Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 1877: 485: Shadow Sect Returns, Whale Hunt Banquet! (part 3)

In the whole Jiang Country Cultivation Realm, those who have reached the peak of Core Formation are incredibly rare.

Excluding myself, nearly every one of them is famous, hailing from the Four Great Immortal Sects.

The look of this individual clearly doesn't match any Core Formation Great Master from the Four Great Immortal Sects.

"Wait... this qi mechanism of magic power..."

Lu Changsheng gazed at the man in black robes and abruptly sensed that the opponent's qi mechanism of magic power seemed oddly familiar, yet he couldn't pinpoint the source.

"What's the matter, husband?"

Noticing Lu Changsheng's serious look, Hong Lian activated the Sun and Moon Taiji Mysterious Light Mirror and couldn't resist inquiring.

"I've spotted someone who's a little suspicious..."

Lu Changsheng rubbed his chin while speaking, still racking his brain to remember where he'd come across this qi mechanism of magic power earlier.

"Suspicious?"

Hong Lian had already suspected that the slaying of a Fourth Rank Demon King by Great Dream Immortal City had caused a huge commotion. Beyond the Jiang Country Cultivation Realm, it could draw eyes from powers in other cultivation nations too.

Upon catching Lu Changsheng's statement, she quickly linked it to this possibility.

"Shadow Sect!"

After thinking deeply for quite a while, Lu Changsheng at last recalled the reason this qi mechanism of magic power rang a bell.

Twenty-one years prior, while using the alias of Bi Lake Mountain Master, he had achieved Core Formation breakthrough in Great Dream Immortal City.

Back then, when he escorted his wife Lu Miaoge and daughter Lu Wangshu to Bi Lake Mountain, he discovered a divine sense mark on his daughter, which drew a Nascent Soul cultivator intent on ending their lives.

Later, via the Six Desires Heart Demon Technique, Lu Changsheng uncovered that the culprit, known as Partridge, belonged to the Yan Country's Shadow Sect.

Their mission in Jiang Country focused on collecting intel, sneaking in to stir up rebellions, and taking out key cultivators.

In the intervening years, Lu Changsheng hadn't picked up any more news on the Shadow Sect and figured the issue was behind them.

To his surprise, yet another Shadow Sect cultivator had shown up in Jiang Country, heading straight for Great Dream Immortal City.

"Is this guy after Partridge, or drawn by my takedown of the Fourth Rank Demon King?"

Via the Sun and Moon Taiji Mysterious Light Mirror, Lu Changsheng observed that this Shadow Sect cultivator excelled at hiding his true self.

His practiced cultivation technique allowed for mystical veiling of qi mechanisms, and he likely carried supporting magical treasures as well.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to pierce through his facade.

"All I desire is a peaceful life to grow my family. Why must they keep meddling in my affairs?"

Lu Changsheng let out a quiet sigh, feeling like a tree yearning for stillness while the relentless wind battered on.

"But if you're so eager to seek your doom, don't hold it against this city master!"

Using the Sun and Moon Taiji Mysterious Light Mirror, Lu Changsheng scanned the guests in the front hall, checking for any signs of scheming among them.

Having already felled a Fourth Rank Demon King, he had no qualms about eliminating one more to send a clear message!

....

An hour later, as the front hall filled up almost completely, detecting a Nascent Soul qi mechanism, Lu Changsheng gave a subtle smile, turned to Hong Lian at his side, and declared: "The key figure is here—let's head out."

This Nascent Soul qi mechanism flowed freely without suppression or hiding, but its faint edge revealed origins from the Heavenly Sword Sect!

"Mm."

Hong Lian laced her fingers with Lu Changsheng's, proceeding together toward the front hall.

The moment the pair entered the front hall, alive with chatter and exchanges, a hush descended over the crowd.

Every gaze shifted to Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian.

"Salutations to the city master and city master's wife!"

The assembled cultivators offered bows to Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian.

Even as fellow Core Formation cultivators, they fully recognized the prowess of this duo who had claimed a Fourth Rank Transformed Demon King!

A few male cultivators shot admiring looks at Hong Lian but refrained from lingering stares.

"Is that the Great Dream City Master?"

Absolute Sword True Monarch eyed Lu Changsheng, who drew near in a wide dark robe, exuding a refined and bookish air.

Appearing utterly mortal, with no trace of any qi mechanism.

But a deeper look revealed his robust, towering frame wrapped in what seemed like an flawless Celestial Robe, rendering him completely inscrutable.

"Has the Great Dream City Master advanced to Nascent Soul already?"

Though Absolute Sword True Monarch hadn't employed his Spiritual Eye Pupil Technique, his sword cultivator senses—vision and spiritual awareness—outshone most others.

Yet facing the Great Dream City Master, he perceived nothing at all.

It wasn't just this city master.

His wife beside him, despite her Core Formation Sixth Layer cultivation.

She carried an air of grace, her form radiating a soft glow like ethereal allure, coupled with a vibe of timeless aloof superiority and elegance, hinting at depths beyond the ordinary.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Despite being a sword cultivator, Absolute Sword True Monarch possessed ample courtesy, offering a slight bow to Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian while handing over a thoughtfully chosen lavish gift.

After all, for slaying a Fourth Rank Demon King, even as Core Formation experts, the pair earned the right to converse with him as fellow Daoists.

"Absolute Sword True Monarch's visit brings glory to our modest city—it's truly my privilege as city master..."

Lu Changsheng politely returned the bow, then addressed the other hall cultivators, adding, "We extend a warm welcome to all fellow Daoists in my Great Dream Immortal City..."

As he spoke, he signaled the banquet's start and took his honored seat alongside Hong Lian.

"As for why we're hosting this banquet, I trust you all Daoist friends understand."

"My wife and I just arrived in Jiang Country and stirred up some waves, so we're seizing this chance to meet everyone, share thoughts on cultivation, and incidentally run a trade fair."

Lu Changsheng remarked smilingly, cup of wine in hand.

"Of course, of course."

"We're thrilled and eager to join."

While some cultivators stayed quiet, others chimed in right away.

"How is it that you two only just reached Jiang Country yet took over Great Dream Immortal City?"

Right then, Absolute Sword True Monarch, clad in a long black sword robe, his face plain but striking, his frame as if sheathing a supreme divine sword from another realm, posed the question.

His words prompted a momentary lull among the gathered cultivators, who either held their tongues or glanced at the pair.

They were aware of the Heavenly Sword Sect's wariness toward the new Great Dream Immortal City regime.

Indeed, three decades back, Azure Phoenix Immortal's sudden Nascent Soul return to rule Azure Phoenix Immortal City had shaken Jiang Country's balance of power.

Now, with Dreamless and his wife vanishing without a trace, and this fresh duo—who could hunt Fourth Rank Demon Kings—emerging out of nowhere, how could the Jiang Country dominant force, Heavenly Sword Sect, remain idle?

The on-site cultivators hadn't anticipated Absolute Sword True Monarch's bluntness, diving straight into the heart of the matter.