Chapter 2048: Chapter 678: Settling Accounts and Harvesting Rewards! "Hmm, I happened to encounter the opening of the Vast Sand Illusion Realm in the Endless Wilderness and saw a Nascent Soul cultivator capturing Ping’an and entering the secret realm." "At that time, I couldn’t take any action, so I had to enter the secret realm." Lu Changsheng nodded and said. "What’s the situation in this secret realm? Did you encounter any danger, my lord?" Ling Zixiao, who usually enjoys reading, is well-versed in various matters of the cultivation world. However, information about the [Vast Sand Illusion Realm] is quite scarce. Naturally, she is curious now. "Actually, it’s quite similar to most secret realms, like a small world... However, I didn’t enter the central core area to vie for opportunities, so I’m not sure." Lu Changsheng smiled faintly, and with a slight raise of his palm, scenes of the Vast Sand Illusion Realm appeared before them. Ling Zixiao’s beautiful eyes shone brightly as she gazed at the scene before her. "As for danger, there indeed was some." Lu Changsheng held his wife’s fair and delicate hand, leading her to the City Lord’s Mansion, recounting the insights from this secret realm. He revealed meeting Ming Sha True Monarch from the Yin Ghost Sect. Although this person had only broken through to Nascent Soul a few decades ago, he was extremely formidable, wielding the sect’s supreme treasure [Myriad Ghosts Blood Pool], excelling in both offense and defense. Moreover, his Blood Pool could summon a Fourth Rank Ghost King, but the price was too high for frequent use. "Without this Blood Pool, I would have slain him then and there. Later, he called upon the Heavenly Silkworm True Monarch from Beast God Mountain and Yun Mei Monarch from the Barebody Sect... If Azure Phoenix True Monarch hadn’t appeared, I would have had to use the [Sun and Moon Taiji Mysterious Light Mirror] to fight them." Lu Changsheng said with some emotion. If the Sun and Moon Taiji Mysterious Light Mirror were to explode with disturbance, attracting the gaze of multiple Nascent Soul cultivators, it would be extremely dangerous. Aside from sharing this with his wife, he also mentioned Azure Phoenix True Monarch for future preparations. Even though Ling Zixiao knew Lu Changsheng was safe, hearing about the ambush by three Nascent Soul cultivators still made her anxious for her husband. After all, these were three Nascent Soul True Monarchs! Yet when she heard of Azure Phoenix True Monarch’s appearance, her heart paused slightly, her bright eyes turned to her husband, and she asked, "Did my lord and this Azure Phoenix True Monarch have any... encounter in the secret realm?" "???" Lu Changsheng was stunned. Was this how he appeared in his wife’s eyes? It was clearly a perilous secret realm, yet the first thought was about romance. He immediately replied solemnly, "The secret realm was dangerous, where would there be any encounter!" "Moreover, Azure Phoenix True Monarch was headed to the central area of the secret realm to compete for core opportunities, and I had no intention of going there, she invited me, but I refused." Lu Changsheng said with a serious expression. "I was just casually asking~." Ling Zixiao smiled lightly, snuggling into Lu Changsheng’s embrace, continued to ask, "Is my lord just waiting for the secret realm to end?" "Yes." Lu Changsheng nodded, continuing to recount other insights from the secret realm, such as witnessing a prodigy commanding thirteen puppets, and a puppet similar to the Thousand Faces Puppet Fox. "No wonder it’s a Nascent Soul level secret realm; those who dare enter are quite extraordinary." Ling Zixiao was filled with emotion, knowing that even the Core Formation Stage cultivators entering the secret realm were at least late-stage in cultivation. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 This level of strength, in Jiang Country’s cultivation realm, is already one of the top existences below Nascent Soul, counting only a few throughout Jiang Country. "What about the Heavenly Sword Sect and Azure Phoenix True Monarch, did they gain anything in the secret realm?" She asked further. "I’m not sure about the Heavenly Sword Sect, but Azure Phoenix True Monarch seemed to have obtained some sort of top-tier opportunity and was ambushed by five Nascent Soul cultivators..." Lu Changsheng said. "Five Nascent Soul cultivators!?" Ling Zixiao’s bright eyes filled with wonder. The cultivation realm is a vast divide at every step. During the Qi Refinement Realm, facing five opponents using ambush tactics, exotic treasures, or talisman treasures was understandable. At the Foundation Establishment Stage, being able to face five opponents would be quite shocking, belonging to top-tier talent! At the Core Formation Stage, the idea of facing five opponents is almost unheard of. As for the Nascent Soul Stage facing five opponents... it exceeds her understanding. After all, those who broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, weren’t they all geniuses or prodigies of superior-grade Golden Core? "Azure Phoenix True Monarch’s spiritual pet has ascended to the Fourth Rank, and she has five hundred Azure Phoenix Daoist Soldiers, allowing her to persist against five Nascent Soul cultivators, otherwise no one could possibly withstand under five Nascent Soul cultivators for that long." Seeing his wife’s surprise, Lu Changsheng explained with a smile. "That’s indeed remarkable." Ling Zixiao said with great admiration. With such impressive combat power shown by Azure Phoenix True Monarch, even the Heavenly Sword Sect can’t remain indifferent. "And then, did Azure Phoenix True Monarch manage to escape the danger?" Ling Zixiao asked her husband further. Being of loose cultivator origin herself, she felt a special affinity for Azure Phoenix True Monarch, who was also from such a background, admiring her a bit. "She escaped." Lu Changsheng squeezed his wife’s jade hand and smiled. "No wonder she’s Azure Phoenix True Monarch, managing to escape from five Nascent Soul cultivators." Ling Zixiao sighed softly in amazement, holding even more admiration for this Azure Phoenix True Monarch. "However, although Azure Phoenix True Monarch managed to escape, now surrounded by many Nascent Soul cultivators, she’s already fled Jiang Country, and won’t return for a while." Lu Changsheng gazed at the distant scenery, speaking out, wondering when he would meet this Azure Phoenix True Monarch again. Such a powerful, independent woman stirs a sense of challenge and conquest in his heart, wanting to completely conquer her. "Fled Jiang Country?" Ling Zixiao was surprised, then puzzled, "How does my lord know?" "When the five Nascent Soul cultivators ambushed Azure Phoenix True Monarch, Heavenly Silkworm True Monarch and Ming Sha True Monarch joined in, blocking the exit of the secret realm. I had grudges with them; Azure Phoenix True Monarch had helped me before, so I lent a hand." "Thus, in the coming time, as your husband, I must also keep a low profile and refrain from appearing in public as Yangming True Master."