Chapter 454: Yun Wanshang: Is this swordsman Lu Changsheng?

In the northern reaches of Jiang Country, there lay the Great Dream Marsh.

The Great Dream Marsh was an immense body of water, boundless and endless, perpetually shrouded in a hazy mist that not only obscured vision but could even hinder a Cultivator’s Divine Sense.

Although rumors claimed the depths of the Great Dream Marsh were extremely dangerous, a forbidden zone, many Cultivators still came here.

On one hand, the Great Dream Marsh was rich in aquatic resources; both Cultivators and Mortals could make a living by fishing.

On the other hand, besides the Great Dream Immortal City, one of Jiang Country’s Three Great Immortal Cities, the Great Dream Marsh also contained countless islands.

Among these islands, there were quite a few with Spiritual Veins.

Even if they were only first-tier or low-grade Spiritual Veins, they were still extremely precious to Loose Cultivators.

As long as one found such an unowned spiritual island, they could become an island Master, establish a Family or a force, and settle down.

However, over the years, all the slightly better spiritual islands in the Great Dream Marsh had basically been occupied.

At this moment, the night was like water.

The bright moonlight poured from the sky onto the vast, shimmering lake surface.

Next to a pitch-black giant rock reef, a pure and flawless, greenish-blue lotus, shimmering with crystalline luster, slowly drifted out.

This lotus seemed to have no roots or stem, allowing the lake water to carry it along.

If a knowledgeable Cultivator were to see this lotus seat, they would recognize it as the incredibly precious Heavenly Yuan Treasure Emperor Lotus of the Cultivation World!

At this moment, within the Heavenly Yuan Treasure Emperor Lotus.

A man and a woman were intimately intertwined, with a five-colored halo flowing around their bodies.

Above the man’s head, a brilliant sun shone.

While above the woman’s head, there was only a faint, ethereal bright moon.

The two formed an invisible cauldron, with the sun and moon rotating, perfectly blending together.

Pure and rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi poured like rain onto Lu Changsheng’s robust, slender, and aesthetically pleasing Physical Body.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

In addition to the external Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi nourishing his body, Lu Changsheng’s internal Nascent Soul Origin and the Yin Origin obtained from Dual Cultivation with Chu Qingyi filled his Qi Sea Dantian, making his Golden Core radiant, emitting ten thousand rays of light, forming a terrifying Spiritual Pressure.

“Boom!”

Just four months ago, Lu Changsheng’s Cultivation had only broken through to the Core Formation Second Layer.

Now, relying on the two streams of Origin power, his Cultivation directly broke through to the Core Formation Third Layer!

However, this was not the end.

The surging power was still wildly flowing through his muscles, limbs, and bones, causing his Yin Yang Creation Scripture to automatically circulate frantically.

“It hurts.”

At this moment, a hoarse, weak voice sounded.

Lu Changsheng saw the beautiful woman in front of him, her hair disheveled and her face pale, her brows tightly furrowed, and he knew that his recent Breakthrough had caused him to lose control of his power.

He cultivated the Hundred Refinements Treasure Body Technique, and his Physical Body was as formidable as a demon king’s. Even if he had been gentle throughout, Chu Qingyi had still been severely tormented.

Otherwise, how could this Sword Fairy, who had remained silent throughout, cry out in pain?

“I’m sorry.”

Lu Changsheng’s voice was gentle as he comforted the beautiful woman. The Nine Treasures Wishful Bone on his chest radiated brilliant light, alleviating Chu Qingyi’s pain, and he continued to circulate the Sun Moon Reincarnation Art.

“Mm~”

The beautiful woman, her face pale and exquisite, wrinkled her delicate nose and brows, letting out a soft moan.

Her pair of exquisitely sculpted, fair feet tensed, her toes curling, almost forming a single line with her rounded, slender calves.

A moment later, her delicate brows relaxed, and her slightly parted beautiful eyes seemed to hold ripples of enchanting charm.

Upon returning to the Qingyun Sect, Yun Wanchang immediately rushed to the Sect’s Ancestral Master Ancestral Hall.

Once a Sect Disciple entered the Inner Sect or achieved Foundation Establishment, they were required to leave a life token or a Soul Lantern in the Sect.

This Soul Lantern not only allowed the Sect to sense their general location and situation in times of danger, facilitating a search.

If they committed acts of betrayal against the Sect, the Sect could also use the life token and Soul Lantern to perform certain secret arts to apprehend or curse them to death.

“Junior Sister Yun Wanchang, what is the matter?”

The Qingyun Sect Master rushed over immediately upon hearing the report.

The Ancestral Master Ancestral Hall was a vital area of the Sect. Even though Yun Wanchang was the Master of Caiyun Peak and the Head of the Law Enforcement Hall, she could not enter without authorization.

“The Tian Yuan Secret Realm has undergone an anomaly, and Qingyi’s life and death are unknown. I need to enter the Ancestral Master Ancestral Hall to check the status of her Soul Lantern!”

Yun Wanchang’s red lips parted slightly, her voice cold.

“What!?”

The Qingyun Sect Master’s expression changed in shock upon hearing this.

He knew that Chu Qingyi had been brought back to the Sect by Yun Wanchang when she was young and raised by her. Although they were Master and Disciple, their relationship was like that of mother and daughter.

Now that Chu Qingyi had encountered an accident under the Sect’s arrangements, Yun Wanchang might harbor resentment.

Moreover, Chu Qingyi possessed an innate Sword Heart, and her Cultivation progressed with astonishing speed, breaking through to Core Formation before she was even a hundred years old. Her future prospects were limitless.

If something truly happened to her, it would be a significant loss for their Qingyun Sect.

Without hesitation, he took out his Sect Leader’s token and, together with Yun Wanchang’s Peak Master’s token, activated the Ancestral Hall’s Formation and entered the main hall.

The outermost layer contained the soul tokens of Inner Sect Disciples or Sect stewards.

Further inside were the soul tokens and Soul Lanterns of the Sect’s core members, as well as Foundation Establishment Disciples and deacons.

Upon entering the innermost palace, one would find the Soul Lanterns of Core Formation True Persons.

A moment later, Yun Wanchang and the Qingyun Sect Master saw a dim, flickering Soul Lantern, like a candle in the wind.

This was precisely Chu Qingyi’s Soul Lantern!

“This…”

Upon seeing this Soul Lantern, the Qingyun Sect Master instantly knew that Chu Qingyi was in an extremely dangerous situation, her life hanging by a thread.

He immediately said to Yun Wanchang, “Junior Sister Yun Wanchang, I will go inform Elder Du and ask him to deduce Qingyi’s location.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother Sect Leader.”

Yun Wanchang gazed at the Soul Lantern, her red lips pressed together, her long, jade-like fingers tightly clasped.

At this moment, as if thinking of something, after leaving the Ancestral Master Ancestral Hall, she went to Caiyun Peak and sent a message to Xiao Xiyue in Mingyue Residence: “Xiyue, come see me.”

A moment later, Xiao Xiyue, dressed in a snow-white gown, her face cold and aloof like a bright moon, arrived at the Peak.

She bowed to the exquisite beauty in the colorful palace gown before her, who was graceful, noble, and peerless, and said, “Master.”

“Xiyue, Lu Changsheng has encountered an accident in the Tian Yuan Secret Realm. Go to Bihu Mountain and see if he left a Soul Lantern or a life token.”

Yun Wanchang looked at Xiao Xiyue before her, sighed softly, and said, “If not, bring back an item he commonly used.”

“What!?”

Xiao Xiyue’s delicate body trembled violently upon hearing her Master’s words, and her indifferent state of Supreme Forgetfulness immediately failed.

Then, with a look of disbelief, she said, “Master, you said Changsheng encountered an accident in the Tian Yuan Secret Realm?”

“Alas…”

Yun Wanchang sighed deeply in her heart upon seeing her Disciple’s reaction.

The Supreme Emotion Severing Art placed the utmost importance on the Dao Heart.

Her Disciple cultivated this Cultivation Technique, and most of the time, she remained unmoved by emotions and undisturbed by feelings.

Now, upon hearing information about Lu Changsheng, she instantly broke her discipline, and her Dao Heart trembled, indicating that her emotional attachment was already deep and difficult to salvage.

If Lu Changsheng truly met with an accident, her Disciple’s Dao path might be completely severed.

However, thinking that Lu Changsheng might truly have died in the Secret Realm, her emotions couldn’t help but surge, a strange sorrow welling up within her.

“The Tian Yuan Secret Realm has undergone an anomaly. Lu Changsheng’s current situation is unknown, and he hasn’t exited the Secret Realm, so I’m asking you to go to Bihu Mountain to check.”

“Afterward, I will ask Elder Du to deduce information about Lu Changsheng’s situation.”

Yun Wanchang said with a graceful and gentle expression.

“The Secret Realm underwent an anomaly, he didn’t exit the Secret Realm…”

Xiao Xiyue breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

If he’s alive, see the person; if he’s dead, see the corpse!

As long as she hadn’t seen his corpse, she wouldn’t believe that Lu Changsheng had fallen!

Just now, when she heard her Master say that Lu Changsheng had encountered an accident and asked her to go to Bihu Mountain to check Lu Changsheng’s Soul Lantern and life token, she thought there was a major problem.

“Master, what kind of anomaly occurred in the Secret Realm, and what accident did Changsheng encounter?”

Xiao Xiyue bit her lip lightly and asked.

She wore a moon-white gown, her black hair flowing, and her exquisite face, unadorned with makeup, was still peerlessly beautiful.

Her normally serene and detached, cold eyes were now like a rugged mountain spring, full of ripples.

If the Disciples of the Qingyun Sect were to see Fairy Xiyue, who was usually cold and aloof like the bright moon in the Nine Heavens, caring so much about a man, they would likely be heartbroken and think they were hallucinating.

Even Yun Wanchang, her Master, seeing Xiao Xiyue like this, couldn’t help but sigh, wondering what charm Lu Changsheng possessed to have so captivated her Disciple.

“The Tian Yuan Secret Realm collapsed… A malevolent corpse comparable to a Nascent Soul appeared. When Lu Changsheng was escaping towards the Secret Realm exit, he was suddenly pursued by a Core Formation cultivator and went missing, failing to exit the Secret Realm.”

Yun Wanchang did not hide anything, her red lips slightly parted as she spoke.

“Being hunted by a Core Formation cultivator!?”

Xiao Xiyue frowned slightly, feeling somewhat perplexed, and continued to ask, “Master, why would Changsheng be hunted by a Core Formation True Person? Has this Core Formation True Person left the Secret Realm, and what is his situation?”

“This Master is not clear about the specific situation either.”

“This Core Formation cultivator also didn’t leave the Secret Realm, but it’s not ruled out that he has some means to sneak away.”

Yun Wanchang said so.

Although a net was set up outside the Secret Realm.

However, due to the Nascent Soul True Lord being lured out and the two sides fighting fiercely, many of the arrangements were damaged, and it’s possible someone slipped away in the chaos.

“Mm.”

Xiao Xiyue lightly pursed her lips, believing that Lu Changsheng should be fine.

On one hand, it stemmed from years of trust in Lu Changsheng.

On the other hand, it was her belief in Lu Changsheng’s strength.

She believed that even if Lu Changsheng had only broken through to Core Formation a few years ago, he was by no means someone an ordinary Core Formation cultivator could bully!

“Master, is Senior Sister alright?”

At this moment, Xiao Xiyue remembered the anomaly in the Secret Realm and that her Senior Sister was responsible for guarding it, so she asked with concern.

“Your Senior Sister also encountered an accident; her situation is currently dangerous, and her whereabouts are unknown.”

Yun Wanchang sighed.

“How can this be!?”

Xiao Xiyue said with a surprised expression.

She hadn’t expected that not only Lu Changsheng’s whereabouts were unknown.

But her own Senior Sister Chu Qingyi’s whereabouts were also unknown.

If Lu Changsheng was being hunted by a Core Formation True Person, and his life and death were unknown, his disappearance would make sense.

But her Senior Sister, as a Core Formation True Person of the Qingyun Sect, even if seriously injured or even fallen, Qingyun Sect Disciple or Core Formation True Person from the other three Sects would have brought her out of the Secret Realm.

“Your Senior Sister was in a dangerous situation at the time and was rescued by a Sword Cultivator.”

“Who knew this Sword Cultivator took your Senior Sister into the depths of the Secret Realm, and they didn’t come out even when the Secret Realm collapsed and shattered.”

Yun Wanchang’s beautiful eyes were clear as she spoke.

If it weren’t for the fact that Qingyun Sect Disciple had also witnessed this scene, she would even suspect that Lingfeng True Person was deceiving her.

“Sword Cultivator, entered the depths of the Secret Realm?”

Xiao Xiyue’s beautiful eyes, clear as the moon, showed a hint of strangeness.

Lu Changsheng was gone.

Her Senior Sister was gone.

The Core Formation True Person who was chasing Lu Changsheng at the time was nowhere to be seen.

Her Senior Sister was rescued by a Sword Cultivator, and her whereabouts were unknown.

“If Changsheng is this Sword Cultivator…”

A thought surfaced in Xiao Xiyue’s mind, feeling that if this were the case, things seemed to make sense.

After all, she knew that Lu Changsheng had cultivated Sword Dao Cultivation Technique in his early years.

Although he later switched to other Cultivation Technique, it shouldn’t be difficult to disguise himself as a Sword Cultivator, right?

She asked, “Master, is this Sword Cultivator also a Core Formation True Person? Why would he save Senior Sister?”

“Yes, this person is a Core Formation cultivator. His Legacy and methods should be from a Loose Cultivator from another country. As for why he saved Qingyi, this Master is not clear either.”

Yun Wanchang shook her head.

This was also what she couldn’t understand.

Why would such a Core Formation Sword Cultivator appear in the Secret Realm and even save Chu Qingyi?

The only possibility she could think of was that the other party coveted her Disciple’s Sword Cultivator Legacy.

“Hmm!?”

At this moment, Yun Wanchang noticed that Xiao Xiyue didn’t seem as sad anymore.

Although Xiao Xiyue cultivated the Supreme Emotion Severing Art, her state of mind was calm and undisturbed by emotions.

But as a Master, she still understood this Disciple somewhat, knowing that as soon as she mentioned Lu Changsheng, she would become like a different person.

She definitely wouldn’t calm down so quickly.

Did Xiyue know something?

Did she know that Lu Changsheng was fine?

Yun Wanchang’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she suddenly thought of an incident from earlier years.

Chu Qingyi investigated the Xiahou Family matter, and as a result, was pursued by Xiahou Wuwo, poisoned by a corpse toxin, and rescued by a Loose Cultivator named Han Li.

Afterward, she learned that this Loose Cultivator Han Li was Lu Changsheng in disguise.

Besides that, she also remembered her Disciple Chu Qingyi telling her that when this Loose Cultivator named Han Li used Sword Qi to expel the poison for her, he actually resonated with her Sword Dao Heart, praising his extraordinary Sword Dao talent.

Sword Cultivator!

Lu Changsheng is a Sword Cultivator!?

Could it be…

“Xiyue, do you know something?”

She looked at her Disciple and asked.

Xiao Xiyue felt as if she was being seen through by her Master’s gaze, knowing that her Master’s question implied she had guessed something.

But she wasn’t sure how much her Master knew.

Considering the importance of Lu Changsheng’s secret, she softly said, “Changsheng obtained a Sword Dao Legacy, so I’m thinking if this Sword Cultivator who saved Senior Sister is related to Changsheng…”

“Related to Lu Changsheng…”

Yun Wanchang looked at Xiao Xiyue, her eyes as deep as a pond.

Is this Core Formation Sword Cultivator related to Lu Changsheng, or… is this person Lu Changsheng himself?

If this person was Lu Changsheng, then that would be too astonishing.

She thought back to when she first met Lu Changsheng; he was still a small Cultivator at the Lianqi Fourth Layer.

But a few years later, he was already at Qi Refining Peak, cultivating both Dharma and Physical Body.

The third time she saw him, he was already at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Now, decades later, although his cultivation hadn’t changed publicly.

But when she Dual Cultivated with Lu Changsheng before, she knew he was hiding his cultivation and had likely already broken through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

But to break through to Core Formation, that would be too astonishing…

Even if Lu Changsheng was at Foundation Establishment Peak, she could understand.

Moreover, he was just a Family Cultivator; where would he get the Core Formation spiritual items and Core Formation Dao field?

Unless Lu Changsheng had a Heavenly Spiritual Root or some kind of peerless Dao Body…

“Peerless Dao Body…”

Yun Wanchang’s thoughts swirled for a moment, then she looked at Xiao Xiyue and said, “Alright, you go to Bihu Mountain first.”

She knew Xiao Xiyue probably knew something but found it inconvenient to say, so she didn’t press further.

She planned to find someone to divine the situation first.

“Thank you, Master.”

Xiao Xiyue lightly pursed her lips, bowed, and transformed into a streak of light, leaving Caiyun Peak to head to Bihu Mountain.

“If this Sword Cultivator is truly Lu Changsheng…”

Yun Wanchang watched Xiao Xiyue’s departing figure, thinking about how she was afflicted by the Red Phoenix Karma Fire and then saved by Lu Changsheng, leading to their entanglement.

Her Disciple Xiao Xiyue encountered an ambush and was saved by Lu Changsheng; to repay the favor of cultivation and saving her life, she voluntarily helped him with Foundation Establishment using her spiritual body, and then…

“If…”

As the thought arose, Yun Wanchang dared not continue it, shaking her head to dispel it.

Qingyun Sect, Ancestral Master’s Ancestral Hall.

“Elder Du, how is it?”

Qingyun Sect Leader and Yun Wanchang looked at the Purple Robed Old Man before them and asked.

“Hoo!”

The Purple Robed Old Man looked a bit tired. After a long exhale, he slightly cupped his hands and said, “Sect Leader, there is a mysterious force obscuring the heavenly secrets. Even with the Soul Lantern, I cannot divine the situation or location of Immortal Master Qingyi.”

“Obscuring the heavenly secrets.”

Qingyun Sect Leader and Yun Wanchang exchanged glances, both seeing solemnity on each other’s faces.

They didn’t understand divination, but they knew that there were many means in the world that could interfere with and affect heavenly secrets.

And obscuring the heavenly secrets indicated that the place Chu Qingyi was currently in had a problem.

The Tian Yuan Secret Realm collapsed, and those inside might have been swept into the Void.

And the Void had the effect of chaos and obscuring heavenly secrets.

“Elder Du, you’ve worked hard.”

Qingyun Sect Leader said politely to the Purple Robed Old Man, knowing that divination was not something that could be forced.

His attempt to divine Chu Qingyi’s situation had already consumed a considerable amount of Origin Qi, and he would need a long period of recuperation.

“Sect Leader is too kind.”

The Purple Robed Old Man slightly cupped his hands and bid farewell.

After the Purple Robed Old Man left, Qingyun Sect Leader continued, “Yun Wanchang, don’t worry, I will go inform the Grand Elder and ask Senior Bu Suanzi to take action and try to divine Qingyi’s situation again.”

Divination naturally had its levels of skill.

Although this Purple Robed Old Man was a top diviner of the Qingyun Sect, his technique was not exceptionally profound.

“Sect Leader Senior Brother, there’s no need for that. I will go to the Heaven Sword Sect later.”

“If Qingyi was swept into the Void, only a True Lord can rescue her.”

Yun Wanchang shook her head and said so.

“Alright.”

Qingyun Sect Leader nodded, knowing that the matter of the Tian Yuan Secret Realm was led by the Heaven Sword Sect Master.

Now that such a thing had happened, the Heaven Sword Sect should help both in terms of reason and sentiment.

And Xuanjian Zhenjun of the Heaven Sword Sect was not only a Sword Cultivator but also understood the art of divination.