Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 340 - 209: The Lu Mansion’s Rising Fame (Part 2)
And the five families struck before their rival clans could react.
But things didn’t go smoothly—their enemies got wind of it quickly and managed to form an alliance for attack and defense.
Although the opposing side had fewer Late-Stage Qi Cultivators than the five families, they were only short by one person.
Trying to take them down might very well result in unexpected outcomes.
Upon seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng simply returned to Lu Mansion as expected.
Not long after, the heads of several families gathered together to divide up the spoils from destroying the Zhu Family.
Lu Chang’sheng received a full 200,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones.
You could say it was quite a haul.
"No wonder so many people turn to being Tribulation Cultivators."
Tribulation Cultivators are a bit different from Evil Cultivators—Evil Cultivators go much further, often crossing into Immortal Sect taboos.
But Tribulation Cultivators aren’t the same. Many Immortal Sects just turn a blind eye to it.
"It’s a shame—a family as big as the Zhu Family didn’t even have the materials to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill."
Maybe they did, but whoever got them probably hid them—it’s not surprising they weren’t produced.
Foundation Pill materials are incredibly rare, and it’s not easy to find someone who can actually refine them.
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"Two hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones is a lot, but it’s still not enough to prepare for Foundation Establishment."
Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.
Luckily, his Alchemy Dao was now successful, so he could use these Spirit Stones to make even more money.
"The Zhu Family is gone, but I still have to be careful about any survivors."
Lu Chang’sheng suddenly thought of the Supreme Profound Sect.
The Zhu Family was connected to the Supreme Profound Sect. Over the years, they sent many disciples there to cultivate, but very few ended up making it far.
The most capable was sent over fifty years ago and is now a Late-Stage Qi Cultivator, but with his bones so old, he withdrew from the Supreme Profound Sect as well.
The Late-Stage Qi Cultivator that Lu Chang’sheng and Li Nangua killed before was him.
Aside from that, the rest were just Middle-Stage Qi Cultivators—hardly worth worrying about.
The key thing is that these guys were only Outer Sect disciples within the Supreme Profound Sect. They might owe a little favor, but nothing major.
If it were otherwise, not even the boldest would dare make a move on the Zhu Family.
Let alone the Zhu Family—even among the cultivator clans of Platinum Immortal City, nearly all have sent people off to the Supreme Profound Sect to cultivate.
Everyone was about the same; there’s no need to worry too much, unless you can really pull off what the Gu Family did—produce a Foundation Establishment powerhouse. Otherwise, in an Immortal Sect you’re still nobodies.
Still, when you cut weeds, you have to get the roots.
The old patriarchs among the families weren’t exactly saints; of course they wouldn’t let the Zhu Family disciples in the Supreme Profound Sect off easily.
They’d already contacted their own people inside the Sect and were on the lookout for a chance to surround and kill the Zhu Family cultivators.
"To be safe, we’ll have them stay alert,"
thought Lu Chang’sheng.
Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou’s cultivation was still too low—them being targeted was an easy risk.
But, it couldn’t be helped. The Zhu Family seeing him as a mortal enemy wasn’t a secret. He’d gotten word of the family’s high-level intentions from the Zhu Family prisoners.
Even if he didn’t act, if the opportunity arose, the Zhu Family would surely come for him anyway.
If Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t stayed in the Immortal City year-round, he’d have been ambushed already.
So, he found Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou and told them, "Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t leave the Immortal City."
Lu Chang’an naturally agreed.
His cultivation was way too low—even if he wanted to leave, it wouldn’t be easy.
As for Lu Ziyou, even more so.
A day later, two figures showed up at the gate of Lu Mansion. They looked up at the plaque and the words ’Lu Mansion’, eyes tinged with emotion.
Especially the elderly man in the lead, whose face was full of complicated feelings.
"I am Zhou Dingyuan. I’m an old acquaintance of Alchemist Lu—would you be willing to announce me?" Zhou Dingguo asked the servant at the gate respectfully.
The middle-aged man supporting him was his son, Zhou Cauldron.
But nowadays, having hit middle age, he was nothing like the proud youngster he’d been back in Great Yuan.
Back then, with Zhou Dingyuan’s connections and power, he had status and honor. But after coming to the Spirit Realm, he found himself one of society’s lowest nobodies.
If not for Zhou Dingyuan’s expertise with battle formations, which landed him a post under the Zhu Family, he wouldn’t be able to cultivate at all.
Time wears down the sharp edges of any man.
Especially after surviving the Zhu Family’s downfall, his heart felt like it was walking on thin ice.
"Please wait a moment!"
Hearing their story, the mansion’s servant looked somewhat suspicious.
Zhou Dingyuan didn’t strike him as the kind who’d be mixing with someone like the master, but doing his duty, he still turned around and went in to announce them.
"Zhou Dingyuan?"
Lu Chang’sheng thought for a moment, then had someone invite them in. Soon, he saw Zhou Dingyuan himself.
"Thank you for lending a helping hand this time, Alchemist Lu!"
"I, Dingyuan, am endlessly grateful!"
When they saw Lu Chang’sheng, Zhou Dingyuan and his son instantly bowed in respect.
Their hearts were full of emotion.
"Don’t mock me, Fellow Daoist Zhou."
At that, Nangua himself poured the two of them some Spirit Tea, which left them both stunned by the honor.
Seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but feel a little emotional—this man was once a War God of a nation, but now had to act so cautiously.
"No need to stand on ceremony, Lord Zhou. After all, we both come from the same place. If I can help, I’ll help,"
Lu Chang’sheng said with a smile.
He never meant to feud with the Zhu Family, but although things looked settled now, a lot of trouble was still buried under the surface.
So, if enmity could be avoided, it was best to avoid it.
Zhou Dingyuan managed a bitter smile, "I owe Lord Lu a great favor. If there’s ever anything you need from me, just ask."
As for the destruction of the Zhu Family, he didn’t take it to heart.
After so many years in the Spirit Realm, he wasn’t clueless anymore—he knew this sort of thing happened all the time.
He just hadn’t expected to get caught up in it himself.
Besides, though they were called Zhu Family people, all they were really doing was eking out a living beneath the family’s banner. Only those surnamed Zhu could truly call themselves Zhu Family.
He felt no resentment toward Lu Chang’sheng—nor would he dare to.
Zhou Dingyuan didn’t linger. He rose and left with Zhou Cauldron. At the gate, he looked back and sighed, "He really deserves to be called the number one man of Great Yuan. Even in a place like the Spirit Realm, nothing can stop him."
"Father... I was too ignorant,"
whispered Zhou Cauldron beside him, his face full of guilt.
Back then, when Zhou Dingyuan wanted him to take Lu Chang’sheng as a master, he’d resented it. If only his attitude had been better, maybe things would be different now.
"Don’t blame yourself. Alchemist Lu always had his own mind. Even if you’d been agreeable, he wouldn’t have taken you,"
Zhou Dingyuan suddenly chuckled.
He lacked the talent for cultivation. All these years, not only did he fail to step onto the Immortal Dao, but even his Martial Dao cultivation progressed slowly—he scraped his way to Late Innate by now.
Lifespan running out. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"After all that’s happened, don’t ever resent Alchemist Lu. Once I’m gone, you should spend more time with Yu Hai’s group. Don’t act impulsively. Understood?"
"Yes, father."
Zhou Dingyuan looked on in comfort. Having a son so late in life, he’d spoiled him, giving him a proud nature. Though living in the Spirit Realm had worn him down, some faults still remained.
Now, it seemed most of those faults were gone.
So, he could finally leave in peace.
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"Father, why did Zhou Dingyuan come to see you?" Lu Ziyou asked, holding his son, confused.
If they really had something to say, why did they just drink a cup of Spirit Tea and leave?
Was it for the Spirit Tea?
Lu Ziyou knew about their predicament—in that case, coming just for Spirit Tea might make sense.
But, how would they know Lu Chang’sheng would offer them Spirit Tea?
After all, the relationship between them and Lu Mansion could hardly be called cordial.
"Just hoping to borrow some influence. Zhou Dingyuan wants to settle in Platinum Immortal City—by leaning on Lu Mansion’s power, their lives will be much easier."
Lu Ziyou cracked a faint smile, "So, our Lu Mansion has that kind of clout now?"
He certainly followed the Gou Dao, but he also knew that without a strong enough shield backing you up, even surviving through caution would become less and less easy.
