Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 254 - 168: Dreams Fulfilled

Zhu Family Estate.

Zhu Zhen listened to the voice coming from the Sound Transmission Shell, a trace of hesitation surfacing on his face.

People do change.

Especially after he learned that Lu Chang’sheng had gotten involved with the Qu Family, his mindset shifted immediately.

The Qu and Zhu Families had always had disputes. So far, there had only been minor skirmishes, but who could say what the future held?

Lu Chang’sheng’s connection with the Qu Family now was something that left him particularly dissatisfied.

Hence, this ambush was plotted.

The idea was to wait for Lu Chang’sheng to arrive and then find an excuse to kill him.

Unfortunately, Lu Chang’sheng’s caution left him a bit disappointed.

The Zhu Family had more than just the Qu Family as enemies. At this critical moment, it was necessary not to break the facade of relations maintained with the Qu Family.

Yet, Lu Chang’sheng was simply too steady. For more than half a year, he hadn’t taken even a single step out of Platinum Immortal City. Zhu Zhen worried that after this opportunity passed, it would be difficult to find such a perfect chance again.

"Clan Leader, if we make a move, that’s war with the other families. Plus, we might not even be able to keep him here."

An elder with hair as white as snow spoke in a deep voice.

This was an elder of extremely high seniority in the Zhu Family, possessing Qi Cultivation at the eighth stage.

"I think we should strike. As long as that Lu bastard is dead, we can let the others leave. Who’d really dare turn on the Zhu Family over a corpse?" Another late-stage Qi Cultivation elder interjected.

This was a major event, so Zhu Zhen dared not decide on his own. He’d summoned the elders who cultivated in seclusion deep in the Zhu Family residence.

The one speaking belonged to the Zhu Ding lineage and had learned of Lu Chang’sheng before. Naturally, he was especially disgusted by him.

"Our Zhu Family brought him from the Mayfly World into the Spirit Realm—saving his damn life. It’d make sense for him to be our horse or ox in repayment, and yet, we didn’t even demand that. We were merciful, and he treats us like nothing. A wolf-hearted bastard like that—sooner or later he’ll turn on the Zhu Family."

"If you fail to strike when you should, you invite disaster. Kill him early, buy our Zhu Family some peace for the future."

"No. Our Zhu Family and Lu Chang’sheng aren’t at that point yet. If we fail this time, it’ll be a catastrophe—don’t act on impulse."

"Besides, don’t forget about Purple Ice Lake."

With that, they all fell silent.

If Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t brought so many people, they’d have killed him without a second thought. Now, with experts from four families present—and the Qu Family likely standing by—the uncertainty was too great for them to decide.

"Forget it, then." Zhu Zhen sighed.

Since becoming Clan Leader, he’d contended with rivals, but nothing had been as tricky as this. It really felt like a snake trying to bite into a turtle, unable to get a grip.

"A pity the old Clan Leader went to the Supreme Profound Sect. Otherwise, taking them down would be a cinch."

The old Clan Leader was the Zhu Family’s strongest—at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation for years, no ordinary seventh or eighth-layer could handle him.

······

Lu Chang’sheng knew nothing of the Zhu Family’s plot, but given his cautious nature, he was certainly not unprepared.

"As expected, Fellow Daoist Lu is brilliant."

The team flew for a while when the Fang Family Ancestor’s expression shifted, and an earth-colored shadow fell into his hand.

It was a tiny puppet beast.

"Ancestor, what’s the word?" asked the Fang Family representative for this trip.

The Fang Family Ancestor looked at Lu Chang’sheng, an odd glint in his eyes.

This time, Lu Chang’sheng had persistently invited the ancestral elders of several families to join him. Unfortunately, only the Fang Family Ancestor, Fang Yuan, and the Chen Family Ancestor, Chen Hua, had come—one in the open, the other disguised and following behind the group.

In addition, there was a late-stage Qi Cultivator from the Qu Family, but because of his status, he kept to the shadows and didn’t show himself.

At first, Fang Yuan actually thought they were making a mountain out of a molehill—a single late-stage guard would’ve been enough, surely.

Lu Chang’sheng wasn’t some extraordinary genius—what kind of terrifying enemy could he possibly draw?

If it hadn’t been for their family Clan Leader acting on his own, pouring in months’ worth of Spirit Stones as support, Fang Yuan truly wouldn’t have wanted to come at all.

But after recent events, he realized Lu Chang’sheng’s worries were on point.

"The Zhu Family really did want to attack Fellow Daoist Lu, but they were frightened off by Fellow Daoist Chen and the combined presence of the other families."

There was some disappointment in his words.

With all these precautions, simply making this trip felt somewhat unsatisfying.

After all, the Supreme Profound Sect had summoned every ninth-stage Qi Cultivator in the Platinum Immortal City vicinity for a conference—they still hadn’t returned.

The Zhu Family was at its weakest right now.

"Still, Fellow Daoist Lu’s foresight is commendable."

Everyone looked at Lu Chang’sheng with a hint of surprise.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled. "I was just being cautious—never thought the Zhu Family would really try something like this."

Saying this, he, too, felt a tinge of regret. The Zhu Family had led him here—if this hadn’t happened, even if the Qu and Zhu Families fell out, he would have avoided hurting Zhu, to acknowledge that debt.

If the Zhu Family lost, he’d make sure their bloodline survived.

But—

"Let’s go. Let’s get our people out quickly."

The Chen Family Ancestor spoke heavily.

Hearts can change so easily—who could say if the Zhu Family wouldn’t change their minds in an instant?

Everyone nodded and sped toward the place where the two worlds connected.

Lu Chang’sheng’s cultivation was too low—he could only rely on Fang Yuan’s puppet beasts to boost his speed greatly.

"Elder Fang Yuan, is your puppetry technique something that can be taught?"

Lu Chang’sheng eyed the puppet hidden in someone’s robe. It looked like a furless rat, endlessly scurrying to keep up with the group.

This kind of technique, if used right, was a top-tier tool for alchemy or combat alike.

He’d heard that Fang Yuan’s puppetry was an unusual art that could break through realm bottlenecks.

Rumor was, a late-stage Qi Cultivator once spent sixty years and made a puppet on par with a Foundation Establishment cultivator—easily among the elite in the Qi Cultivation realm.

Fang Yuan glanced at him and said with a sigh, "Teaching it is possible, but you’ll have to return the Spirit Stones my Fang Family spent on you first, how about that?"

Just thinking of the all the Spirit Stones lost made Fang Yuan’s heart ache.

"That good-for-nothing. After this, I must strip him of his position."

Of course, that "good-for-nothing" was the Fang Family’s acting Clan Leader, Fang Shan.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled and said, "If Spirit Stones are truly important, Elder Fang Yuan, after this is over, I’ll find a way to repay your Fang Family. Fair enough?"

Hearing that, Fang Yuan fell silent instead.

Seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t press further. He knew Elder Fang Yuan was still torn inside.

It seemed like an awfully risky move, risking heavy losses for the family, but he didn’t dare write it off completely.

When others have something you don’t, or vice versa—it’s always painful.

If only the Fang Family was involved, that would be a different matter. But with the Qu, Zhao, Chen, and Huang all in?

If the Fang Family pulled out and Lu Chang’sheng rose to power, what then?

Lu Chang’sheng understood Fang Yuan’s mindset clearly. Why did he invite five families, rather than just one or two?

He’d thought it through.

Too few collaborators amplify each individual’s doubts. Too many, and he’d be overwhelmed. Five was about his limit.

And with so many player-families, each would feel a herd mentality—less likely to magnify risks in their own minds.

Such is human nature.

Fang Yuan pondered all the way to the destination. Only then, seeing Lu Chang’sheng’s back, did he startle slightly, a chill creeping in his heart.

Had this man really considered all of this?

If so, that was truly terrifying.

For a moment, this eighth-stage Qi Cultivator felt a chill toward a mere first-stage cultivator.

······

Soon enough, Lu Chang’sheng saw a fissure—like a mirage on the horizon.

Through it, he glimpsed a familiar scene—someplace in the Great Yuan lands, seemingly.

"At this rate, it’ll be less than ten years before the Mayfly World merges completely—but where it lands, no one knows."

Fang Yuan’s tone was cool, as if to disperse the unease chilling his heart.

The Mayfly World was like a fallen leaf—what they saw now was just it passing by at this moment in time, but where it would actually land was another matter entirely.

"When the Mayfly World lands, will it cause a world-shattering calamity?" That was Lu Chang’sheng’s chief concern.

If so, he’d have to get as many of his family over as possible.

"No. The Spirit Realm isn’t like other realms—it’ll assimilate the Mayfly World on its own. For folks from your world, maybe it’ll feel like a dense fog, or a great rain. Afterwards, you’ll simply be part of the Spirit Realm."

As he said this, the Chen Family Ancestor began to use an artifact to bring people over from the Great Yuan domain.

In previous years, with just seventh-layer Qi Cultivation, crossing the realms would’ve been impossible. Now, though, the worlds were so close it could be done.

Brilliant light shimmered, and shadow after shadow appeared in succession.

The first person Lu Chang’sheng spotted was his mother.

She stood nervously among several Chen Family cultivators, a few young children at her side.

Then, his little sister and Daoist Nun Ruyi followed.

As for Guan Hongxiu—with her connection to Yu Hai, she’d come through the Zhu Family’s gate instead.

"Chang’sheng."

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng and Lu Ziyou, his mother and the others finally relaxed, rushing up to take his hands and ask how he was surviving.

"I’m fine!" Lu Chang’sheng suddenly frowned. "Where’s Big Brother?"

The crowd was silent, only his mother stepping forward, saying, "He didn’t want to come. He said life in Great Yuan is more comfortable for him. If possible, just help look after these kids, that’ll be enough."

Lu Chang’sheng paused, then nodded.

He asked about the details and learned that his elder brother, Lu Haozi, didn’t want to come to the Spirit Realm. He claimed he had no talent for cultivation, and even if he did come, it’d only buy him a few more years—better to live comfortably down below. Meanwhile, he’d look after the Lu Family’s ancestral estate.

Some of the children weren’t even his brother’s, but branch family descendants of the Lu Clan.

He thought they were sharp and gifted, so he asked their mother to bring them along.

"We didn’t know how things were up here for you, so we brought a few people. They can help you in the future."

"Kids are best—they live long, easy to shape. They can help you more than some set-in-their-ways adults," his mother said.

After years living comfortably, her thinking had grown more and more like a great family matron’s.

Lu Chang’sheng just shook his head in helpless amusement.

He had to ask Lu Ziyou to take the kids away and arrange their lives in Chang’an later.

Then, he went to pay his respects to Daoist Nun Ruyi.

She looked around, lost in thought.

Lu Chang’sheng stood behind her for a long while.

Only then did she sigh deeply. "So this is the Spirit Realm your teacher yearned for all her life!"

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart clenched with sorrow.

A lifetime spent Seeking Immortality, and the dream is realized at last—yet the person is gone.

"This world leaves no place for people—what can we do?" he murmured. "All we can do is keep our eyes to the future."