Chapter 923: Heading to the Forbidden Sea!

Shen Yiren’s heart trembled as she fell silent.

Indeed if she couldn’t even accept this openly how could she break through her mental barriers and overcome the heart demon tribulation?

One must know the heart demon tribulation seeped into every crack exposing the deepest truths of one’s heart.

“If the Third Palace Master insists on risking death during the heart demon tribulation to break through to Nascent Soul I won’t force you. I’ll turn and leave right now.”

“But I have one condition: let me take my bloodline from the Divine Maiden Palace.”

Lu Changsheng’s expression lost its earlier warmth gaining a touch of cold dominance.

“No!” Shen Yiren immediately snapped back in anger.

Before she had hoped her son Shen Yuanming would recognize Lu Changsheng as his father.

But now knowing Lu Changsheng’s situation she didn’t want her son to learn about him.

Lu Changsheng didn’t release the beauty in his arms. He softened his tone a bit and said “I’m confident in you Third Palace Master.”

“I believe with you around this child will get excellent resources education and nurturing.”

“But I’m not so sure about your sisters especially your second sister Shen Baishuang.”

Lu Changsheng’s words made it clear he thought Shen Yiren’s chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul were slim in her current state.

Shen Yiren wanted to say that even if she fell her son would still be the young lord of the Divine Maiden Palace cared for and raised by her sisters.

But the words caught in her throat.

She knew the core issue wasn’t that but a matter of trust between them.

The Lu True Lord before her didn’t trust her two sisters.

If she were gone he wouldn’t want his son staying in the Divine Maiden Palace.

At that point they might even come to blows over Shen Yuanming.

Shen Yiren’s face went blank her pearly teeth biting her lip unsure how to respond.

Lu Changsheng watched Shen Yiren pause in her struggle. He let out a soft sigh his gaze softening as he said “Everyone has flaws in their heart demons. If you keep avoiding and not facing them head-on you’ll never overcome this hurdle.”

As he spoke his fingertips gently brushed her stray hair. His voice carried an irresistible tenderness “You can try accepting this relationship. Treat me as an ordinary Dao companion the father of your child.”

“.” Shen Yiren felt his words made sense yet something seemed off.

If such matters were so easy why would they become flaws in one’s heart demons?

Lu Changsheng released her gazing into the distance with hands behind his back. “The events at White Dew Palace back then were a mental block for you Third Palace Master but weren’t they the same for me?”

“It disrupted so many of my plans. Afterward in the Great Void’s turbulent currents I encountered the Phantom Ship and got pulled into the Land of Eternal Night.”

“If not for my methods from a previous life I’d have been trapped there forever in this one. So tell me how could I face this calmly and come to the Divine Maiden Palace with a peaceful heart?”

Lu Changsheng stood in his green robe strikingly handsome speaking with calm indifference.

“Phantom Ship Land of Eternal Night?”

As the Third Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace Shen Yiren naturally knew of the Phantom Ship one of the Starry Sea’s four great calamities.

The Phantom Ship was utterly mysterious its origins unknown to all.

It wandered the Starry Sea like a true ghost.

Ancient records and handwritten notes about the Phantom Ship were a mix of truth and fiction.

Some said it connected to a spatial rift called the Netherworld Land; others claimed it was a ruined supreme treasure; still others believed it was a warship from some great power where the cultivators aboard perished turning into ship spirits awaiting revenge.

No matter what the Phantom Ship’s danger was undeniable. Most who encountered it vanished or died.

Shen Yiren never imagined that Lu True Lord had fled the Divine Maiden Palace only to face such a forbidden peril.

If they were settling scores this would count as a life-and-death grudge.

“Lu True Lord” Shen Yiren’s mind spun in chaos wanting to apologize on behalf of her second sister.

But how could such an ordeal be brushed aside with a simple apology?

“I’m telling you this Third Palace Master without any ulterior motive. I just want to say that the path of cultivation is fraught with hardships. We’ll face many things that seem impossible to overcome.”

“But if you succeed in stepping past them looking back they’ll seem like mere frost on the wind.”

“Once you break through your mental barriers and reach Nascent Soul Third Palace Master you’ll understand this mindset.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t elaborate on the Phantom Ship or the Land of Eternal Night.

He mentioned it partly to heighten Shen Yiren’s sense of guilt.

On the other hand it was meant for Shen Jianjia’s ears.

Though his divine sense detected no third party.

His spiritual sense vaguely felt someone spying on his conversation with Shen Yiren.

Lu Changsheng trusted his spiritual sense.

He guessed Shen Jianjia was watching them through some means.

“I’ve said all I need to. The choice is yours Third Palace Master.”

Lu Changsheng felt he’d said enough no need to push further.

Shen Yiren was quiet for a moment then lifted her gentle beautiful face. “Lu True Lord Yiren wants to try yesterday’s heart demon illusion again. Could you trouble yourself True Lord…”

Yesterday’s heart demon illusion had benefited her greatly.

His recent words had shifted her mindset a bit.

She wanted to use the heart demon illusion to face and question her true heart.

“Alright.” Lu Changsheng nodded activating the Six Desire Heart Demon Technique to stir Shen Yiren’s heart demons and seven emotions six desires forming the heart demon illusion.

At the same time in the Divine Maiden Palace Shen Jianjia gazed at the jade mirror linked to the palace’s formation restrictions.

The mirror reflected Lu Changsheng and Shen Yiren.

As Lu Changsheng sensed Shen Jianjia had been eavesdropping through the palace’s formations since their meeting.

She saw her little sister completely led along by this “old monster” Lu Changsheng.

But since their interests aligned on breaking through to Nascent Soul she hadn’t intervened.

“Phantom Ship…”

Shen Jianjia murmured pondering if Lu Changsheng’s tale of encountering the Phantom Ship and being drawn into the Land of Eternal Night was true.

If it was just a ploy to deepen her sister’s guilt it didn’t matter.

But if true that after leaving the Divine Maiden Palace he’d faced the Phantom Ship and barely escaped the Land of Eternal Night this needed serious attention.

Under Lu Changsheng’s Six Desire Heart Demon Technique Shen Yiren’s spirit flipped upside down gradually immersing in the heart demon illusion.

Lu Changsheng held her delicate form sitting cross-legged controlling the illusion.

Like yesterday joy sorrow pain and other emotions flickered across Shen Yiren’s face.

But not as intensely she wasn’t as lost in them.

After a long while Shen Yiren’s lashes fluttered as she opened her beautiful eyes seeing Lu Changsheng holding her.

“Thank you for your efforts Lu True Lord…”

Recalling the illusion’s scenes Shen Yiren’s cheeks flushed. She quickly stood and bowed with clasped hands.

“Not bad Yiren your performance in the heart demon illusion this time improved a lot from before. It seems you’ve found your answer.”

Lu Changsheng praised her.

Shen Yiren had indeed done much better than yesterday.

Though mainly because he’d weakened the illusion’s effects.

“But this heart demon illusion is ultimately just a secret technique simulation. It can’t compare to the real heart demon tribulation.”

Lu Changsheng held her fragrant shoulders speaking seriously.

In the next moment Shen Yiren saw Lu Changsheng’s impossibly handsome face draw near.

“???”

Shen Yiren felt her lips assaulted a warm soft scent filling her nose. Struck as if by lightning she pursed her pink lips and pushed Lu Changsheng away.

“I’m the child’s father we’re Dao companions. You need to accept and face this relationship.” Lu Changsheng’s voice echoed in Shen Yiren’s mind.

Hearing this Shen Yiren’s curved lashes lowered her beautiful eyes half-closing misting over.

Her slender graceful body rigid at first gradually softened.

Lu Changsheng holding her shoulders could clearly feel the beauty’s uncontrollable trembling.

After a while Lu Changsheng released the blushing beauty. “Just like that Yiren. As long as you accept this relationship and gradually open your heart the real heart demon tribulation won’t be a big issue.”

“.” Shen Yiren’s face showed shy annoyance yet a strange indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

Clearly such things were embarrassing yet she didn’t seem to reject this Lu True Lord.

Even during the process there was a hint of sweetness and wistfulness.

Shen Yiren felt dizzy and confused.

“Alright that’s enough for today. Yiren you’ve just gone through the heart demon illusion your mind must be exhausted. You need rest.”

Lu Changsheng’s expression was open his gaze clear and calm without a trace of desire.

As if the earlier intimacy was solely to help Shen Yiren break her mental barriers with no other intentions.

With that he turned and left the palace.

But at the main hall’s entrance Lu Changsheng paused.

He looked back at Shen Yiren. “Oh right Yiren pick a time and I’ll go see our child.”

The words “our child” made Shen Yiren’s heart jolt fiercely.

But by then Lu Changsheng in his green robe tall and straight like an immortal descended had already left the hall leaving Shen Yiren alone lost in thought.

At the same time in the Divine Maiden Palace Shen Jianjia’s face was cold.

Though from the scene and dialogue her sister’s knot seemed to be unraveling.

Her wariness toward Lu Changsheng hadn’t lessened at all in fact it had heightened.

“Hoo!” Shen Jianjia took a deep breath exhaling slowly to calm herself then headed to the library to search classics for information on the “Dragon Emperor Dao Body.”

As the saying goes haste makes waste.

Now that things with Shen Yiren had progressed Lu Changsheng didn’t push too hard lest he disrupt the rhythm.

Three days later Shen Yiren visited Lu Changsheng on her own.

She said she needed some time to prepare and adjust her mindset and state.

As for their son Shen Yuanming she confessed that after he left his background was unclear.

Considering the Divine Maiden Palace’s reputation and Shen Yuanming growing up to ask about his father.

She had publicly claimed Shen Yuanming was conceived from a dream of falling stars.

When Shen Yuanming was old enough she told him the same.

Now Shen Yuanming firmly believed this story.

“.” Lu Changsheng was speechless.

He hadn’t expected his son Shen Yuanming not only didn’t know about his father but didn’t even know he had one.

“If True Lord directly acknowledges Yuanming I’m afraid he won’t accept or believe it right away. So I want to prepare first wait for the right moment and explain it to Yuanming…”

Shen Yiren’s face was full of apology her expression uneasy her eyes pleading hopefully.

She knew this request was a bit much.

But over these days she really didn’t know how to tell her son about Lu Changsheng.

“It just so happens I have some matters to handle. In that case I’ll come back to the Divine Maiden Palace after I’m done.”

Lu Changsheng knew Shen Yiren’s Nascent Soul issue couldn’t be resolved quickly.

Besides his agreement with the Green Dragon King he had a pile of things in the Jiang Kingdom to deal with.

Since that was the case he’d advance by retreating giving Shen Yiren time to think calmly and adjust.

He’d first head to the Forbidden Sea fulfill his promise with the Green Dragon King then continue here.

“I’ll go see Yuanming first.” Lu Changsheng said.

Since he was here he naturally wanted to check on his son’s situation.

Shen Yiren was a bit stunned.

She hadn’t expected Lu Changsheng to agree so easily.

But hearing he had to leave a nameless wistfulness rose in her heart.

“Follow me Lu True Lord.”

Shen Yiren lightly pursed her red lips speaking softly leading Lu Changsheng to the cloud sea behind Divine Maiden Peak.

This was a forbidden area of the Divine Maiden Palace.

Normally only the three sisters could come here or those with a palace master’s decree.

Moments later Lu Changsheng saw his son cultivating cross-legged in the Yuan Magnetic field—Shen Yuanming.

With one glance Lu Changsheng could tell his son’s vital energy surged his body meridians and bones far surpassed ordinary people tough clear and spotless.

This wasn’t just from innate talent or the Yuan Magnetic Body’s effects.

It came from enjoying top-tier conditions and abundant resources since childhood building such a foundation.

With this even a fifth or sixth-grade spirit root would cultivate as fast as a first or second-grade one.

“As a Nascent Soul-level force the Divine Maiden Palace’s resources and nurturing even the current Bihu Mountain can’t compare.”

Though Lu Changsheng could give some children a foundation not inferior to Shen Yuanming’s.

He couldn’t provide every child such lavish conditions.

He then watched his son circulating Yuan Magnetic power with the surrounding field.

Lu Changsheng knew little of the Yuan Magnetic path.

But he could see his son’s technique was excellent and the field ingeniously set up by a formation grandmaster complementing his cultivation for twice the results with half the effort.

“With the Divine Maiden Palace master as an aunt this child won’t lack for techniques inheritance or cultivation resources.” Lu Changsheng thought.

Though Bihu Mountain’s conditions far exceeded other similar families it still couldn’t match a Nascent Soul force like the Divine Maiden Palace.

If Shen Yuanming were at Bihu Mountain he wouldn’t have such luxury.

Not only a matching top technique and a specially arranged field but also a late Core Formation cultivator constantly watching guiding his cultivation.

Seeing his son’s excellent conditions Lu Changsheng dropped the idea of taking him back to Bihu Mountain.

He felt staying in the Divine Maiden Palace for cultivation was fine.

Besides his current situation made it hard to care for him.

After asking Shen Yiren about Shen Yuanming’s situation Lu Changsheng returned to the palace with her performed another heart demon illusion for her then left the Divine Maiden Palace and Penglai Island.

Taking the Turtle Immortal Patriarch and Lu Lingjing he headed deep into the Forbidden Sea to meet the Green Dragon King.

This matter had dragged on too long past the agreed time. Lu Changsheng didn’t want to delay any further.