Chapter 2039: 539:

One must negotiate to strive for sufficient benefits.

"Elder Xuanmu, there’s no need to belittle yourself. Third-rank divination is already sufficient to predict fortune and calamity." .

"Moreover, Elder, you’re also in possession of a Fourth Rank Puppet and a Third Rank Talisman Formation. Your combat strength far exceeds the average Core Formation, making you invincible below the Nascent Soul level."

Shen Baishuang was not flattering; she was simply stating the truth.

Lu Changsheng’s strength and means are astounding, even in the eyes of a Nascent Soul True Lord like her.

Such a top-level Core Formation cultivator, if holding some trump cards bestowed by a Nascent Soul True Lord, can still play a significant role in Nascent Soul level battles, affecting the balance of power.

"Second Palace Master, though I possess a Fourth Rank Puppet, I am not adept in puppet crafting. Should it get damaged, it would be hard to repair, so unless absolutely necessary, I’ve never used it."

"Also, this puppet requires Supreme Spirit Stones to operate. While I have some financial means, it’s difficult to use it long-term..."

Lu Changsheng looked at the gracefully charming Second Palace Master in front of him and spoke through gritted teeth, continuing to tactfully refuse.

"Don’t worry, unless it’s urgent, you won’t need to use the Fourth Rank Puppet. Should an emergency arise, our Goddess Palace will compensate you for all losses!"

"As for Supreme Spirit Stones... these five Supreme Spirit Stones should be enough for your puppet’s operation. Are there any other issues?"

Shen Baishuang was straightforward and domineering, not one for beating around the bush.

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s hesitation, she directly showed a tough stance, her voice authoritative.

Amid her words, with a light flick of her jade finger, five glistening Supreme Spirit Stones flew out from the storage ring.

"In that case, I can only respectfully accept."

Lu Changsheng, although he had heard of the Second Palace Master Jade-faced Demon and Lipstick Tiger’s reputation, only now did he fully realize her character upon meeting her. He rose to his feet and cupped his hands in salute.

"Very well, rest assured, as long as you contribute during this mission, you will be duly rewarded!"

Shen Baishuang, seeing Lu Changsheng wisely accept without further refusal, softened her expression slightly.

After speaking, she seemingly thought of something and said with a half-smile: "I’ve heard you have a good relationship with Yiren. If you perform well on this mission, I might put in a good word for you."

"???"

Lu Changsheng hadn’t expected his affairs with Shen Yiren to reach the ears of the Second Palace Master.

Doesn’t that mean the Great Palace Master knows too?

However, as he already had intentions towards Shen Yiren, and seeing Shen Baishuang’s stance, he straightforwardly said: "Thank you, Second Palace Master."

"May I ask, Second Palace Master, do you know where the Kunpeng Egg is located and when we will depart? I need to make some preparations."

Lu Changsheng inquired further.

"In ten days."

Shen Baishuang lightly opened her red lips and uttered a timeframe.

"So soon?"

Lu Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat, but he nodded in acknowledgment.

Shen Baishuang indicated they would meet in ten days, then said no more and transformed into a brilliant crimson light, gracefully departing.

Probing Lu Changsheng’s situation wasn’t something to rush.

Heading to Black Reef Island later would provide plenty of time and opportunity.

...

Seeing the Second Palace Master hurriedly leave after speaking without any pleasantries, Lu Changsheng gently shook his head.

After all, he was an Honorary Elder of the Goddess Palace, a top-level Core Formation cultivator.

Yet, she didn’t show the demeanor of a palace leader to win people’s hearts.

But recalling the Second Palace Master’s legendary deeds, Lu Changsheng didn’t mind and summoned Song Yudie, the stewardess.

He indicated he would be going out for a time and that she should handle matters on Rongyue Island. He also handed her a materials list to help him collect.

"Yes, Elder."

Song Yudie guessed it likely had to do with the visits from the Third and Second Palace Masters today and didn’t ask further.

"Have you encountered any issues in your cultivation?"

Lu Changsheng, looking refined and handsome with a soft smile, inquired of Song Yudie.

Though he didn’t devote much attention to Song Yudie now, he occasionally cared for her when time allowed.

Song Yudie was flattered and quickly expressed her cultivation issues with delight.

As a top-level Core Formation cultivator, Lu Changsheng naturally found it easy to instruct a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After tending to Song Yudie, Lu Changsheng returned to the Cave Mansion and took out three divination copper coins to divine his mission’s prospects.

However, involving the Kunpeng Egg and his son Lu Quanzhen, the divinatory symbols and heavenly secrets were murky and indeterminate.

The path of divination is not omnipotent and requires informational mediums.

The success rate is also related to the causality involved.

This outing involves traveling with Nascent Soul True Lords and entails the great forces of the Starry Sky Sea, so the heavenly secrets were obscure and chaotic, difficult to calculate.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Changsheng expended a small cost, burning his essence blood, to simply divine his fortune: whether it would go smoothly.

Though the divinatory symbols remained elusive and fate uncertain, Lu Changsheng grasped a rough conclusion in an invisible sense—fortune and misfortune fluctuating and unstable. If one proceeds steadily and doesn’t covet or act rashly, fortune outweighs misfortune.

"There is indeed some risk."

Lu Changsheng’s face turned pale as he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid energy, knowing that finding his son Lu Quanzhen, and seizing the Kunpeng Egg right under the watchful eyes of various forces and even Nascent Soul True Lords, posed a certain difficulty.

Proceed steadily, don’t covet, don’t act rashly...

He murmured these eight words to himself, knowing he couldn’t act impulsively on this journey, and must exercise utmost caution.

The next day, Shen Yiren came to visit again.

She was aware that Lu Changsheng had accepted her second sister Shen Baishuang’s invitation and was preparing to search for the Kunpeng Egg, feeling somewhat worried.

So, representing the Goddess Palace, she brought him a bottle of top-level Third Rank healing elixir and a Fourth Rank Divine Talisman, providing him with detailed information on the top forces in the Starry Sky Sea, highlighting which Core Formation cultivators to be wary of.