240: Xiao Changfeng is alive

"Third-Rank Red Pine Formation!"

Communicating with the memories of Xiao Changfeng transmitted through the Puppet Gu in his Divine Soul, he learned that the Sect's protective formation was personally laid out by a Third-Rank Formation Master from the Heavenly Sword Sect, based on the local Spiritual Vein.

Because it used Xiao Changfeng's Third-Rank life-bound spirit plant, the Red Pine Spirit Tree, as the formation eye, combined with the Third-rank Low-grade Spiritual Vein underground, the power of this formation was considered top-tier among Third-rank Low-grade formations.

"In a while, I will move the Circumference of Heaven Stars Grand Array over and cover it on top of the Red Pine Formation. By then, it should be able to unleash ten percent of its power."

"If a large amount of Spirit Stones are consumed as energy, or if the Spiritual Vein is damaged as the cost, it could even reach the power level of a Fourth-Rank formation for a short time."

The Rank of the Spiritual Vein beneath White Crane Lake is too low; it would be a waste to use it to set up a Fourth-Rank formation like the Circumference of Heaven Stars Grand Array.

After some time, once the Puppet Gu has initially controlled Xiao Changfeng, Liu Xuan plans to move the formation to the Sect.

With the Red Pine Sect's Third-Rank Spiritual Vein combined with the Fourth-Rank Star Array, he would be invincible against anyone below the Nascent Soul True Lord level. By then, Liu Xuan would be much more at ease.

...

Half a month later.

White Crane Lake, Star Space.

Su Wan sat by the table, resting her head on one hand while flipping through the various intelligence reports Liu Xuan had brought back. She was wearing a set of silk pajamas, exuding a lazy temperament.

A fat orange cat lay beside her arm, its belly making a purring sound.

It was brought here half a year ago after Su Wan begged Liu Xuan to retrieve it from her residence in the South Courtyard of the Sect. It had been her pet before, and since it was boring in the Star Space, it was just right to keep her company and alleviate her boredom.

Su Wan had stayed in the Star Space for a year. She discovered that her cultivation was improving faster than before, and she could focus more on studying her Cultivation Technique; the results were even better than her previous closed-door cultivation.

'Actually, staying here is quite nice...'

The time Liu Xuan promised to let her out was approaching, but she had actually become somewhat accustomed to life here.

A flash of earthy yellow light appeared, and Liu Xuan manifested.

"You're here. Regarding the expansion of the Alchemy rooms in the Pill Refining Hall of the Sect, we still need..."

Su Wan maintained her lazy posture, preparing to discuss the Sect's administrative affairs with Liu Xuan as usual.

"We'll talk about that later!"

Liu Xuan interrupted Su Wan, then cast a spell. Golden light lit up at the center of his brow, and a Golden Core slowly emerged.

Some transparent threads were wrapped around the Golden Core, but they were obscured by the golden light, making them difficult to see.

"This..."

"This is Xiao Changfeng's Golden Core!"

"He really didn't die?!!"

Su Wan was startled and stood up abruptly, staring fixedly at the Golden Core in front of Liu Xuan. She was certain that it was Xiao Changfeng's aura.

A terrifying conjecture arose in her heart, 'If Xiao Changfeng had succeeded in his Possession of Liu Xuan back then, then this past year was just an act to toy with her...'

"Meow~"

The fat orange cat was also startled and jumped from the table to hide in a corner.

Liu Xuan waved his hand, and Xiao Changfeng's Physical Body flew in from outside. He then tossed the Golden Core over, and it merged into Xiao Changfeng's brow.

"Hum~"

A moment later, an aura of a Golden Core True Person emanated. Xiao Changfeng opened his eyes and slowly stood up.

"Bang!"

"Thud!"

Su Wan retreated with a terrified expression, knocking over her chair, which in turn caused several documents on the table to fall to the ground.

Xiao Changfeng had truly recovered! Thinking about what she had done this past year... Su Wan broke down. She couldn't understand why things had turned out this way; everything had become incomprehensible to her.

A moment later, something even more incomprehensible to her happened. She saw Xiao Changfeng kneel before Liu Xuan and respectfully say: "Master!"

???

Su Wan's terrified expression froze instantly. She seriously suspected she had misheard or was hallucinating.

Xiao Changfeng, a dignified Golden Core True Person, kneeling before Liu Xuan and calling him Master? Was this reasonable?

Liu Xuan turned to look at Su Wan, "You've scared my Grandmistress. Hurry up and apologize to her!"

Xiao Changfeng shifted his knees and kowtowed to Su Wan, "I was wrong. Please punish me, Mistress!"

Liu Xuan came to Su Wan's side and held her shoulders, "Grandmistress, you have been frightened!"

"Why don't you give him a beating to vent your anger? He definitely won't dare to resist!"

Su Wan was mentally disoriented, her breathing unstable. She looked at Liu Xuan beside her, then at Xiao Changfeng kneeling on the ground, and stuttered:

"Little Xuan, this... what... is going on?"

Liu Xuan picked up the fallen chair and sat on it, then pulled her into his arms.

"It's nothing! Grandmaster, the old man, knows his sins are grave and intends to serve as a slave and servant from now on to atone for them."

"The situation is just that simple. You don't need to overthink it, and you certainly don't need to be afraid of him."

Su Wan snuggled into Liu Xuan's arms, her eyes gradually becoming clear. After the terror, her rationality quickly returned.

Xiao Changfeng was alive, but not entirely alive; he had likely become Liu Xuan's slave, a Puppet.

No wonder he dared to impersonate Xiao Changfeng; it turned out he had everything prepared long ago!

Regardless of how Liu Xuan managed to do this, it was advantageous for them. Following Liu Xuan had more prospects than following the former Xiao Changfeng.

"Mm~"

Su Wan's thoughts were interrupted by Liu Xuan, and a flush appeared on her face.

Looking at Xiao Changfeng kneeling on the ground opposite, her pretty face turned even redder, burning hot.

"Little Xuan, can you make him go out first?"

"Does it matter? He has his head lowered and can't see."

"It matters~"

Seeing that Liu Xuan ignored her, Su Wan said with a hint of pleading in her coquettish tone: "If you let him go out, I will listen to you regarding... that kind of thing you mentioned last time."

"Really?"

...

...

A few days later.

Liu Xuan brought Su Wan out of the Star Space and appeared in the Jingxin Courtyard. Xiao Changfeng was shrouded in a wide black robe, his face indistinguishable.

The Puppet Gu had only initially controlled Xiao Changfeng and could not unleash his strength as a Golden Core True Person; for the time being, it could only be used to bluff people. If a real fight broke out, he would probably only have the level of a Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

However, this was enough. Anyway, with Xiao Changfeng's status, how many people would dare to make a move on him?

The Xiao Changfeng controlled by the Puppet Gu could bluff people, and he himself could also disguise himself as Xiao Changfeng to bluff people. With this double disguise, if something really happened, he could shift the blame onto Xiao Changfeng. It could be said to be foolproof.

For the Puppet Gu to fully control Xiao Changfeng and unleash his full Golden Core True Person strength would take ten years, but by then, Xiao Changfeng would have less than ten years of lifespan left.

It was his Physical Body and Golden Core Origin that were injured, and Liu Xuan currently had no way to cure him, so he could only take it one step at a time.

It would be best if he could cure his Origin injuries. His cultivation as a Golden Core True Person was secondary; the main thing was that Liu Xuan needed him as a front to cover up the rapid development of the Family.

"Grandmistress, I kept my promise and brought you out. How should you repay me?"

The Star Space was cramped. After changing to a new environment, Liu Xuan's interest rose again.

"You still have the nerve to say that! Wasn't it you who locked me in there in the first place? And you still..."

"One thing is one thing!" Liu Xuan waved his hand to interrupt, "Just tell me whether you will repay me or not!"

"Everything... everything is up to you!"

Su Wan can say what else? She had already become accustomed to being obedient.

Moreover, thinking from another perspective, she deeply felt that her cultivation had improved significantly, even faintly touching the Bottleneck of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Happy cultivation—who could refuse that?