Chapter 871: Chains of Humiliation and Fury

As Lu Changsheng released the magical binding of his Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture, the Holy Maiden’s aura pulsed with a ghostly purple radiance. A deep purple Heavenly Wolf roared and tried to flee.

However, with a mere lift of his hand, Lu Changsheng froze the three-tier top Heavenly Wolf’s body, rendering it immobile as it whimpered in despair.

At the same time, the Holy Maiden’s aura shimmered with purple light, while demonic energy permeated her being, and her bones creaked loudly.

The body, which had been magnified to nearly a meter in height, reverted to its normal form as the wolf ears and the tail at the base of the spine gradually vanished.

“Interesting,” he remarked.

Lu Changsheng marveled at the sight of the Heavenly Wolf and the Holy Maiden’s aura before him.

Though he had witnessed and even experienced such human-beast fusion techniques before,

it was evident that the Holy Maiden’s method of fusion differed distinctly from that of the Beast Spirit Sect.

She first practiced a technique similar to True Spirit Nine Transformations, condensing a demonic body into a battle form,

and then fused with a demon beast whose bloodline resonated with her own, boosting her combat power.

However, this Heavenly Wolf was only a three-tier specimen, offering limited enhancement at the Nascent Soul level.

“This woman is keeping Xiao Hei in mind, probably to boost the blood potential of this Heavenly Wolf and raise it to a fourth tier,” Lu Changsheng observed.

He had no intention of killing the Heavenly Wolf to feed the Golden-Winged Roc.

On one hand, this Heavenly Wolf’s bloodline was extraordinary, even superior to his own Nine Nether Hound.

Feeding it to enhance the Nine Nether Hound would be far more beneficial.

On the other hand, the Heavenly Wolf appeared to be a female.

If bred with his own Xiao Hei, it could produce offspring with an exemplary bloodline.

Even though Lu Changsheng looked down on demon beast cubs,

his family already nurtured offspring with Nascent-level bloodlines like the Golden Scale Flood Dragon and the Five-Colored Peacock.

Yet, even with a millennial family and an immortal clan spanning ten thousand years,

the family’s legacy still needed nurturing over time.

Such demon beast cubs, if adopted as spiritual pets by Lu Family disciples, would be excellent.

They might even become the Lu Family’s signature companion—a great black wolf at everyone’s side.

Besides, Xiao Hei was his very first spiritual pet.

From Qingzhu Mountain to Ruyi County over decades, guarding Bihu Mountain and White Tiger Mountain without recognition for his hardships,

Lu Changsheng felt it was time to reward his pet by finding it a mate.

Otherwise, whose bloodline among the Nine Nether Hound could ever match such a mate?

Lu Changsheng sealed the Heavenly Wolf’s demonic energy and then hurled a chain at it, binding it tightly before tossing it into the No-Form Realm. He then turned his attention to the Holy Maiden.

The Holy Maiden was striking indeed.

Her features were exquisitely delicate yet carried a wild, fierce charm.

Only the frightened expression on her face slightly marred her beauty.

Her tall, alluring figure was clad in merely a purple strapless top and a short skirt,

fully revealing her curvaceous, untamed beauty.

Especially while lying down, the proud curve beneath the purple top and her exceedingly long, well-proportioned legs were irresistibly enticing.

Seasoned Lu Ancestor could immediately discern the surging contours and the firm, sculpted physique beneath the purple top.

However, Lu Ancestor was never driven by lust.

He had no interest in a barely-alive aura like hers.

At this moment, he released her aura, simply managing it to lay down various binding arrays.

He removed the Storage Ring and the Spirit Pet Bag, channeling his Yin-Yang magical energy from his palms to dispel the Lunar Profound Power within the Holy Maiden’s aura.

Otherwise, prolonged exposure to the Lunar Profound Light might have damaged her aura.

Fortunately, the Holy Maiden was adept at dual cultivation of aura and spirit.

Even with the Heavenly Wolf sustaining her body’s viability, despite the cold temperature, halted heartbeat, and the erosion by Lunar light, a trace of demonic vitality nourished her, leaving her skin smooth, firm, and elastic.

First, Lu Changsheng applied the Yin-Yang Creation Sutra to cast a Yin-Yang sealing curse on her aura, then transformed his technique into the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex to lay down several binding arrays.

He then fired a Porcelain Vial, extracting a single drop of blood from the Holy Maiden’s brow.

After the procedure, Lu Changsheng tossed her aura into the Divine Maiden’s Furnace.

There was a certain resonance between a Nascent Soul cultivator’s aura and spirit.

Both the aura and spirit, when subjected to the Law of Lust within the Divine Maiden’s Furnace, could enhance their effects.

“Really poor!”

Lu Changsheng’s divine sense probed into the Holy Maiden’s Storage Ring, Spirit Pet Bag, and more, shaking his head in disapproval.

Despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator,

his resources were far from those of top Nascent Soul cultivators, mostly just Core Formation-level spirit materials.

“But this magical treasure is not bad,” he mused.

He glanced at the purple-blue Treasure Pearl the Holy Maiden had spat out during battle.

It was a low-grade spirit treasure.

It could transform into a guihydric Yin poison lightning to cover one’s body, be used offensively, suppress rivals’ artifacts, and even disrupt protective shields.

However, it was not her innate life-bound treasure.

Her innate treasure was a pair of finger sheaths that could cover the hands and body, even transforming into claw-like blades.

But since she had only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul level, this treasure was mediocre—even inferior to the purple-blue Treasure Pearl.

Lu Changsheng retrieved his Thunderstruck Fusang Wood from the Holy Maiden’s Storage Ring.

In addition, he found some high-quality spirit materials and a damaged spirit treasure.

He suspected the Holy Maiden had seized these from cultivators in Jiang Kingdom or Yue Kingdom.

But he had no intention of returning them.

After all, he wasn’t a saint.

Rescuing those cultivators and having his son return their life-bound treasures was as much as he could do.

Who would expect him to share his spoils as well?

There was no such thing in this world!

After processing the Holy Maiden’s aura and sorting most of the spoils, Lu Changsheng clutched two high-grade Spirit Stones and began regulating his magical energy.

“Uncle Li,”

Lu Qingxian and Lu Lingxiao, having wrapped up business in the Immortal City of Red Peak, hurried over to see Li Feiyu.

At the sound of Lu Qingxian’s address, Li Feiyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Yet, with a puzzled expression, he respectfully clasped his hands and said, “I’m hardly worthy of addressing you as such, Senior.”

Ever since he fled to Yue Kingdom and changed his name after joining the Asura Sect of Liang Kingdom to cultivate the Blood Asura Art,

his demeanor had altered drastically from his early years.

Moreover, back when he was in Jiang Kingdom, Lu Qingxian was barely in his teens; now, nearly a century had passed, making it impossible for him to recognize the present him.

“My father has always remembered Uncle Li, constantly inquiring after your news. During that battle on White Tiger Mountain, Qingxian was fortunate to catch a glimpse of you.”

Lu Qingxian, seeing Li Feiyu’s current state, sighed gently and said frankly, “Uncle Li once showed kindness to me, Xingyang, Ziyun, and the others—clearly recognizing us. Why then refuses to acknowledge us now?”

Li Feiyu’s face fell as he realized that Lu Qingxian had indeed recognized him.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been nearly impossible for the other party to recognize him.

Thus, there was only one explanation:

His old friend had frequently mentioned him, leaving Lu Qingxian with a lasting impression.

“Now that I have joined the demonic path, associating with you would only bring trouble. Besides, I haven’t done much for you in the past,”

Li Feiyu said in a low, slightly husky tone.

After decades, being recognized by the son of an old friend in such circumstances stirred a myriad of emotions in him.

“Adversity reveals true feelings. Uncle Li’s willingness to help in these times will be remembered by Qingxian forever.”

Lu Qingxian then spoke, “My father often speaks of you. Would you be willing to return to Jiang Kingdom?”

“Right now, with the demonic path at odds with the righteous, having joined the Asura Sect of Liang Kingdom, there’s no way I could return to Jiang Kingdom. Besides—”

Li Feiyu shook his head, unable to finish the latter part for fear of exposing his status as a detainee.

At least, with Lu Qingxian speaking up, it was clear he hadn’t completely fallen from grace.

Lu Qingxian understood the implication in Li Feiyu’s words. After a pause, he said, “Since the current Lord of Dameng City’s fate is intertwined with Bihu Mountain—and his mate is my Master—Uncle Li need not worry.”

He then asked, “Uncle Li, why did you join the Asura Sect?”

For decades, Li Feiyu had never discussed this matter with anyone.

Now, as Lu Qingxian pressed him, he sighed and recounted the events that occurred in the Immortal City of Qingluan.

He explained how he had narrowly escaped fate, then fortuitously obtained the Liang Kingdom Asura Sect’s legacy, which led him to secretly slip into Liang Kingdom and join them.

He glossed over the hardships,

only half-jokingly adding, “Breaking through to False Core is a level I once never dared imagine.”

Though the False Core True Immortal realm had once been nearly unreachable,

its potential was inherently limited. His life was destined to stagnate here.

Lu Qingxian fell silent.

He knew that Uncle Li’s subpar spirit root and solitary cultivation—without any background—made his journey extremely arduous.

Eventually, choosing to condense a False Core, he had no room for melancholy in his heart.

“Uncle Li, come back with me to Bihu Mountain. My father would be overjoyed to see you.”

Lu Qingxian spoke earnestly.

Aware of many of the Lu Family’s secrets and knowing his father was no ordinary man—possibly even the reincarnation of a great power—

it was certain that his father would remember Uncle Li’s past kindness.

“I won’t return to Jiang Kingdom. If you get too entangled with me, it might only bring unnecessary trouble to your family,”

Li Feiyu replied in a hoarse tone.

In the past, in pursuit of immortality, he had chosen Qingzhu Mountain as his son-in-law.

Later, with Lu Changsheng’s help, he severed those ties, embarked on adventures, and eventually forsook everything for the pursuit of cultivation, heading resolutely to the Immortal City of Qingluan.

Time flew quickly, and now, after over a hundred years, his father, siblings, and even his wife and children had all turned to dust.

In Jiang Kingdom, aside from his old friend Lu Changsheng, hardly anyone else remained.

In light of this, he couldn’t fathom a reason to return.

Lu Qingxian fell silent, then sighed, “Now that my father enjoys considerable reputation and status in Jiang Kingdom, Uncle Li needn’t worry about returning.”

“I have matters to attend to here. If you need anything, feel free to contact me,”

Lu Qingxian, though not particularly close to Li Feiyu, handed him a Message Talisman and bid him farewell before departing.

Li Feiyu simply nodded in response, accepting the talisman.

After Lu Qingxian left, Li Feiyu sighed deeply.

He recalled how an old friend once advised him to establish his own family under the rule of Azure Cloud, even offering the sacred grounds of White Tiger Mountain.

He wondered if returning to White Tiger Mountain and building a power base—with children and grandchildren all around—would have been better than his current state.

But Li Feiyu knew that even if he reverted to his old ways, he’d never be content with a mediocre life; he’d always strive for a promising future.

Now, with a condensed False Core and his path seemingly cut off, reduced to a ‘captive’, he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

“True Lord Changsheng, True Lord Qingxian, and Master Miaoge…”

Li Feiyu murmured under his breath, uncertain how to face his old comrades without returning to Jiang Kingdom or Bihu Mountain.

After years of idleness away from home, he had ultimately stagnated at the False Core stage.

Meanwhile, his old friends had not only broken through Core Formation but, together with their wives—the former young mistresses—had cultivated cores through mutual cultivation, garnering fame in both Jiang and Yue Kingdoms.

They were once mocked for only desiring wives and children; now, their offspring included three Core Formation True Immortals that many families envied and sought to emulate.

After bidding farewell, Lu Qingxian and Li Feiyu went to the prisoner camp,

where Lu Changsheng received a report on the Immortal City’s status and Li Feiyu’s condition.

“Your father has been informed,”

Lu Changsheng, deducing his friend’s mood, made no further demands.

He planned to meet him later as True Lord Changsheng for a leisurely chat.

“Examine the spoils in the Immortal City with Lu Lingxiao; select what you need, then run it past Golden Roc for approval,”

Lu Changsheng, always generous with his children and companions, instructed plainly.

He then tossed the Thunderstruck Fusang Wood back to Lu Qingxian.

“Thank you, Father,” Lu Qingxian said, visibly relieved to have the Thunderstruck Fusang Wood returned.

His body, infused with the power of lightning and fire, was just a few strides away from ascending to a superior spirit body.

Without the Thunderstruck Fusang Wood, however, metamorphosing would have been overwhelmingly difficult.

“Go handle the city’s affairs. You and Lu Lingxiao decide together without worrying about others’ opinions. If urgent, report to me,”

Lu Changsheng declared, completely entrusting the Immortal City to his son and Lu Lingxiao, insisting that trivial matters not disturb him.

“Yes, Father,”

Lu Qingxian, recognizing that his father wasn’t concerned with the city’s spoils or resources, realized his visit was likely for the safety of those involved in the Liang-Yue War.

Time passed by slowly.

Under the control of Lu Lingxiao, Lu Qingxian, and Golden-Winged Roc, the Immortal City of Red Peak remained stable.

Yet, cultivators from both Jiang and Yue Kingdoms, as well as prisoners from Liang and Yuan Kingdoms, all sensed an impending storm.

They believed that a great battle was imminent in Red Peak—a Nascent Soul-level battle!

Although the demonic cultivators from Liang and Yuan Kingdoms had witnessed Lu Changsheng’s sword decimate a fourth-tier Beast King and effortlessly subdue the Holy Maiden,

they were convinced that once True Lord Nine Spirits arrived, they could counter and handle this Lord of Dameng City and True Lord Yangming.

After all, True Lord Nine Spirits not only wielded unsurpassed strength as a top-tier veteran Nascent Soul cultivator,

but also commanded the formidable Golden Mane Lion King as his beast guardian!

As the might of the Beast God Mountain’s strongest guardian, the Golden Mane Lion King was a terrifying force hardly any less formidable than True Lord Nine Spirits.

Moreover, in addition to True Lord Nine Spirits and the Golden Mane Lion King, Liang Kingdom also had True Lord Tiancang, True Lord Huangquan, True Lord Incinerating Wither, True Lord Yunmei, and two Nascent Soul True Lords from Yuan Kingdom on standby.

Such forces far surpassed the combined strength of the cultivators from Jiang and Yue Kingdoms!

Even after hearing of Lord of Dameng City’s slaying of a fourth-tier Beast King and subjugation of the Holy Maiden, many in Jiang and Yue Kingdoms remained only half persuaded.

They feared that True Lord Nine Spirits, along with True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Huangquan, might soon descend upon Red Peak.

Yet, the coming storm arrived far sooner than they expected!

On the very next day after the Immortal City was taken over, a torrential, dragon-like wave of muddy Yellow Springs roared across the distant horizon, sweeping over endless gusts of chilling wind with an awe-inspiring, intimidating force.

“Moonshadow!”

Even though Red Peak was defended by a fourth-tier array, its ruins could not hide the discerning eyes of a cultivator like the Flood Dragon Holy Son.

As he approached Red Peak, the Flood Dragon Holy Son immediately spotted the corpse of a fourth-tier Beast King, slain by Lu Changsheng’s sword.

This massive body was too large to be dealt with by the standard Spirit Pet Bag or Storage Ring given the time constraints.

Thus, Qian Zhuyan was forced to carve out the usable materials from the Beast King’s body while Golden-Winged Roc selected the best portions to consume.

“Moonshadow!” the Flood Dragon Holy Son shouted in alarm. His entire Nascent Soul aura and magical energy roared, and a huge dragon phantom howled as if mourning all life.

“No good!”

“It’s the Flood Dragon Holy Son—True Lord Huangquan!”

“True Lord Huangquan is here!”

Senior cultivators in Red Peak, upon hearing the commotion, reacted with a mixture of fear, astonishment, and delight.

High officials from Jiang and Yue Kingdoms quickly gathered to inquire of Lu Lingxiao about the whereabouts of the Lord of Dameng City.

“Is this the Flood Dragon Holy Son?”

Lu Lingxiao, who had only heard of him but never seen him, glanced outside and could only see raging, surging waves of Yellow Springs and a dragon phantom snapping its jaws as if to bury all living things.

His expression grew grave as he immediately went to inform his father.

However, turning around, he noticed Golden-Winged Roc—a youth-like figure with piercing eyes—staring coldly at the dragon phantom outside, as if eyeing its prey with burning desire.

The Golden-Winged Roc descended from a lineage of Golden Roc birds, whose innate nature was to feast on dragon kin.

Seeing the Flood Dragon Holy Son, fused with the remnants of Yellow Springs’ soul, Golden-Winged Roc felt an overwhelming primal hunger!

If he could devour the Flood Dragon Holy Son, it would greatly benefit his bloodline.

However, Golden-Winged Roc knew the Flood Dragon Holy Son was not an easy target.

To devour him, he would need help from Master.

Recalling Turtle Immortal Patriarch, he silently wondered if Master would again seize him rather than allow him a taste.

“So soon?”

Before Lu Lingxiao could report further, Lu Changsheng had already sensed the fierce approach of the Flood Dragon Holy Son.

Apart from the Flood Dragon Holy Son, he detected two additional Nascent Soul auras on the horizon—one of which seemed vaguely familiar.

“True Lord Tiancang!”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes gleamed as he activated his divine sense—using Fiery Eyes of Truth and the Qi-Gazing Technique—to recognize that the familiar Nascent Soul cultivator was most likely True Lord Tiancang.

“If heaven offers a path and you refuse it while hell’s gates close behind, it spares True Lord Ben the trouble of settling accounts one by one!”

With a cold expression, Lu Changsheng showed no fear towards the three Nascent Soul cultivators advancing upon him.

He even wondered how these three upstarts dared cause him trouble.

Had it been top-tier cultivators such as Star King, Zhenhai Patriarch, or Turtle Immortal Patriarch, it might have been different.

But a newly risen Nascent Soul Flood Dragon Holy Son, a True Lord Tiancang whose aura had been shattered in the past and rebuilt—hardly matching the might of True Lord Mingsha—and a third cultivator whose strength barely reached the early Nascent Soul stage,

Lu Changsheng speculated if these three had some hidden backup, merely a facade, with True Lord Nine Spirits or the Demonic Mastermind lurking in the shadows.

He then invoked his Fourth-Rank Divination technique by tossing a divination coin to gauge his fate.

Despite interference from heavenly destiny, the omen revealed no imminent danger.

“Do not be lulled into complacency by a favorable sign!”

Lu Changsheng believed these three must have a hidden ace up their sleeve—even if he could handle them now,

if True Lord Nine Spirits or the Demonic Mastermind suddenly intervened and whisked them away, it would complicate matters immensely.

It was best to seize this opportunity and eliminate the Flood Dragon Holy Son and True Lord Tiancang once and for all!

“Got it!”

Ideas surged in his mind as Lu Changsheng devised a plan.

“Father!”

Just then, Lu Lingxiao hurried over to report the Flood Dragon Holy Son’s approach.

“I’ve already been informed,”

Lu Changsheng replied calmly as a Divine Maiden’s Furnace materialized in his hand. The furnace lid opened, releasing the Holy Maiden’s aura.

“Huh!?” Lu Lingxiao exclaimed in confusion, wondering why his father had unleashed the Holy Maiden’s aura.

Then, a pure white, spherical projectile shot forth from Lu Changsheng’s crown, entering the Holy Maiden’s body and settling into her Qi Sea Dantian.

In an instant, the Holy Maiden’s eyes flew open, their pupils glowing with a deep, mysterious purple radiance, and she rose to regard Lu Changsheng.

“Not bad. As long as no magical energy is used, no flaws should be apparent,”

Lu Changsheng mused as he examined the Holy Maiden before him.

Using the Three Treasure Incarnation Pearl as his medium, he manipulated her aura.

Yet such control was easily detected—once any action was taken, his scheme would be exposed.

However, he had noted how the Flood Dragon Holy Son was so smitten with the Holy Maiden that he planned to use her as bait to lure not only him but also the hidden True Lord Nine Spirits!

“But it still falls a bit short,”

Lu Changsheng produced a beast-control collar retrieved from the Holy Maiden’s Storage Ring, tossing it onto her slender, snowy neck. He then fastened a chain to the collar.

Still, looking only at the collar on her neck, Lu Changsheng felt it lacked a certain flair.

He rummaged further through the Storage Ring and found another chain, which he secured around her delicate wrists and ankles. With every step she took, the clattering sound of chains accompanied her.

Although this further suppressed and restrained her aura—adversely affecting Lu Changsheng’s control—it was exactly the effect he desired.

Flood Dragon Holy Son, unable to discern the true state of the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain from behind the massive array of Red Peak Immortal City, felt an overwhelming shame and impulsively struck out.

“Let’s go,” he ordered.

In an instant, Lu Changsheng led the Holy Maiden out of the prisoner camp.

Lu Lingxiao, despite his Emperor’s Golden Eyes, noticed that something was amiss with Holy Maiden’s body and Qi.

However, his cultivation was too low to detect that her Nascent Soul Body lacked the support of a Nascent Soul Spirit – instead, it was being manipulated by his Father through a manifestation treasure.

He could only seethe at the thought that his Father was so shamelessly debasing Holy Maiden, an outright insult to Beast God Mountain!

Especially when whispers claimed that Flood Dragon Holy Son adored her beyond measure.

If he were to witness this scene firsthand, he’d surely lose his sanity.

“Quickly, release Holy Maiden so she may face the True Lord!”

Under Flood Dragon Holy Son’s relentless assault, violent clashes and erratic flashes of array light shook Immortal City, leaving its cultivators’ Blood Energy unstable.

Without Lu Changsheng, the Nascent Soul True Lord, orchestrating the array’s operation,

the injured cultivators from Jiang Kingdom and Yue Kingdom—whose magical energy hadn’t yet recovered—could hardly hold back Flood Dragon Holy Son within the Immortal City’s formation.

“True Lord Golden Roc!”

Many cultivators turned their gaze toward Golden-Winged Roc, inquiring about Lu Qingxian and the Lord of Dameng City.

“Who dares shout such defiance here!”

At that moment, a calm, indifferent voice cut through the clamor of Immortal City.

Everyone’s eyes shifted toward its source.

There, the imposing Lord of Dameng City—dressed in a dark robe and cape, tall and dignified with a scholarly yet heroic mien—was seen stepping through the air.

But nothing shocked them more than the chain he held in his hand.

At the chain’s end, it was securely fastened to an Animal-Control Collar, inscribed with binding runes, that encircled the graceful neck of Holy Maiden.

Not long ago, the Holy Maiden, with her wild and flowing purple hair exuding both arrogance and noble grace as the True Lord Youyue,

now found herself paraded like a slave pet by the Lord of Dameng City, dragged openly toward the city wall before everyone’s eyes.

This…this is just…

The cultivators within Immortal City wore expressions of sheer horror.

They watched as Holy Maiden was dragged in utter disgrace, the chains on her wrists and ankles clattering noisily with every collision.

In that moment, they could already imagine the wrath of True Lord Huangquan and the ire of Beast God Mountain.

Treating Holy Maiden in such a manner was nothing less than trampling on the honor of Beast God Mountain – a flagrant act of humiliation and abuse.

“How dare he…”

“What feud does this Lord of Dameng City have with Beast God Mountain to allow such shamelessness?”

“That City Lord Wang was once Yangming True Lord – it appears Yangming True Lord had a deep grudge with True Lord Tiancang of Beast God Mountain.”

Senior cultivators from Jiang Kingdom and Liang Kingdom gasped, utterly astounded by Lu Changsheng’s actions.

They feared that True Lord Nine Spirits of Beast God Mountain might soon arrive and, in a furious outburst, raze Red Peak Immortal City.

Outside Red Peak Immortal City, Flood Dragon Holy Son, upon seeing Holy Maiden dragged to the city wall by Lu Changsheng, burned with rage, his eyes searing as murderous intent surged like a tidal wave.

“Yangming, how dare you disgrace my true wife like this! I, the Nascent Soul True Lord of Beast God Mountain, will tear you limb from limb and annihilate your entire clan!”

Flood Dragon Holy Son roared like a predatory beast, his pale red eyes glowing fiercely as he glared at Lu Changsheng with seething hatred.

For Holy Maiden was his dream goddess, the divine woman of his heart!

Seeing his goddess treated like a mere pet, his anguish was unbearable!

In his roar, his Nascent Soul magical energy boiled and raged, while a churn of murky Yellow Spring energy roared around him like tumultuous waves carrying countless ghostly wails.

His outburst echoed throughout Red Peak Immortal City, leaving the cultivators pale as if unseen claws and blades were tearing through their thoughts.

“Your boast of annihilating my clan is outrageously audacious!”

Lu Changsheng snorted coldly as he unleashed his Divine Ability, ‘Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture,’ subduing Flood Dragon Holy Son within a roaring surge that relentlessly pounded him.

“Roar, roar, roar!” With that, a jade seal materialized above Flood Dragon Holy Son’s head and merged with the surging Yellow Spring energy, transforming him into a colossal Yellow Spring Flood Dragon that battled against the Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture.

Yet, the moment they clashed, Flood Dragon Holy Son realized he was no match for Yangming True Lord.

Even unleashing his full might, he could only hold his ground partially.

“Ah Wu!”

While engaged with Flood Dragon Holy Son, Lu Changsheng kept a wary eye on the shadowed presence of True Lord Nine Spirits, the Demonic Mastermind.

He immediately discerned that Flood Dragon Holy Son’s power was on par with that of True Lord Mingsha – a single sword strike could have ended him.

Such an audacious challenge was clearly backed by formidable allies!

Yet aside from detecting True Lord Tiancang and a certain Nascent Soul-level Asura blood aura linked to the demonic path, he sensed no other Nascent Soul auras.

He then activated the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror to scan the surroundings.

Considering that True Lord Nine Spirits, being a Nascent Soul cultivator, might practice techniques that sealed magical energy and even heavenly secret methods, it wasn’t easy to unravel their auras.

Lu Changsheng tightened the chain in his hand, forcing the binding runes on the Animal-Control Collar around Holy Maiden’s neck to intertwine painfully as her face twisted in agony and she dropped to her knees.

Holy Maiden was not only the Nascent Soul True Lord of Beast God Mountain but also seemingly a junior to True Lord Nine Spirits.

Witnessing this scene, no one could remain unaffected.

“Y-you let her go!”

Flood Dragon Holy Son, upon seeing this, felt his heart wrench in pain and roared hoarsely, realizing that breaching the Immortal City to rescue Holy Maiden now seemed nearly impossible.

“If you’re willing to let her go, name any demand—any condition you desire!”

Flood Dragon Holy Son glared, his eyes full of unbridled fury and a burning desire to dismember Lu Changsheng, tear him limb from limb, and devour his flesh.

But with Holy Maiden in the adversary’s grasp, his own strength fell short; he had no choice but to seek another way.

“Any condition will do?”

Lu Changsheng looked at Flood Dragon Holy Son in astonishment, surprised at the depths of his infatuation.

As a war god devoted to pure love, Lu Ancestor’s heart softened with pity.

Just then, True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Incinerating Wither arrived.

They, too, wore expressions of anger at the unfolding chaos in Red Peak Immortal City.

After all, Holy Maiden was the Nascent Soul True Lord of Beast God Mountain.

To see her humiliated so openly by Lu Changsheng was nothing short of a slap in the face – a blatant assault on the dignity of Beast God Mountain and even on the honor of nascent cultivators in Liang Kingdom.

“Yangming True Lord, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, aren’t you afraid that one day your loved ones will fall prey to Beast God Mountain?”

True Lord Tiancang glowered at Lu Changsheng, his tone grave.

Although Lu Changsheng bore the visage of the Lord of Dameng City,

the nearby Golden-Winged Roc and his use of Yin-Yang Qi Great Capture against Flood Dragon Holy Son betrayed that he was, in fact, the Yangming True Lord who once shattered his own body and Qi.

“As long as you release Holy Maiden, name your demand—if I can meet it, I will let her go!”

Flood Dragon Holy Son clenched his fists and glared at Lu Changsheng, his eyes ablaze as the Yellow Spring energy roiled around him.

“If that is so, then hand over your Heart Blood so I can set the Slave Mark, and I will free her.”

Lu Changsheng pinched his chin and replied.

At these words, Flood Dragon Holy Son’s expression twisted in horror.

The formidable might of Yangming True Lord was evident; he had mastered countless methods of enslavement.

For Flood Dragon Holy Son, surrendering his Heart Blood to allow such a mark to be set meant accepting a life of servitude under his control.

“Huangquan, don’t listen to his nonsense!” True Lord Tiancang shouted, his magical energy surging as he moved to restrain him, fearful of what might unfold.

“What? Are you hesitating now?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow with a half-smirk and remarked, “It seems you aren’t truly in love. If you wouldn’t even accept being enslaved for her sake, what right do you have to claim you love her?”

“No—I would do anything for Holy Maiden!”

At this, Flood Dragon Holy Son’s eyes turned red as he trembled and roared.

Though hundreds of years had passed,

he still recalled that brief glimpse of Holy Maiden when, as a menial disciple feeding scale-horses, he first saw her!

From that moment on, he fell irrevocably in love with her!

There was no need for any other reason.

Her wild beauty, unyielding demeanor, dignity, strength, and every graceful detail—from her flowing hair to her delicate toes—had enraptured him completely.

It was this maddening love for Holy Maiden that enabled him to withstand the onslaught of the shattered Yellow Spring Flood Dragon soul and merge with its remnants.

For him, Holy Maiden was everything.

He was ready to sacrifice all for her!

Granted, Flood Dragon Holy Son’s bold move was tinged with a hint of reckless gamble.

Once, a foe had attempted to seize his body using soul secret arts, only to be devoured by the remnants of the Yellow Spring Flood Dragon.

Now, fully merged with those remnants, perhaps he could harness this power to break free of the slave mark.

“???”

At this juncture, Lu Changsheng was utterly dumbfounded.

“Hey, buddy, I was just stalling—joking—to give Ah Wu a chance to scout out True Lord Nine Spirits and the Demonic Mastermind.”

“You really fell for that?”

Lu Changsheng was speechless, torn between admiring Flood Dragon Holy Son’s infatuation and pitying his groveling.

Earlier, Flood Dragon Holy Son had even declared Holy Maiden his wife, yet she was clearly untouched.

“Wife? Untouched?”

“Damn it, stop being such a hopeless simp, you wimp!”

Might as well call you Dragon-Turtle Holy Son.

Lu Changsheng was completely stumped by Flood Dragon Holy Son’s antics.

No one could deny it.

Even the cultivators in Red Peak Immortal City were stunned, frozen in shock.

Though Flood Dragon Holy Son’s infatuation with Holy Maiden was no secret among the upper echelons of Yue Kingdom,

this level of obsessive devotion was simply absurd!

For the sake of Holy Maiden, he was willing to surrender his Heart Blood and accept a Slave Mark.

In that moment, all eyes shifted between Flood Dragon Holy Son, the imposing Lord of Dameng City in his dark robe, and Holy Maiden, kneeling in restraints under the Animal-Control Collar—no one could describe the scene.

Even True Lord Tiancang was dumbfounded.

He knew just how madly Flood Dragon Holy Son adored Holy Maiden.

Her chance to break through to Nascent Soul was aided not only by True Lord Nine Spirits’ efforts but also by Flood Dragon Holy Son’s intervention.

Yet he never imagined Flood Dragon Holy Son would descend into such insanity for her.

It was downright ridiculous!

“Fine, now hand over your Heart Blood.”

Lu Changsheng addressed Flood Dragon Holy Son, eager to see if he was truly a simp, while Taiyi Spirit continued using the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror to monitor the area.

“Huangquan!”

True Lord Tiancang, seeing Flood Dragon Holy Son slash his eyebrow as if to extract his Heart Blood, surged with magical energy and moved to restrain him, fearing the situation might spiral further.

Lu Changsheng watched as the slash appeared on Flood Dragon Holy Son’s eyebrow, stunned that he had actually chosen to surrender his Heart Blood.

What a simp, indeed!

Yet, looking at True Lord Tiancang’s anxious intervention

and noting that neither he nor Ah Wu had detected any trace of True Lord Nine Spirits or the Demonic Mastermind despite their prolonged scouting,

Lu Changsheng realized that the three rushing in were not stealthy True Lord Nine Spirits or the Demonic Mastermind at all, but likely a desperate move by Flood Dragon Holy Son himself.

“Damn it, mere three pathetic Nascent Souls dare to defy the True Lord!”

Lu Ancestor suddenly understood he had been overly cautious, having frightened himself for nothing.

A Nine Calamity Sword materialized in his hand.

“True Lord Golden Roc! Xiao Yan!”

Lu Changsheng brandished the Nine Calamity Sword and called out to Golden Roc and Qian Zhuyan, intent on decisively ending the confrontation once and for all.