

Earlier, he had employed the Six Desire Heart Demon Technique, hoping to extract information from True Lord Youyue about Beast God Mountain and the demonic path Envoy.

But his Six Desire Heart Demon Technique could only affect True Lord Youyue to a limited extent, failing to draw out any useful intel.

As for other interrogation methods, True Lord Youyue proved incredibly resilient.

Knowing begging for mercy was futile, she used a secret technique to seal her six senses and five perceptions, awaiting rescue from her Supreme Elder.

Left with no other options, Lu Changsheng resorted to the Divine Maiden’s Furnace to tamper with True Lord Youyue’s mind and consciousness.

However, the Divine Maiden’s Furnace was merely a mid-grade Spirit Treasure.

Influencing the emotions, thoughts, and consciousness of a Nascent Soul cultivator like True Lord Youyue wasn’t something that could be done quickly.

It would take at least several years of refinement.

“If only Ti Hun were here.”

Lu Changsheng thought of the Soul-Taking Beast he’d left in Jin Kingdom.

Ti Hun could not only transform into a beast of punishment, countering all manner of evil spirits, but also judge the sins of others.

Through punitive Divine Abilities, it could inflict dual torment on both body and soul of demonic path cultivators, making it ideal for interrogation.

It could even suppress the soul and contractual restrictions within a target, extracting hidden secrets.

“Looks like I won’t be getting any useful information from her anytime soon.”

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

With a light tap on his Spirit Pet Bag, a small Yin-Yang orb flew out, spinning rapidly. It released True Lord Youyue’s body and Qi.