Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family - Chapter 137: Foundation Establishment Stage - Ambush, The Treasured Bone Emerges!

Chapter 137: Foundation Establishment Stage – Ambush, The Treasured Bone Emerges!

The boundless azure sky was pristine and clear.

A black steel-feathered eagle and a pure white, exceptionally spirited celestial crane soared swiftly through the air.

Atop the steel-feathered eagle and the crane stood two figures – a handsome and strapping young man, and an elegant, slender beauty with chilling grace.

They were Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue, departing from Ruyi Region City towards Hongye Valley Town.

Lu Changsheng idly gazed at Xiao Xiyue astride the white crane, clad in a moon-white dress that accentuated her slender, exquisite figure as she stood gracefully.

Her cool, aloof countenance exuded an ethereal, immortal aura, like the pristine moon in the heavens.

The caressing wind ruffled her tresses and dress hems, occasionally revealing glimpses of her jade-like, shapely fair legs.

Involuntarily, Lu Changsheng recalled her dedication to cultivation in recent days.

“Indeed, to have the untouchable, supremely venerated Fairy at one’s mercy for unrestrained indulgence is perhaps the deepest yearning harbored by men.”

Lu Changsheng mused inwardly, exhaling to reign in his wanton thoughts.

These recent days were for cultivation for Xiao Xiyue.

But for him, was it not a form of cultivation as well?

“Fellow Daoist Xiao, we should reach Hongye Valley Town in about two more days.”

Spotting a notable mountain range structure, Lu Changsheng estimated their location and transmitted his voice to Xiao Xiyue.

“Good.”

Xiao Xiyue responded curtly. Taciturn by nature, whether in a meditative state or not.

However, if prompted, she would engage in conversation affably.

Over these past days, Lu Changsheng had inquired about various matters.

Even relatively personal questions did not go unanswered by her.

The steel-feathered eagle and celestial crane sped forward.

At that moment—

“Careful!”

Xiao Xiyue’s voice suddenly rang out.

Her gaze snapped sharply to the right as an ancient guqin materialized in her hands.

“Hm!?”

Lu Changsheng startled, following her line of sight.

He immediately spotted a radiant streak tearing through the distant sky, rapidly closing in on them.

“The little girl is no ordinary existence, to have detected my presence. No wonder you’re a disciple of Fairy Caiyun.”

The next instant, the brilliant light appeared a few hundred feet away, revealing a sinister-looking youth in his late twenties garbed in crimson brocades.

Treading on black clouds, he emanated a potent spiritual pressure that caused Lu Changsheng’s steel-feathered eagle to tremble with trepidation, wings flapping uncontrollably.

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

Lu Changsheng’s pupils constricted as realization dawned.

Judging by the figure’s speed and imposing aura, there was no mistaking his status as a Foundation Establishment master.

And from his aggressive stance he clearly had hostile intentions.

“Senior, you know my Master. Is there any matter of concern?”

Xiao Xiyue addressed the red-robed youth steadily.

Her jade-like hands poised on the ancient guqin, ready to go, evidently realizing the antagonistic intentions.

“My visit is indeed for you. As for the reason, you’ll understand in due time.”

The crimson-robed youth stood with hands behind his back, a dark red glint flickering in his eyes.

As the words left his lips, a sinister crimson miasma materialized beside him, shapeshifting into a ferocious serpent that lunged towards Xiao Xiyue with a thunderous hiss.

“Ting!”

Well-prepared, Xiao Xiyue strummed her guqin, unleashing a resounding melody that whipped up a fierce gale.

Rippling shockwaves visibly emanated from her, sweeping outwards like rotating blades to shatter the ominous crimson viper.

Yet the miasmic serpent, though torn asunder, simply reformed like a wafting mist, relentlessly pressing its murderous assault.

Realizing this Foundation Establishment master was a foe, Xiao Xiyue understood that despite her prodigious talents, she was no match for such an exalted cultivator, certainly no ordinary Foundation Establishment practitioner.

Without hesitation, she retrieved an icy-blue second-grade talisman and swiftly activated it.

A terrifying blizzard arose, as if to freeze the world, encasing the noxious serpent in ice while forming a towering frozen barricade.

“Go!”

Xiao Xiyue called out to Lu Changsheng without further ado.

As she spoke, she retracted the white crane into her spirit pet pouch and summoned a cloudy silk cloth.

Her slender form alighted gracefully atop the cloth as she swiftly pulled Lu Changsheng onto it, transforming into a fleeing beam of light.

“You think you can flee?”

The crimson-robed youth’s lips curled into a mocking sneer at the sight, his tone dripping with disdain and contempt.

A measly Qi Refining cultivator was beneath his notice as a Foundation Establishment master tasked with cutting them down.

Though there were two targets, Lu Changsheng wasn’t even worth considering.

“Tsk!”

He barked coldly, hands forming hand seals.

Instantly, his natal spiritual weapon – the ‘Red Phoenix Cult Pearl’ – flew forth from his dantian, hovering above and radiating a crimson brilliance.

A scarlet beam lanced out, causing Xiao Xiyue’s fleeing form on the cloud silk to abruptly freeze.

Simultaneously, a stark white sword materialized, blade pulsing with lethal qi as it hurtled towards the immobilized Xiao Xiyue.

“No good!”

Sensing the futility of escape, Xiao Xiyue swiftly retrieved a five-colored tortoise shell from her storage pouch.

The shell whirled skyward, emanating a radiant five-hued glow that exuded an aura of indestructibility.

Next, a multicolored sword pellet appeared.

The pellet spun wildly, emanating terrifying sword qi that seemed capable of rending anything.

“Go!”

Xiao Xiyue formed hand seals, uttering a clear command that sent the sword pellet hurtling ferociously towards the crimson-robed youth.

Lu Changsheng watched Xiao Xiyue’s decisive actions with slight surprise.

He hadn’t expected such resolute fighting prowess from her, uncharacteristic of someone just beginning their outer cultivation journey.

Inwardly, he mused that disciples nurtured by an immortal sect were indeed different – not solely focused on cultivation, but skilled combatants far surpassing ordinary rogue cultivators.

Moreover, the cloud silk, tortoise shell, and sword pellet were evidently superior, even supreme-grade magical weapons, indicating considerable wealth.

Though taken aback, Lu Changsheng didn’t remain a spectator. Retrieving a stack of talisman scrolls, mostly of medium upper-grade quality, he flung out over a dozen in quick succession.

As a Talisman Master, it was only natural to carry an ample supply for self-defense.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh–”

The talismans radiated brilliance, manifesting as clouds of fire, serpentine flames, ice spikes, blade-winds, and thunderbolts in a frenzied outpouring.

“Clang clang clang!”

The stark white sword clashed against the five-colored tortoise shell, its blade shuddering as surging sword qi rolled forth like crashing waves, threatening to shred the shell which now showed faint cracks.

Facing the incoming sword pellet and talisman barrage, the crimson-robed youth merely scoffed disdainfully.

Raising his right hand, crystalline like translucent jade yet gleaming with an ethereal luster, he simply grasped the sword pellet.

“Crunch, crunch.”

The keen pellet emitted a teeth-grinding sound as it was crushed in that jade-like palm.

A miasmic serpent sprang from his shoulder, effortlessly dispelling and shattering Lu Changsheng’s talisman assault.

“This is no ordinary Foundation Establishment master!”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed in realization.

His talisman barrage being neutralized was unsurprising given their medium upper-grade nature.

However, Xiao Xiyue’s tortoise shell and sword pellet were clearly extraordinary, yet the crimson-robed youth had cracked the former and grasped the latter barehanded.

Although his palm seemed imbued with some arcane art, it still struck Lu Changsheng with dread, realizing this foe’s prowess far exceeded the elders of the Lu, Chen and Bai clans he had witnessed, even surpassing Meng Xiaochan.

“Humph.”

Xiao Xiyue’s pretty face paled slightly as her two magical weapons were demolished, a muffled grunt escaping her lips.

From her storage pouch, she retrieved a silver talisman scroll and handed it to Lu Changsheng.

Xiao Xiyue swiftly transmitted her voice: “Fellow Daoist Lu, this situation arose because of me. He likely employed some tracking technique to locate me.”

“This is a Hundred Mile Translocation Talisman. I will stall him briefly while you use this talisman to escape.”

Cultivating the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique allowed Xiao Xiyue to remain calm even in perilous situations.

She realized this crimson-robed Foundation Establishment master had come for her specifically, their encounter no mere coincidence. He likely possessed secret methods to trace her whereabouts.

Evading a Foundation Establishment expert would be extremely difficult under such circumstances.

She did not wish to implicate Lu Changsheng further.

Lu Changsheng did not accept the talisman.

As a Talisman Master, he possessed similar translocation talismans himself.

Had escape been his intent, the opening amidst their exchange of strikes would have sufficed.

However, abandoning Xiao Xiyue to flee alone was something he found difficult to do.

“Alas, my temperament is ill-suited for this immortal realm and its ways,” he inwardly sighed.

“Yet having tasted the sweet, I cannot ignore the bitter, especially when she may be the mother of my future child.”

Lu Changsheng decided to take a gamble and attempt a rescue.

His audacity stemmed not merely from arrogance, but a measure of confidence that if he unleashed his full power, he could slay even a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Though this particular foe seemed extraordinarily skilled, Lu Changsheng carried a life-preserving talisman as a final resort should he fail.

In the flicker of a thought, Lu Changsheng made his choice, lightly tucking both palms into his sleeves – one clutching talisman scrolls, the other gripping a golden brick talisman treasure.

“Hurry!”

Xiao Xiyue urged anxiously, extending the talisman to Lu Changsheng for his swift escape.

“In such a situation, how could I abandon you, Fellow Daoist Xiao?”

Lu Changsheng chuckled lightly.

“At a time like this, you still entertain romantic dalliances?” The crimson-robed youth’s eyes flashed coldly as he suddenly bellowed, “You are doomed never to become ill-fated lovebirds!”

His fathomless eyes blazed with a chilling crimson radiance that seized one’s soul.

In the next moment, Lu Changsheng’s Peach Blossom Gu let out a piercing howl.

He felt as if his mind had been struck, leaving him momentarily dazed with a muffled groan.

Simultaneously, the jade pendant talisman around his neck emanated a cooling aura.

“Pff!”

Beside him, Xiao Xiyue’s face drained of color as she abruptly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, clutching her pure white forehead.

“Hm? You brat can actually withstand my spirit sense attack?”

The crimson-robed youth exclaimed in surprise upon witnessing this.

Unexpected that under his esoteric spirit sense technique, Lu Changsheng remained largely unaffected, merely grunting, while ordinary cultivators would have directly perished or suffered Xiao Xiyue’s plight.

Moreover, he discerned Lu Changsheng was not a Foundation Establishment cultivator, likely just a Qi Refiner.

For a mere Qi Refining cultivator to withstand his spirit sense secret art implied possession of a spirit-guarding treasure, causing greed to flicker in his eyes.

After all, any treasure capable of warding the spirit was extraordinarily precious.

“No matter what treasure you possess, it belongs to me now!”

The crimson-robed youth bellowed with laughter, his grip causing the Red Phoenix Cult Pearl to blaze with a blinding radiance towards Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue.

The stark white sword pierced through the five-colored tortoise shell with a swish, hurtling towards Lu Changsheng.

The pearl’s brilliance caused Lu Changsheng’s form to stiffen abruptly, surrounding space sealing as his inner spiritual force stagnated – a glimpse of the gulf between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment realms.

Refusing to cower, Lu Changsheng rapped his storage pouch.

A two-meter tall, jet-black metallic puppet manifested before him, wielding a blade in one hand, a shield in the other, with five ebony spears on its back – the second-grade puppet he had crafted and stored away.

“Clang!”

Facing the stark white sword, the puppet raised its shield horizontally, emitting a resounding clang as sparks scattered.

The puppet’s black-golden longsword then slashed out ferociously with a deafening clang upon impact with the sword.

“A second-grade puppet too? You’re no ordinary brat, it seems.”

The crimson-robed youth chuckled nonchalantly, wholly unconcerned.

Yet in the next instant –

“Hm? A talisman treasure!”

He noticed an aura emanating from Lu Changsheng’s hands.

A dazzling golden rectangular object shot forth, rapidly expanding amid brilliant radiance, causing his expression to shift slightly.

Even as a Foundation Establishment master, facing a talisman treasure was a formidable prospect.

“It seems you’re no ordinary brat. Since that’s the case, then you shall die!”

Abandoning any thought of toying with his prey, the crimson-robed youth saw Lu Changsheng’s second-grade puppet and talisman treasure as he formed hand seals, unleashing a tide of ferocious miasmic serpents bent on swiftly annihilating Lu Changsheng.

Xiao Xiyue’s face was pale and blood was trickling from her mouth, she looked on with utter disbelief at Lu Changsheng’s prowess, her exquisite features etched in astonishment.

Though closely acquainted over their journey, she had sensed Lu Changsheng was not as simple as he appeared, concealing secrets and hidden depths.

However, she did not pry, for what cultivator lacked fortuitous opportunities and cloaked abilities?

Yet she never expected Lu Changsheng’s disguise ran so deep – unveiling a second-grade puppet and even a talisman treasure.

Especially as Lu Changsheng activated the talisman treasure, his spiritual force churning, allowing her to vaguely perceive his Qi Refining realm had reached the same perfect culmination as her own.

Witnessing Lu Changsheng’s formidable skills, his willingness to reveal himself and battle to rescue her despite having the means to flee alone, stirred unfamiliar emotions within Xiao Xiyue’s heart.

But now was not the time to dwell on such feelings. From her storage pouch, she retrieved a golden talisman scroll.

“Hum hum hum!!!”

Infusing it with spiritual force, Xiao Xiyue manifested a golden sword brimming with terrifying might – clearly another talisman treasure.

“Hm? Another talisman treasure!?”

The crimson-robed youth’s eyes flickered as his expression darkened.

He had anticipated such lowly Qi Refiners possessing protective treasures, but the presence of two wielding talisman treasures was an unexpected variable.

“But they are mere Qi Refiners. Possessing talisman treasures matters not if they cannot unleash their full might!”

He scoffed, retrieving a black armor from his waistband and donning it.

Two activated talisman treasures could still potentially injure even him if he was not cautious.

“Howl howl howl!”

Simultaneously, nine ferocious miasmic serpents assailed Lu Changsheng with relentless fury.

As Lu Changsheng poured his efforts into fueling the Golden Brick Talisman Treasure, he activated his supreme-grade Lightning Flash Talisman with deft fingerwork upon sighting the serpents.

Presently channeling the talisman treasure while controlling the second-grade puppet, he could not utilize higher-grade talismans.

Under his command, the second-grade puppet clashing with the white sword abruptly unleashed the five spear-shafts on its back skyward.

“Swish swish swish–”

Like bolts of thunderous lightning, the five spear-shafts transformed into five jet-black arcing flashes, formidably unleashing their fury upon the nine miasmic serpents.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

Each spear struck with the force of a Foundation Establishment attack, colliding violently with the noxious serpents in a series of thunderous booms.

Yet in that collision, Lu Changsheng could clearly sense the medium-grade spirit stone at the puppet’s core burning furiously, unable to sustain its onslaught against the relentless assault.

“I must end this swiftly!”

Lu Changsheng knew they could not prolong this battle. His foe’s casual strike had already forced him to expend all his resources.

Gazing at the mountain-like golden radiance of the suspended Brick Talisman Treasure, Lu Changsheng focused his spiritual intent, channeling all his power to command this profound treasure.

“Boom!”

With the magnitude of a soaring peak, the dazzling golden brick plummeted towards the crimson-robed youth, brimming with overwhelming spiritual might.

“Tsk!”

Facing the irresistible onslaught of the crashing talisman, the youth dared not underestimate it, letting out a low bellow.

The Red Phoenix Cult Pearl whirled rapidly above, emanating a blazing crimson brilliance that burst forth like raging flames to meet the descending golden mountain.

“Rumble rumble!”

The two treasures collided in an explosive clash of wills, golden and crimson energies locked in a stalemate overhead.

In that moment, Xiao Xiyue’s own Talisman Treasure – a golden sword – erupted forth.

Infused with her full spiritual force, the terrifying blade instantly hurtled towards the crimson-robed youth.

Preoccupied against the Golden Brick, the youth glimpsed the incoming sword and slapped his belt, summoning a tiger-shaped puppet.

“Shlick!”

In a mere instant, the golden sword pierced through the tiger puppet, shattering its core.

Yet the youth simultaneously unleashed a blood-red pair of shears that transformed into a crimson flood dragon, clashing violently against the golden blade.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Sword and dragon collided in a relentless exchange of blows.

Now facing a second-grade puppet and two talisman treasures simultaneously, even the crimson-robed youth showed signs of strain.

He perceived Xiao Xiyue nearing her limits – her initial flurry and spirit sense assault had already depleted her spiritual reserves. Recklessly fueling her talisman treasure further drained what little she could muster.

Resolving to dispatch Xiao Xiyue before dealing with Lu Changsheng, he subtly directed his stark white sword, locked in battle with the second-grade puppet, to abruptly transform and attack her.

“Look out!”

Witnessing this, Lu Changsheng immediately shouted out a warning as he maneuvered the second-grade puppet to intercept the incoming sword.

However, the nine miasmic serpents kept reforming relentlessly after being shattered, forcing the puppet to remain on the defensive.

“Pff!”

Xiao Xiyue’s pallid face contorted as she glimpsed the lethal sword hurtling towards her. Gritting her teeth, she spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto her guqin’s strings.

“Ting!”

The guqin rose into the air, its bloodied strings strumming of their own accord, resonating with a thunderous rhythm as wave after wave of sonic blade-qi erupted forth.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

The stark white sword and the guqin collided violently, Xiao Xiyue’s complexion further draining of color.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, you must flee!” she cried out.

She could tell that despite Lu Changsheng’s concealed abilities, his second-grade puppet and talisman treasure, this Foundation Establishment expert was no ordinary foe – they were outmatched.

Persisting further would only lead to their demise.

Focusing all her spiritual power, she fueled the golden sword to buy Lu Changsheng an opportunity to escape, the blade bursting with brilliant golden radiance as it slashed violently, carving a deep gash into the crimson flood dragon’s form.

The dragon reverted into a pair of blood-red shears that clattered to the ground, while the dimming golden sword continued its lethal trajectory towards the crimson-robed youth.

“Humph!” The latter scoffed coldly upon seeing his damaged spiritual weapon, forming hand seals.

Ominous black light pulsed from his armor as the blood-red shears soared back up, resuming their fearsome dragon form to clash against the golden blade – though noticeably diminished compared to before.

Observing this, Lu Changsheng gauged the crimson-robed youth’s depleting strength.

Sustaining his full efforts into the Golden Brick Talisman while commanding the second-grade puppet’s advance, the treasure bone within his chest pulsed, ready to unveil his final trump card!

“Damn it!” The crimson-robed youth’s expression darkened upon the incoming puppet’s assault.

Though mere Qi Refiners, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue’s talisman treasures unleashed astonishing might, especially the Golden Brick that bound his natal spiritual weapon while draining his spiritual reserves.

Gritting his teeth, he formed hand seals and struck his chest, activating a secret technique to divert a portion of his spiritual power for weapon mastery under such dire circumstances.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Instantly, a purple bell-shaped magical weapon materialized, gently swaying in the void and emitting an entrancing, mind-numbing chime.

The eerie sound caused Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue’s spiritual focus to waver momentarily, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.

Clearly, the youth had identified their full concentration on controlling the talisman treasures, seizing the opportunity to disrupt them.

“Shlick!”

As the second-grade puppet closed in, its black-golden longsword slashed ferociously at the crimson-robed youth.

Not a body cultivator himself, he dared not meet such close-quarter attacks head-on.

The ominous light pulsing from his armor coalesced into a ghostly shield to deflect the strike.

The incessant purple bell continued ringing, its disrupting chime finally causing the strained Xiao Xiyue to lose consciousness completely.

“Now is the time!”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes flashed, realizing the crimson-robed youth had reached his limits.

Without Xiao Xiyue’s support, further delays were unaffordable. Any respite would snatch away this chance.

He swiftly tapped his spirit pet pouch, releasing the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm he had nurtured for nearly two years, still in its larval phase with no apparent growth.

Nonetheless, as long as it could serve its purpose in this moment.

Lu Changsheng signaled the silkworm to prepare covertly while wholly focusing on the Golden Brick Talisman and unleashing the treasured bone he had cultivated for years within his Black Dragon Magic Bead.

“Roaaar–”

A resounding draconic howl reverberated through the void as streaks of jet-black radiance surged forth from Lu Changsheng’s chest like a torrential river, exuding overwhelming might.

“What technique is this brat using? How does he possess a Core Formation aura!”

“And as a mere Qi Refiner who has already activated a talisman treasure, how can he unleash such power?”

The crimson-robed youth cried out in bewildered panic.

“Boom!”

In the next instant, a sinister flood dragon wreathed in black mist and flickering ominously erupted from Lu Changsheng’s chest with an earth-shaking roar.

“Just what is this technique? This brat is clearly only a Qi Refiner!”

Faced with the terrifying manifestation charging forth, the crimson-robed youth’s expression froze with incomprehension.

How could a Qi Refiner, while already channeling a talisman treasure at full capacity, unleash might rivaling a Foundation Establishment expert?

“Roooaar!”

Before he could ponder further, the black mist-shrouded evil dragon spirit assailed him, its oppressive aura weighing down his flesh while dimming his spiritual radiance.

When the Black Dragon Magic Bead was initially activated, the eruption of inky radiance could subdue the corporeal form and pollute the spirit.

This malevolent dragon spirit naturally possessed such effects.

Barely maintaining his stalemate, the crimson-robed youth could offer no resistance against the encroaching black miasma devouring him.