Chapter 564: Lüqiu Jinyuan Takes the Bait, A War About to Ignite

A few days later.

On Yuangjun Island, inside a grand hall of gold and jade, though decorated in plain style, Lüqiu Jinyuan knelt behind a low desk, handling state affairs.

He wore a white robe, long hair draped over his shoulders, his expression calm and composed. With brush in hand, he steadily wrote his views on national matters onto memorial scrolls.

The palace maids serving at his sides listened to the soft "swish swish" of the brush against paper, their faces occasionally showing admiration.

The Lüqiu clan had thrived for over 100,000 years. Even with restrictions from the higher-ups, their numbers had grown terrifyingly vast, nearly 10 million strong.

These maids were but among those millions.

And Lüqiu Jinyuan, a prince born of a cadet branch, was without doubt their pride, the man of their dreams.

But unlike the calm he displayed outwardly, inwardly he held faint worries.

—Because he could not discern the true reason why Lüqiu Qingfeng had drawn so much "Ancestral Blood" from the clan treasury.

In the cultivation world, strength was everything.

Within the Lüqiu clan, "Ancestral Blood" was almost equal to a realm breakthrough.

Though he currently held every advantage, if Lüqiu Qingfeng managed to break through to late Nascent Soul, the elders would again favor her, the Ninth Princess.

For at late Nascent Soul, one could enter the ranks of the clan’s decision-makers.

At the core, that would create a gulf between her and him, the reserve heir.

He believed her chances of breaking through soon were low. But what if?

"On Yan Wind Island, a cultivator suspected of having Soul-Devouring Wood has appeared."

Just then, Lüqiu Jinyuan happened to glance at a dossier delivered the day before.

At the sight of it, his brush-hand froze for an instant, then his face showed a spark of delight.

"Heaven’s blessing?"

"Soul-Devouring Wood? News of Soul-Devouring Wood at last?"

His eyes lit up with excitement. He felt heaven itself favored him. After watching and arranging spies across the Red Algae Sea for so long, at last, the piece of Soul-Devouring Wood lost for over 100 years had surfaced.

Soul-Devouring Wood was a shortcut to power.

Whether for his own use or given to a loyal subordinate, it was a boon.

Unfortunately, over a century ago, his avatar Wu Fang had perished while pursuing an enemy cultivator. That loss meant the Soul-Devouring Wood he had painstakingly secured in the Flying Serpent Island ruins was lost as well.

Because the avatar had died, his true body never learned exactly who killed Wu Fang and seized the treasure.

Even the news of its existence came only from what he later pried out of other Nascent Soul cultivators at Flying Serpent Island after sensing Wu Fang’s death.

But vengeance did not concern him now. His goal was singular—claim the Soul-Devouring Wood!

"No matter if Lüqiu Qingfeng prepares for her breakthrough. So long as I reach late Nascent Soul first, the victor will still be me!"

His gaze sharpened.

He knew that with his talent, using the Soul-Devouring Wood wasn’t ideal. It would lower his potential to break into Divine Transformation, making that path harder.

But he also knew himself well. He wasn’t the rare "exception" of the Lüqiu clan who could easily shatter the bloodline’s shackles and reach Divine Transformation.

For true-blood families, their bloodline gave them superior talent in the early stages.

But the strength of that bloodline also marked the ceiling of their cultivation.

Once they reached that ceiling, advancing further became extremely difficult.

That was why the Lüqiu clan, for countless years, had remained only a quasi-Divine clan, confined to the Red Algae Sea, unable to evolve into a power commanding the Inner Ruins Sea.

So Lüqiu Jinyuan did not mind adding a few more obstacles on his path to Divine Transformation.

What mattered was what he could grasp now!

"Mobilize all the scouts of the Fox-Eagle Guard. Within one month, I want the precise whereabouts of this person."

Moments later, several message talismans shot out of the palace, streaking as rainbow lights across Yuangjun Island, carrying Lüqiu Jinyuan’s command.

…

The Fox-Eagle Guard was Lüqiu Jinyuan’s intelligence network.

This detail, Wei Tu already knew clearly from Earth Spider Matriarch’s memories.

The so-called “cultivator with Soul-Devouring Wood” Lüqiu Jinyuan had traced was nothing but a bait Wei Tu had deliberately thrown to Black Owl.

"Now, all that’s left is waiting for Lüqiu Jinyuan to take the hook step by step."

Inside Earth Spider Matriarch’s private chamber at Spider Heart Sect.

Wei Tu sat cross-legged. After glancing at the intelligence jade slip handed to him by Earth Spider Matriarch, he thought quietly.

Five Elder Mountain was far too distant from Yuangjun Island.

Trying to remotely manipulate such a plot from there would make any intelligence lose timeliness.

So Spider Heart Island, the sect headquarters not far from Yuangjun Island, deep within Donghua Demon Kingdom, became the perfect command center and hiding place for him.

And coming here also reduced the risk of Earth Spider Matriarch’s capture being exposed.

With him monitoring her, no matter how much hatred she bore in her heart, she had no choice but to put on a smile.

Like now, after delivering the jade slip to Wei Tu, she stood at his side meek as a maid, showing none of the airs of a sect master.

"Master, would you like a meal?"

Though in secret she ground her silver teeth, her pretty face wore a gentle smile. Her tone was soft, fragrant like orchid breath as she spoke.

As she spoke, a steaming bowl of fragrant soup appeared in her hand. ℯℯ𝑙.

"This is a nourishing spirit porridge I had specially ordered from the spirit chef for Master. It contains 48 rare herbs…"

She dropped to her knees, ladylike hands stirring the soup. With a jade spoon she lifted a root shaped like a fat tuber and carefully brought it to Wei Tu’s lips.

"No need." Wei Tu’s tone was cold. He waved his hand, signaling her to step back.

A strong cultivator didn’t always have a proud spine.

When he captured her, she had already begged to become his concubine just to survive.

And not long ago, when he made it clear that if she helped him assassinate Lüqiu Jinyuan, he would spare her and take her as a subordinate, she began flattering him even more.

Her service became nearly flawless.

But Wei Tu still felt awkward with her attentions.

First, he had always lived as a bitter cultivator. Only when he broke into the Nascent Soul realm more than a century ago, thinking himself already an ancestor, had he relaxed a little and taken Yan Xiaolan as a concubine.

Second, between him and Earth Spider Matriarch lay a blood feud—he had killed her son.

He didn’t know what she truly thought. But that grudge sat in his throat like a thorn. He could not sit at ease and enjoy her service.

"Rest assured. As long as this succeeds, I’ll spare your life. A dead mid Nascent Soul and a living mid Nascent Soul—I know which is worth more."

Wei Tu looked at her and spoke again.

It was the truth.

With the Spirit-Subjugating Evil Law binding her, she was the most loyal servant he could have. One thought from him, and this beautiful body before him would explode on the spot, leaving only a corpse.

For the sake of maximizing profit, he would never kill her once Lüqiu Jinyuan was dealt with.

Her value was not just her strength, but also her control of Spider Heart Sect.

Like just now, his knowledge of the Fox-Eagle Guard’s movements had come straight from Spider Heart Sect’s disciples.

And rescuing Ancestor Luo from Ruyi Tower would also require her power as an elder within that shadowy force.

After all, striking directly and breaking in from the inside were two very different tasks.

"Yes, Master."

Hearing this, Xue Hongmian forced a smile and stepped back a few paces, keeping a proper distance from Wei Tu—not too near, not too far.

…

Five days later.

Under Wei Tu’s arrangement, Fu Zhizhou, playing the part of the “Soul-Devouring Wood cultivator,” once again revealed his tracks within Donghua Demon Kingdom.

Soon, the Fox-Eagle Guard’s leader Black Fox led over 10 Golden Core cultivators to intercept him, sparking a fierce battle.

Black Fox was one of Lüqiu Jinyuan’s few Nascent Soul subordinates, at early Nascent Soul.

By rights, with his strength and the support of over 10 Golden Core experts, they should have been able to trap a newly advanced Nascent Soul like Fu Zhizhou.

But with Wei Tu’s meticulous scheming, they were doomed to fail.

Black Fox had his arm severed, forced to flee in disgrace, his Nascent Soul barely escaping.

When Lüqiu Jinyuan received the battle report, he did not move personally. Instead, he sent his most trusted mid Nascent Soul subordinate.

This man was named Lüqiu Guangheng, known in the clan as Elder Guang, guardian of the clan treasury.

Not long ago, he had also been the spearhead at the clan council, helping Lüqiu Jinyuan force Lüqiu Qingfeng into self-confinement.

But the real reason Lüqiu Jinyuan trusted Lüqiu Guangheng, and was willing to send him out now to “seize the treasure,” was because Lüqiu Guangheng was his birth father.

Although he was a prince of the collateral branch, his starting point was far above ordinary members of the Lüqiu clan.

Of course, this relationship was never publicized. It had always been kept secret.

He… was always Lüqiu Guangheng’s illegitimate son.

"Don’t worry, Jinyuan. As your father, I will definitely seize the Soul-Devouring Wood for you."

Elder Guang looked old, leaning on a wooden staff. After hearing Jinyuan’s request, he agreed without hesitation. In his eyes flashed a touch of comfort.

For hundreds of years, Jinyuan had rarely asked him for anything.

This wasn’t the first time, but in importance it was definitely among the top 3.

"A newly advanced Nascent Soul, no matter what tricks he has, can’t escape your father’s hunt."

Elder Guang smiled faintly, his tone full of confidence.

Like father, like son.

Though his strength wasn’t as high as his son Jinyuan, the “pureblood heir,” compared to the average mid Nascent Soul, he was much stronger.

Capturing Fu Zhizhou, a newly advanced Nascent Soul, would be nothing but a hand’s turn.

"Thank you, Father."

Hearing this, Jinyuan nodded calmly, showing no doubt about his father’s strength. He bowed slightly in gratitude.

"I will wait here on Yuangjun Island for your good news."

After a brief hesitation, he spoke again.

Back then, before that fateful chance that changed his life, this “illegitimate son” had never been valued by Elder Guang, nor even liked. Opportunities to meet him were few and far between.

If it weren’t necessary, he would never want to ask his father to personally run this errand and take action.

Because it would mean owing him a favor.

But this time… it was necessary.

"Very dangerous."

Lüqiu Jinyuan stayed calm, making his judgment.

From Fu Zhizhou’s appearance… to Black Fox’s defeat and forced Nascent Soul escape, everything looked flawless.

Yet, if added to the earlier event—his clone “Wu Fang” being destroyed—it became suspicious.

He knew the temperament of his clone.

After all, the clone was himself.

It would never, without certainty, carry the Soul-Devouring Wood into danger.

This meant his clone “Wu Fang” must have encountered some unforeseen accident and was forced to perish, leaving the Soul-Devouring Wood to fall into Fu Zhizhou’s hands.

This “accident,” if he didn’t clarify, he would never act rashly.

Of course, perhaps he was overthinking.

Fu Zhizhou obtaining the Soul-Devouring Wood might have just been coincidence!

But even if it was, with his father Lüqiu Guangheng acting, it would still be enough.

At most, he would just feel uneasy about it.

Yet—

Very soon, Jinyuan received an “unexpected battle report.”

It wasn’t news of his father’s victory, nor of his father’s defeat, but rather… a plea for help sent by Elder Guang.

The letter described the course of battle.

At first, everything went smoothly.

His father found Fu Zhizhou’s trail and immediately began pursuit.

But just as he was about to succeed, suddenly a mid Nascent Soul cultivator appeared, blocked him, and engaged him in fierce combat.

This mid Nascent Soul, Elder Guang didn’t know. But from their exchanged words, he could tell: this person had ties with Fu Zhizhou, and the Soul-Devouring Wood had once been given to Fu Zhizhou as a gift.

As for this stranger’s strength…

By Elder Guang’s estimate, it was about equal to his own, maybe a little stronger.

"A stranger at mid Nascent Soul…"

"Now it all makes sense!"

"It must have been this man who saw Wu Fang with the Soul-Devouring Wood, then killed him to take it!"

Jinyuan quickly reached his conclusion.

Treasure killings were common in the cultivation world.

And besides, news of the Soul-Devouring Wood wasn’t sealed tightly. Back when Wu Fang obtained it at Flying Serpent Island ruins, the word had already spread among Nascent Soul cultivators.

That another came later to rob and kill him was nothing strange.

"It’s time to act!"

Lüqiu Jinyuan’s eyes flashed cold. With a sweep of his sleeve, he turned into a blue-winged divine bird, several zhang in size, and sped from Yuangjun Island, rushing toward the battlefield.

Even without all his guesses, he had to go.

For Elder Guang’s safety, he had to.

After all, having a loyal mid Nascent Soul confidant was no easy thing.