Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 378 - 234: The Enmity of Obstructing the Path
Lu Chang’sheng accepted the Innate Spiritual Seed from Liu Yun. No one understood his own situation better than himself. With his current lifespan, even if he waited until the very last moment, he still wouldn’t make it to the grade B realm of the Immortal Dao Root Bone.
This Foundation Establishment Pill, barring any surprises, was definitely something he would have to take.
After seeing Liu Yun and Fu Chen off, Lu Chang’sheng went to attend Su Mu’s banquet.
Bright Moon Building was considered a prestigious establishment in Platinum Immortal City, with expenses even higher than Qingfeng Building. When Lu Chang’sheng arrived, he saw Su Mu already waiting in the private room.
"Alchemist Lu!"
Spotting Lu Chang’sheng, a broad smile instantly bloomed across Su Mu’s face.
This Alchemist Lu, to be so highly praised by Alchemist Wu, surely had the ability to match.
Although Su Mu wouldn’t be staying here long, he was already at the late Qi Cultivation stage and about to enter Foundation Establishment; it was definitely beneficial to know more alchemists.
This banquet was just the three of them: Lu Chang’sheng, Su Mu, and Alchemist Wu.
Throughout the banquet, Su Mu was lively in conversation, repeatedly proposing toasts with Lu Chang’sheng and Alchemist Wu, working to dissolve the previous conflict aimed at Lu Chang’sheng.
Since the other party was lowering himself so much, Lu Chang’sheng of course wouldn’t act high and mighty.
By the end of the meal, all three were enjoying themselves immensely.
To truly earn Lu Chang’sheng’s forgiveness, Su Mu naturally couldn’t avoid bringing up the reason behind the incident.
However, since it involved the dispute within Glazed Glass Trading House, Lu Chang’sheng and Alchemist Wu were smart enough not to probe too deeply.
Power struggles at a giant like that—in Platinum Immortal City, it was just the tip of the iceberg.
Once they’d eaten and drunk their fill and were about to leave, Su Mu suddenly said, "Would the two of you be interested in coming with me to Supreme Profound Immortal City?"
Lu Chang’sheng was a little tempted. Su Mu spent most of his time in Supreme Profound Immortal City; if he went there himself, it would surely be of great help to his cultivation.
But if he went, he’d likely be drawn into the ongoing struggle within Glazed Glass Trading House, and by then, he might have no control at all.
"With my connection to Heaven-Burning Valley, I don’t need to seek out more entanglements, lest I create trouble for nothing."
Thinking this to himself, he politely declined the invitation on the surface.
But Alchemist Wu next to him was clearly interested.
Lu Chang’sheng didn’t say much. Knowing the two would probably have a more in-depth conversation, he excused himself and left early.
However, not long after he got home, Lu Chang’an hurriedly rushed over to him.
"Father, something’s happened."
Lu Chang’sheng’s brow furrowed. He soothed, "Speak slowly."
It took a while, but Lu Chang’sheng finally listened to Lu Chang’an’s account of what happened.
Shortly before, the Pill Shop that Lu Chang’an managed had suddenly received letters from the alchemists, announcing they would be suspending their cooperation with the Lu Family.
"The five alchemists we work with, plus the six alchemists we’ve trained over this period, all say they will no longer refine pills for us."
Lu Chang’an’s expression was ice-cold.
The pills sold at Lu Mansion’s Pill Shop essentially came from two sources—the most important were the high grade and supreme pills refined by Lu Chang’sheng himself.
Then came the lower and middle grade pills, produced by resident alchemists supported by the Lu Mansion.
And the market for lower and middle grade pills was clearly much larger than for high grade or supreme pills.
After all, in a remote place like Platinum Immortal City, most people still could only afford to use the second and third tier pills.
In order to maximize profit, he used to refine the pills they needed, push forward pill formula progress, and the surplus would be sent to the Pill Shop to sell.
As for the lower and middle grade pills, Lu Chang’an had used the shop’s reputation to attract a batch of alchemists, and had also trained some to help with production.
Over the years, whenever Lu Chang’sheng had time, he’d go to the Pill Shop to share his alchemy experience with those alchemists.
"Do you know why?"
"No idea. Yesterday everything was fine, but today we suddenly received their notices."
Lu Chang’an handed the letter in his hand to Lu Chang’sheng.
Glancing at it, Lu Chang’sheng let out a cold laugh.
The excuses in the letter were all over the place: some said their cultivation had hit a bottleneck and they wanted to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Some claimed they didn’t have a gift for alchemy and wanted to learn new skills instead.
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Lu Chang’sheng knew exactly what kind of people the shop’s alchemists were—otherwise, why would they keep making lower and middle grade pills all this time?
Basically, except for the five core collaborators, the other alchemists were all people who had met setbacks on the Alchemy Dao. Really, saying the Lu Family gave them a hand up wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
And the strongest of them was only at the third stage of Qi Cultivation.
People like that need to look elsewhere for opportunity?
"What do you think?" He tossed the letter onto the table and looked at Lu Chang’an, curious how his eldest son would handle this.
"They signed Immortal Contracts with us. With those, they shouldn’t dare to sabotage us openly," Lu Chang’an said with a frown.
He always acted with caution; there was no way he’d train alchemists without having them sign Immortal Contracts first.
"So it means they must have grown bolder—or maybe they’re being forced!"
Lu Chang’an guessed.
"Whether they’re being forced, we’ll know if we go check for ourselves."
Lu Chang’sheng spoke coolly.
Immediately, he and Lu Chang’an left the house and headed to the alchemists’ residences.
With Lu Chang’sheng’s status now, he hardly needed to care about those alchemists who could only make lower and middle grade pills. Still, the matter was suspicious, and until he figured out the truth, he couldn’t let his guard down.
The first stop was a cultivator surnamed Zhao.
This one was a collaborating alchemist with the Lu Family. When he saw Lu Chang’an, he was quite courteous.
But as soon as he noticed Lu Chang’sheng behind Lu Chang’an, the man was so shocked he even bent further at the waist, which he’d just straightened up.
