Chapter 906: Late-Stage Nascent Soul’s Divine Perception

Southern Desolation and the Northern Region, Yan Yang Kingdom.

The Yan Yang Kingdom is the top cultivation nation in the Southern Desolation and Northern Region. Its dominant power is the Golden Sun Sect, led by a Nascent Soul powerhouse renowned throughout the region.

Although the distant Jiang Kingdom and Liang Region lie far away in the north, they’re remote and seldom visited.

As the premier Northern Region sect, the Golden Sun Sect boasts vast information channels. When Yangming True Lord captured four Nascent Souls during the Liang–Yue War, they learned the news and watched closely.

Now word of Yangming True Lord’s defeat of six Nascent Souls, his conquest of Beast God Mountain, and the end of the Liang Kingdom spread to the Golden Sun Sect’s leaders.

The Golden Sun Sect’s stronghold is a mountain wreathed in blazing flames that seem to connect with the sun itself.

In a fourth-rank cave residence on the peak, a red-faced barefoot old man played chess with a white-haired elder in gray robes.

The red-faced man grimaced as his pieces were driven into a corner. He nearly swept the board in frustration.

Just then, he paused, sensing something. His eyes widened.

“Daoist Bai, news of the Liang–Yue War has arrived. That Yangming True Lord didn’t just capture multiple Nascent Souls—he crushed Beast God Mountain and ended the war.”

The red-faced man spoke up.

“So soon?” the gray-robed elder exclaimed.

“The report came straight from our sect—there’s no mistake.”

“Daoist Bai,” the red-faced man asked, “what’s Yangming True Lord’s background? He can’t be one of the Five Grand Mystic Gates, can he?”

Not only Mo Luo suspected Yangming True Lord was a disguised Central Domain cultivator, but this Northern Region powerhouse felt the same.

After all, every Nascent Soul titan’s rise follows a pattern. Yangming True Lord’s sudden emergence was too suspicious.

“If he were one of our Five Gates, would I let you ask about him?” Daoist Bai shook his head.

“Since he’s no trick of the Five Gates, perhaps this Yangming True Lord truly is a reincarnation or has seized a host to rebuild.”

The red-faced man frowned. “First there was Qingluan True Lord in the Jiang Kingdom, and now this Yangming True Lord appears. Could this place hide some great opportunity?”

In the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, Qingluan True Lord’s name spread among Northern Region powers.

“No matter his origin, as long as he’s not one of the Seven Demonic Sects, I don’t care.”

Daoist Bai said, “And as for hidden opportunities—no matter how remote, any blessed land here would already be claimed by the two of them. I plan to meet Yangming True Lord in person. If I can win him over, it’ll strengthen us against future calamities.”

He turned to the red-faced man. “Daoist Huo, will you come?”

“Ha,” the red-faced man laughed. “I’ll pass. I have no interest in him.”

The barefoot elder waved his hand.

Although Yangming True Lord and he both hailed from the Southern Desolation and Northern Region, the Northern Domain is vast. Normally, the Jiang Kingdom and the Golden Sun Sect rarely interact.

Visiting a newly risen Nascent Soul titan held no appeal for him.

Fire Patriarch laughed again, then said with mild interest, “Daoist Bai, I hear this Yangming True Lord is closely connected to Qingluan True Lord.”

“Back then Qingluan True Lord gained a great opportunity and was attacked by many powers. His fate remains unknown. If this Yangming True Lord is the former Yangming True Lord’s reincarnation, he’s bound to make big moves.”

As a veteran Northern Region titan, he found few things surprising anymore. But Yangming True Lord’s rapid rise intrigued him. He wanted to see if this man could truly stand firm in the North.

“Qingluan True Lord?”

Though Daoist Bai came from the Central Domain, he’d spent years in the North and had heard of Qingluan True Lord’s exploits—just not the details.

He turned to Fire Patriarch for more information.

“Ro Fuzish,” Fire Patriarch said.

In moments, Daoist Bai learned the full story. His expression tightened.

He’d heard of Ro Fuzish and knew his background.

Though one of the Northern Region’s giants, he wasn’t native. He’d risen in the Central Domain before fleeing to the North.

“Thanks for the warning, Daoist Huo.” Daoist Bai cupped his hands, his eagerness to recruit Yangming True Lord tempered.

But he still planned to visit and learn more.

Meanwhile, in the Starry Sea at Starrymoon Hall, the Star King also received news from the Jiang Kingdom.

Information on the Great Dream City Lord—Yangming True Lord’s capture of six Nascent Souls—arrived quickly.

After fleeing back to Starrymoon Hall, the Star King acted as if nothing had happened and threw himself into seclusion, divining his own fortunes.

He sent agents to the Zhenhai Seven Sects’ territories to probe the Zhenhai Patriarch’s condition.

He also sent scouts to the Jiang Kingdom to learn about the Immortal City of Damengze and its city lord.

Seeing no reaction from the Seven Sects despite such upheaval, the Star King suspected the Turtle Immortal Patriarch lay in dire straits.

He believed the Zhenhai Patriarch had covered up his sect’s troubles to avoid detection.

As for whether the Patriarch truly faced danger, he used divination through earlier contacts. The result: no mortal peril.

Now, news of Great Dream City Lord Yangming True Lord unsettled the Star King.

He was now absolutely certain the city lord was a top-tier powerhouse reborn.

Even if not the reincarnation of the Yuhai Mountain Lord he guessed, his origin was extraordinary.

At last, he laid down his jade slip, determined to gather energy and spend vast resources divining his fortune again.

The boundless Dream Marshes spread out below.

“Is this the Immortal City of Damengze?”

A striking woman in blue-white robes gazed at the city, whispering.

This was Qin Yuning, sent by Shen Jianjia to deliver a message.

The journey from Penglai Island to the Immortal City was long. She first crossed the Mist Sea Restricted Area, then the Starry Sea.

Even as a Core Formation cultivator with a secret treasure from her master Shen Jianjia, danger lurked. It took her over half a year to arrive.

Without hesitation, she lightly veiled her cultivation, summoned a light beam, and raced toward the city.

In the Liang Kingdom.

Though the Liang–Yue War ended months ago, Jiang-Yue powers remained busy.

After such vast territory changed hands, settling cultivators and rearranging their allegiances takes time.

That day, the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain arrived in the Liang Kingdom with Core Formation cultivators from the Heavenly Corpse Sect and Five Poisons Sect.

Spotting patrol cultivators, she sent a message to True Lord Xuanjian using Yangming True Lord’s tally order instead of entering directly.

Hours later, True Lord Xuanjian arrived.

He’d already heard the news.

He studied the pale lavender-haired, icy Holy Maiden and her escort. His eyes narrowed.

Beast God Mountain, the Heavenly Corpse Sect, and the Five Poisons Sect had long been his enemies at Heavenly Sword Sect.

Now all three swore fealty to Yangming True Lord.

He knew full well about their submission.

But the Holy Maiden’s swift surrender and her return to the Liang Kingdom to assume control of Beast God Mountain took him by surprise.

So soon?

“Nine Spirits True Lord?”

He could only guess Yangming True Lord used Nine Spirits True Lord to coerce her into submission.

After all, both Nine Spirits True Lord’s Nascent Soul Spirit Body and the Gold-Mane Lion King were under Yangming True Lord’s control.

Seeing the Four major Nascent Soul powers of Five Poisons Sect, Heavenly Corpse Sect, Asura Sect, and Beast God Mountain under his banner, even he felt pressured.

Too quick.

Yangming True Lord’s rise was astonishing.

If he’d already subdued both Nine Spirits True Lord and Tiancang True Lord, then the Immortal City of Damengze would instantly rank among the region’s top powers.

Though these allied forces were loosely bound and less reliable than his own followers, their strength was undeniable.

As long as Yangming True Lord remained, they’d stay united.

“Greetings, True Lord Xuanjian.” The Holy Maiden bowed coolly.

“Mm.” Xuanjian gave a curt nod.

He summoned a Core Formation cultivator to supervise her as she accepted control of Beast God Mountain’s assets.

Local cultivators watched in amazement.

Wasn’t she captured by Yangming True Lord? Why was she released?

When word spread that the Holy Maiden had surrendered, cultivators from the Jiang, Yue, and Liang kingdoms were stunned.

They never expected her to submit so quickly.

“No wonder Yangming True Lord even tamed the Holy Maiden,” they murmured.

“I once met her—she’s ruthless. How could she bow to anyone?”

“Besides, Beast God Mountain fell at Yangming True Lord’s hands, and even True Lord Juejian was captured by him and True Lord Xuanjian.”

“Exactly. After Beast God Mountain’s fall, she had no choice but to submit.”

“Yangming True Lord spares no one. He let go of Incinerating Wither True Lord and now releases the Holy Maiden. Will the Jiang Kingdom soon become a demonic power?”

Many Jiang-Yue cultivators gossiped in awe. Some privately resented Yangming True Lord’s clemency toward Liang’s leaders.

After so many years of war, these Liang cultivators held the blood of Jiang-Yue cultivators in their hands.

Yet few dared voice their anger openly.

“Damn it.”

Incinerating Wither True Lord felt no relief at the Holy Maiden’s surrender—only pressure.

Until now, Yangming True Lord relied on him to subdue Liang Kingdom forces.

But now the Holy Maiden joined too.

Worse, by using secret techniques to power up, his serious injuries and oath violations had injured his Essence. He fell to the bottom tier of Nascent Souls.

Even fully healed, he was weaker than the Holy Maiden.

Incinerating Wither True Lord raced thoughts through his mind—how to regain his master’s favor without being discarded.

“Cursed thief, you swine!”

During the Liang–Yue War, Yun Wanshang’s opinion of Lu Changsheng improved dramatically.

Though she knew him as a cunning philanderer whose sweet words hid no sincerity, she respected his resolve and courage above most cultivators.

But when she heard the Holy Maiden had surrendered, she immediately thought of romance—imagining he’d let desire sway him.

Though truly subduing the Holy Maiden bolstered his control of Beast God Mountain’s forces and captives, Jiang-Yue leaders drew the same conclusion.

But Yun Wanshang knew Yangming True Lord was Lu Changsheng.

So she assumed the worst.

Moreover, in the Liang–Yue War, many Liang Nascent Soul cultivators suffered grievously—Incinerating Wither True Lord nearly died, Tiancang True Lord and Qianren True Lord self-destructed to escape, and the Flood Dragon Holy Son’s Nascent Soul Spirit Body was devoured by Yangming True Lord’s spirit pet, the Golden-Winged Roc.

Yet the Holy Maiden emerged unscathed, her body and cultivation intact.

Not only Yun Wanshang but also Xiao Xiyue, Lu Wangshu, Lu Lingxiao, and Lu Qingshan thought the same.

They suspected the Holy Maiden was more than a mere subordinate—perhaps a cherished reward.

After all, Lu Changsheng’s reputation with women was legendary.

And the Holy Maiden’s beauty was unrivaled—she’d been adored by the Flood Dragon Holy Son and worshipped by many as a goddess.

Hearing of her surrender, Lu Qingshan recalled his own master’s amorous ways.

Though his master lacked scruples, his father dared recruit the Holy Maiden so quickly—his methods spoke volumes.

Introducing one’s master to one’s father seemed natural enough.

If his master could break through Nascent Soul, they’d gain another Nascent Soul subordinate.

It would also benefit Golden Sun Sect—using this chance to claim an extra fourth-rank spiritual land from the Liang Kingdom and solidify its Nascent Soul power.

Lu Qingshan planned to visit his father but realized his father had already left.

The current True Lord Changsheng was actually the fourth-rank puppet “Senior Qianzhu” in disguise. He shook his head.

He’d wait until things settled to ask later.

Meanwhile, news of the Holy Maiden’s submission spread through other cultivation nations’ informants.

Although the Liang Kingdom was under Heavenly Sword Sect’s control, no spy network could fully seal off such news.

Especially with Yangming True Lord’s reputation on the rise, many sent cultivators to the Liang Kingdom to investigate.

These Core Formation spies used artifacts and disguises—short of a Nascent Soul True Lord performing divinations, they couldn’t be stopped.

True Lord Xuanjian didn’t bother.

As long as these powers caused no trouble in the Jiang or Liang kingdoms, he’d turn a blind eye.

Now that he’d gained Liang territory and abundant resources, his top priority was relocating Heavenly Sword Sect to Beast God Mountain.

Then he’d channel the spiritual veins of the Barebody Sect and Tiansha Sect there, using that force and fortune to break into mid-Nascent Soul and train a third Nascent Soul cultivator.

In the Jin Kingdom at Yin Ghost Sect.

Lu Quanzhen’s departure hadn’t disrupted sect affairs.

He’d handed over duties early to Lu Minghuang.

Moreover, Yin Ghost Sect already ran on mature systems—nothing required his presence unless an emergency occurred.

That day, in the deepest chamber of Yin Ghost Sect, a terrifying divine-soul pressure suddenly filled the cave residence.

Not only Meng Xiaochan but even the dozing Ti Hun Beast awoke squeaking in alarm.

Thankfully, the pressure lasted only moments. Meng Xiaochan relaxed.

She knew her husband was refining a divine ability.

She immediately activated the cave’s fourth-rank array and sent word to Master Nangong Mili to power up the sect’s grand array, preventing further celestial disturbances.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

Upon receiving the notice, Nangong Mili instantly activated the grand array and comforted sect cultivators.

Still, Nascent Soul and above cultivators noticed the celestial upheaval.

A raging wind rose, gathering spiritual, yin, and ghostly energies as if summoning an ancient deity—fragments of golden and silver light entwined, forming auspicious radiance.

They knew Yangming True Lord was cultivating a secret divine technique.

Remembering the massive celestial upheaval five months earlier, they wondered why it had happened again—this time even grander.

Even with the sect’s grand array at full power, they couldn’t fully hide it.

Time passed. The celestial disturbance lasted about half a month before subsiding.

Inside the seclusion chamber, Lu Changsheng felt his divine soul reach unprecedented heights.

It was as if all things lay under his control.

His eyes opened.

In an instant, every bit of spiritual, yin, and ghostly qi in the cave swirled around him at his will.

“So this is the divine perception of late-stage Nascent Soul?”

Lu Changsheng whispered softly.