Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 1874: 484:

Yet, he showed no desire to reveal it, raising his palm lightly as he slipped on a green robe, his figure tall and lithe, resembling an immortal emerging from a scroll, otherworldly and divine.

Still, this ethereal presence, merged with the powerful qi of a fresh breakthrough to the Fourth Rank of Body Refinement, felt mismatched within a single being.

A strikingly handsome and transcendent figure, radiating an unmatched and supreme domineering aura.

"Congratulations, my lord, on advancing to the Fourth Rank of Body Refinement."

Hong Lian's lovely eyes sparkled with light, her crimson lips curving into a soft, warm smile as she elegantly bowed to Lu Changsheng and offered her felicitations.

"Ha-ha, it's merely a minor advancement, hardly worth noting."

Lu Changsheng dismissed it with a wave and a chuckle.

Even though reaching the Fourth Rank of Body Refinement allowed one to confront a Nascent Soul True Lord directly.

To him, body cultivation served only as a supporting path, far from matching the significance of achieving Nascent Soul.

"Truly deserving of my lord's reputation, advancing to the Fourth Rank of Body Refinement while at the Core Formation Stage, all without a hint of excitement."

Hong Lian marveled inwardly.

While the Cultivation World boasted numerous dual cultivators.

Achieving Golden Core Peak alongside peak Third Rank body cultivation, then focusing on the Fourth Rank of Body Refinement breakthrough, remained an exceedingly uncommon feat.

Typically, one would first attain Nascent Soul before pouring vast resources into body cultivation advances.

"Hong Lian, how much time passed during my breakthrough?"

Lu Changsheng paid no mind to Hong Lian's inner surprise and inquired directly.

From his rough calculation, the process shouldn't have dragged on, ideally finishing before the Whale Hunting Banquet.

"Precisely half a year."

Hong Lian answered in a gentle tone.

"Then, no hurry is needed."

Upon learning a month remained, Lu Changsheng realized it gave enough time for the Sea Splitting Mysterious Dragon Whale's return, so he held off on deploying the [Michen Banner].

This interval suited perfectly for consolidating his realm and exploring the secrets of Fourth Rank Body Refinement.

"Big Black, time to move."

Lu Changsheng wasted no time, summoning the Sea Splitting Mysterious Dragon Whale from the ocean depths.

"Roar!!!"

The Sea Splitting Mysterious Dragon Whale bellowed, surging through the waves, as Lu Changsheng stored the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng in the Qiankun Shadow-Confining Belt before stepping into the creature's belly alongside Hong Lian.

...

"Crossing Tribulation brings great gains, but it demands heavy tolls; not only did the [Five Directions Tribulation Stone] crumble, but two of my magical treasures suffered damage too."

Inside the whale's belly, Lu Changsheng reflected on how the Heavenly Tribulation had wrecked his armor and magical robe mid-process, leaving him somewhat troubled.

These were elite magical treasures, after all.

Despite claiming several from slaying Lou Mountain True Monarch, Heavenly Silkworm True Monarch, and Purple Grey True Monarch, such losses still stung.

"I'll need to craft a superior magical robe soon."

Thinking back to the [Vast Sand Illusion Realm] clashes, where the Fate-Defying Robe and Golden Tiger Dragon Pattern Armor had also taken hits, and now lacking proper gear, Lu Changsheng mused silently.

With his Fourth Rank Physique, he scarcely required a magical robe or armor for defense.

Nevertheless, they proved useful in certain scenarios.

Besides, the Yin Yang Robe from the "Yin Yang Creation Classic" and the Brahma Demon True Saint Armor from the "Brahman Demon True Saint Technique" boosted the respective divine skills, justifying their refinement.

Seated in meditation, he worked to steady his body's qi and blood, sensing the renewed vitality post-Heavenly Tribulation and the wonders of Fourth Rank Body Refinement.

"The flesh, meridians, bones, and dantian have all expanded... the form grew far purer, as though infused with fresh... vitality."

Lu Changsheng examined his skin, like the finest jade and satin worldwide, smoother and clearer than finest mutton fat jade, glowing with a subtle crystalline sheen.

Lu Changsheng understood his body now mirrored a Spiritual Treasure, awakened to a novel spirituality!

Or akin to a demon beast, sharpening sensitivity to diverse auras, particularly with faint warnings of peril.

As the proverb states: the duck first feels the spring river's warmth, and the cicada predicts before the autumn breeze stirs!

Much like a cultivator entering Foundation Establishment sheds mortal coils, honing spiritual sense and gaining flashes of insight or disquiet.

Body cultivation breakthroughs offered a more straightforward gain, letting the flesh dimly anticipate threats.

For example, should anyone plot against Lu Changsheng, probing with divine sense or artifacts, they might slip past his Taiyi Divine Soul yet alert his physical form.

"The human body holds such depth and vastness."

Lu Changsheng reflected, delving deeper into the Fourth Rank Physique's enigmas while firming his cultivation base.

...

Great Dream Immortal City.

Lately, Great Dream Immortal City hummed with fervor.

Partly because the Great Dream City Lord felled a Fourth Rank Demon King, stirring Jiang Country and drawing crowds of cultivators to the Great Dream Marsh vicinity, swelling the city's visitors.

Partly owing to the City Lord Mansion's whale hunting banquet.

Though the whale hunting banquet invites solely elite cultivators, with only Nascent Soul Immortals deemed worthy.

Beyond the whale hunting banquet, the City Lord Mansion prepared an auction as well.

Post-banquet, the City Lord Mansion would stage an auction featuring rare Third Rank heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and demon beast components.

Under these circumstances, cultivators flocked to Great Dream Immortal City in droves.

Especially with whispers of Third Rank Demon Pills, Core Formation Spiritual Objects, Coagulation Crystal Elixir, and other scarcities possibly appearing, various factions arrived ahead of time to linger.

"The whale hunting banquet nears, so why hasn't Father returned..."

Within the City Lord Mansion, Lu Wangshu sought calm through talisman inscription, yet restlessness gripped her.

Days prior, she had stumbled upon tidings from the Vast Sand Illusion Realm.

She heard of Yangming True Master's and Azure Phoenix True Monarch's remarkable feats there, felling three Nascent Soul True Lords, and yearned to question her father at once.

But her father remained absent from the Immortal City.

With the whale hunting banquet looming and Nascent Soul experts from myriad sects converging on Great Dream Immortal City, his continued absence fueled her unease.

Though she had witnessed her father seeming unperturbed earlier, and Aunt Ling Zixiao assured her of his busyness and delayed arrival.

Still, the Vast Sand Illusion Realm reports gnawed at her, stirring deep concern.

Right then, tens of thousands of miles from Great Dream Immortal City.

"Whew!"

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian emerged from the Sea Splitting Mysterious Dragon Whale's inner chamber, bidding it to rest nearby, before the Michen Banner materialized in his grasp.

"Buzz!"

The Michen Banner unleashed a cascade of five-hued light, wrapping Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, then morphed into a vibrant mist, rippling space to whisk them toward Great Dream Immortal City.

After a swift shift, they materialized in the City Lord Mansion.

Though familiar with the Michen Banner, Hong Lian still admired its effortless utility.

"Zi Xiao."

Lu Changsheng swiftly located Ling Zixiao, asking after the whale hunting banquet's preparations.

"Husband, the Heavenly Sword Sect, Qingyun Sect, Luoxia Sect, Spirit Taming Sect, Danxia Mountain, and Huan Yin Sect... all dispatched representatives."

"The Heavenly Sword Sect sent only Ancient Sword True Man; neither Xuanjian True Monarch nor Absolute Sword True Monarch appears."

Ling Zixiao reported.

Barring disguises, cultivators entering the Immortal City rarely escaped the Celestial City Formation's detection.

For the whale hunting banquet especially, the Celestial City Formation ran at peak for months, and weak concealment arts would surely trigger alarms.

"Nascent Soul True Lords wander freely; since Heavenly Sword Sect committed to attending, no need for excessive concern."

Lu Changsheng replied with a faint grin.

In his eyes, Xuanjian True Monarch's and Absolute Sword True Monarch's presence or absence changed little.

Without them, a simple gathering would suffice, extending goodwill while he advanced steadily.

"Mm."

Ling Zixiao agreed quietly, passing a roster to Lu Changsheng.

"Impressive scale, no doubt."

Lu Changsheng remarked, scanning the roster's array of Jiang Country's renowned cultivators.

Yet, remembering his own feats of besting two Nascent Souls and eliminating three, the lineup seemed commonplace.

"Oh, and Wangshu learned of your exploits in the Vast Sand Illusion Realm; she's been fretting."

Suddenly recalling, Ling Zixiao mentioned it.

"Fine, I'll visit her."

A quick intent from Lu Changsheng summoned the Three Treasures Huaxiang Pearl from his brow, shifting into a duplicate of his form and aura.

For the event, as Deputy City Lord, Changsheng True Master had to appear.

The Three Treasures Incarnation donned the peculiar mask from Azure Phoenix True Monarch, impenetrable to Xuanjian True Monarch without extraordinary means.

As for his true self.

Post-Fourth Rank Body Refinement, his flesh pulsed like a Spiritual Treasure, brimming with essence, mastering the inner small universe, qi-blood power impeccable; barring full exertion or divine skills, even Xuanjian True Monarch couldn't pierce the veil, freeing him from relying on odd artifacts for hiding.

Furthermore, among cultivators, prying into others via supernatural arts counted as impropriety, rarely attempted.