Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 274 - 177: Jade Table Letters

The Longevity Pill is hardly street cabbage—you won’t find it lying around just anywhere.

"I have some Everlasting Pills here," Lu Chang’sheng said, pulling out a jade vial.

Lin Yan waved his hand, saying, "That’s no use. I’ve already taken the Everlasting Pill."

True enough—Lin Yan, after all, was a seasoned Grade One Alchemist. No surprise he’d had access to Everlasting Pills before.

"Even if other Longevity Pills could be found, it wouldn’t make much difference. Unless it’s Grade Two or higher, at best it’ll only tack on a few more years."

"There are still quite a few types of Grade One Longevity Pills, but there’s a limit to their tier, and I’ve more or less hit that barrier myself. No matter how many new Grade One Longevity Pills I take, the effect is next to nothing now."

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart grew heavy all at once.

He’d thought he still had some time; he hadn’t expected—

"This is the fate of us cultivators. How hard it is, chasing longevity. So many talented ones fall along the way—how am I any different?"

"Enough of that. You only need to know I’ve my own reasons. I mean you no harm—just hope the Lin Family might count on you a little more, after I’m gone."

Lu Chang’sheng straightened and said, "As long as it’s within my power, I won’t turn you down."

"Good. As I mentioned before, I’ve helped arrange that method to bring your Dao companion out from Fuyun Mountain."

"A few days ago, the letter arrived at the Mountain Gate’s White Cloud Hall. As to when Master Baiyun will grant the request, it’s not for me to say. Maybe three, five days, maybe a month or two—but usually, it’s unlikely to take more than half a year."

"Master is a Grade Two Alchemist and a senior Foundation Establishment cultivator; in Guangnan Domain and the nearby domains, his word carries some weight."

Lu Chang’sheng hurriedly bowed in thanks.

He sighed inwardly—his teacher was truly sharp. If, as Lin Yan said, the letter was sent a few days back, that’d line up right before the ’threat’ of that arranged marriage.

Now, what reason would he have to keep obsessing over it?

That move of Lin Yan’s thoroughly dispelled Lu Chang’sheng’s deepest worries.

It was a great favor—and Lu Chang’sheng wasn’t one to forget such things. Of course, he’d remember it always.

But as time passed, neither Lu Chang’sheng nor Lin Yan got any word back from White Cloud Hall.

White Cloud Hall.

A steward was sorting through the daily business inside the hall.

Several letters lay flat atop the pristine jade table.

The steward glanced over, letting out a small sigh.

Ever since the last ringing of the Joyful Bell and gathering of the cultivators for council, Master Baiyun hadn’t stepped out of the main hall—not even the steward himself had seen him.

It left a lingering worry in his heart.

Hope nothing’s gone wrong.

The steward thought to himself, but considering that even Master Baiyun, at Foundation Establishment, couldn’t solve any trouble—what could he do, stuck in late-stage Qi Cultivation?

Better off lying flat and doing nothing.

Just then, someone emerged from the hall—it was Master Baiyun.

"Master!" The steward felt relieved, casting a quick glance at Baiyun’s face—nothing seemed amiss.

Master Baiyun nodded. "I need some herbs. Bring them to me."

The steward had followed Master Baiyun for years—half an immortal servant by now, always handling petty errands. Upon hearing this, he hurried out.

Soon, everything was ready.

The steward watched Master Baiyun return to the hall, about to settle down for cultivation, when something struck him—he looked toward the jade tabletop.

The letters were still sitting there, unopened.

"What’s Master got in mind?" The steward wondered.

He hadn’t reminded Master Baiyun of the letters before because usually, whenever Master came out, he’d check the letters on his own.

He’s a Foundation Establishment expert—with such sharp spiritual sense, naturally he’d notice anything laid out on the jade table.

But this time, the letters remained untouched—it was puzzling.

"Maybe something else came up—he’s not in the mood to handle small matters."

The steward recalled that the letters had all been written by recent late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples of the sect. For Master Baiyun, none of this really amounted to much.

Only the letters by Foundation Establishment cultivators were considered truly important.

······

Half a month later, Lu Mansion’s wedding banquet.

The place was bustling—even Daoist Ruyi wanted to join the festivities, stepping out from her side courtyard to greet guests alongside Lu Chang’sheng.

She was well along in years now, and Platinum Immortal City was hardly an ideal place to settle for her.

Looking at her wrinkled face, Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but wonder—if Daoist Ruyi hadn’t come to the Spirit Realm, wouldn’t she be much younger now?

After standing for over an hour, Daoist Ruyi felt worn out and retired for rest.

Lu Chang’sheng could only greet guests on his own. For a second-layer Qi Cultivator like him, this kind of labor wasn’t much trouble.

Midway through the banquet, Lu Chang’sheng sat at the main table.

The bride and groom knelt before him, offering him toasts.

Lu Chang’sheng handed them the red envelopes he’d prepared earlier.

Inside were two jade vials, wrapped in red silk—looking quite festive indeed.

"These are top-grade Grade One Qi Storage Pills. From here on, you should support one another and strive for longevity together."

When in Rome, do as the locals do.

There’s nothing better than husband and wife growing old together in pursuit of longevity.

Lu Chang’sheng noticed how nervous and excited the bride was. He sighed inwardly: "Even the Lin Family, a small clan, isn’t all sunshine—life isn’t easy for everyone."

The resources Lin Yan acquired ended up mostly spent on himself, then on his closest direct descendants.

For those further out in the family—the collateral branches—their share of resources diminished sharply.

Favors according to kinship—human nature.

Even Lu Chang’sheng himself couldn’t escape such conventions.

Like his own two sons—and his older brother’s children—he certainly wouldn’t treat them all equally.

Otherwise, he’d be unjust to his own kids.

The Lin Family girl marrying Lu Ziyou was Lin Yin; her Spirit Root Talent, like Ziyou’s, was lower D-rank.

With such talent—not being direct blood of Lin Yan—the ordinary resources she received were, of course, scarce.

Yet, just as she entered the Lu Mansion, she received a bottle of top-grade Grade One Qi Storage Pills.

Her gaze at Lu Chang’sheng was instantly filled with excitement, and she thought to herself: From now on, I must be a good wife and mother—don’t squander such good fortune.

Lin Ruo didn’t care, since she was Lin Family direct blood, and favored by the ancestor—but Lin Yin had none of that.

So to her, Lu Mansion was already a family of considerable standing.

Suddenly, Lin Yin’s eyes sharpened—among the distant crowd, several young men and women stood together, their looks tinged with some inscrutable mockery.

One of them was Lin Ruo.

"So that’s Lin Ruo?"

Lu Chang’sheng saw Lin Ruo too—since the Lin Family guests all drifted toward her, looking a little eager to please.

Not long after, Lin Yan brought Lin Ruo over to apologize for the previous missed meeting.

"Sorry, Patriarch Lu—Lin Ruo had something come up last time and missed the appointment. Truly regretful."

With the crowd watching, Lin Ruo wouldn’t be foolish enough to pull any spoiled heiress antics.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled and said, "It’s nothing. My teacher’s place isn’t far from Yun’an Institute—I basically just took a day for myself."

"By the way, this is Senior Brother Ming—a Ming Family disciple, and a D-rank top Spirit Root talent."

Lu Chang’sheng merely smiled, saying nothing.

Although Lin Ruo tried hard to appear steady and clever, she still gave herself away.

Her words couldn’t hide the show-off, and a few Lin Family members near her looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Fellow Daoist Ming is certainly a fine young man—no wonder Lin Ruo pays him such notice," Lu Chang’sheng said pleasantly, gazing at Ming Yu.

With no surprise, Ming Yu was probably the true reason Lin Ruo blew off their meeting.

Still, he didn’t pay it much mind.

Rather than fuss over these things, he’d rather read a few more Jade Scrolls about Alchemy Dao.

When the banquet ended, Lu Chang’sheng’s days returned to their old rhythm.

In a blink, a year went by.

After marrying into the Lin Family, Lin Yan’s support for him increased greatly—enough to chill the hearts of his nominal "senior brothers."

Aside from Wang Li, the other three put on faces like they’d lost their parents whenever they saw him.

"The outstanding are bound to suffer cold stares."

Lu Chang’sheng had expected this—he had no intention of currying favor.

In life, you’ll meet many, many people—but most are mere passing acquaintances, nothing more.

Especially now, as he drew closer and closer to the requirements to become a Grade B Alchemist.