Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 384 - 239: Plots and Schemes!

Lu Chang’sheng was taken aback, and after listening closely, realized that Red Cloud Daoist had been possessed by a great demon.

"No wonder he managed to escape from Foundation Establishment cultivators so many times!" Lu Chang’sheng exclaimed with a sigh.

He felt a hint of disappointment, given they’d believed Red Cloud Daoist had found some kind of opportunity.

Even if they had no intention to compete for it, how could they not have had a little hope?

"There’s one more thing you need to watch out for, Bro Chang’sheng." Just then, Wang Futian suddenly spoke up.

Lu Chang’sheng looked to Yu Hai, saw him nod, and then settled himself to listen.

Wang Futian continued, "I’ve caught wind of some rumors, Elder Feng seems intent on issuing a conscription order, so if you’ve got any spare funds over the next while, it’ll be wise to make some extra preparations."

"Chang’sheng understands. Thanks for the heads up, Brother Wang!"

Lu Chang’sheng replied deeply.

Ever since Yu Hai and Wang Futian had been busy running errands for sect elders, they rarely had time to come to Lu Mansion and meet with Lu Chang’sheng. This reunion lasted a while, as you’d expect.

During that time, Wang Futian tried once more to invite Lu Chang’sheng to join the Supreme Profound Sect, but Lu Chang’sheng brushed it off with vague words.

"I’ll give it some serious thought."

Wang Futian felt both regret and some helplessness in his heart.

Lu Chang’sheng’s caution was perfectly normal. Previously, he’d let slip a little of his thoughts, but it was Wang Futian himself who couldn’t persuade the sect elders. So even if Lu Chang’sheng agreed, it wasn’t certain he’d become a disciple of Supreme Profound Sect.

The two lingered for nearly half a day before Wang Futian and Yu Hai got up to take their leave.

With the Red Cloud Daoist issue unresolved, they couldn’t stay long, and could only sigh at it all.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t seem to care, smiling, "We have plenty of time ahead of us."

But once they left, his smile faded, and a heaviness settled in his heart.

Li Nangua walked out from the side courtyard and, seeing the look on his face, couldn’t help but ask.

Lu Chang’sheng sighed, "That Elder Feng doesn’t like me. If this conscription order comes, we may get dragged into trouble!"

Li Nangua comforted him, "You shouldn’t dwell on it. Elder Feng is a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Immortal Sect—hardly someone who’d be swayed by a newcomer who’s only just joined."

Having lived at Fuyun Mountain, she knew the temperament of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Qi cultivation and Foundation Establishment are worlds apart. Unless someone is incredibly talented, Foundation Establishment cultivators basically ignore them.

"Still, we can’t let our guard down."

Lu Chang’sheng replied.

For Wang Futian to mention this, it couldn’t be baseless. Cautious by nature, Lu Chang’sheng refused to leave his own safety in others’ hands.

Right away, Lu Chang’sheng had Lu Ziyou carry word to the Qu Family, Huang Family, Fang Family and other close allies.

Although the ancestors of those families weren’t around, they’d made alliances before, and the friendships between them were stronger than most families could compare to.

That night, the patriarchs of those families all arrived at Lu Mansion to discuss what was happening with Lu Chang’sheng.

In the end, everyone agreed: if Supreme Profound Sect really issued the conscription order, they’d look out for each other, putting their own survival first.

The meeting lasted until late into the night before breaking up.

None of the family heads tried to pull rank with Lu Chang’sheng, even now as strong cultivators in late-stage Qi cultivation.

Their own ancestors wouldn’t dare, so why would they be foolish enough to try it?

Half a month slipped by in a flash.

Day and night, Lu Chang’sheng refined his body, making himself darker and sturdier.

With his blood and qi swelling, his hair grew thinner and thinner; he had to shave away whatever roots remained.

Whenever he stood in the sunlight, his head almost seemed to shine.

Sometimes, when Li Nangua finished her cultivation and saw him like this, she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth twitch upward.

No use holding it back!

Luckily, the effort put into tempering wasn’t wasted—his body was growing more robust, skin rippling with a bronze glow.

In a few years at most, his Barbarian Armor Technique might even reach completion.

But his good mood didn’t last long.

One day, someone rushed to report that there was a visitor outside.

Lu Chang’sheng noticed the messenger looked a bit panicked and instantly realized the visitor was unlikely to be friendly.

Sure enough, when he reached the parlor, he saw a middle-aged cultivator in white standing at the door, expression unreadable.

"And you are...?"

"You must be Lu Chang’sheng?" the middle-aged man said calmly. He glanced at the arriving Li Nangua—his eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t waste any words. "The evil cultivator Red Cloud Daoist is raising hell in Platinum Immortal City. As a member of the city, you and your wife can’t just stand by. Be at West Gate Imperial Court tomorrow—prepare for orders!"

Lu Chang’sheng was about to question him, but the man turned and walked off without pause, leaving Lu standing there with a grim face.

"Judging by his attitude, he’s probably connected to Zhu Qing."

"Is Zhu Qing really this relentless?" Li Nangua frowned too.

"To rise in Great Yuan as a woman, of course she’s got some skills." Lu Chang’sheng reflected, thinking back over past events, feeling how unpredictable life was.

He’d never truly been enemies with Zhu Qing; truth be told, there were a few tangled feelings. But because of Zhu Family matters, things had come to this point.

Still, sentiment was one thing. If he got the chance, he’d eliminate this threat in a heartbeat.

Worried the guy was acting on Zhu Qing’s orders and might have given fake news to get him in trouble with the Foundation Establishment cultivators in charge, Lu Chang’sheng immediately went out to inform the other allied patriarchs.

Soon enough, he found out Zhu Qing’s influence was definitely involved.

The messenger sent to them wasn’t the same middle-aged cultivator—it was someone from the Gu Family. That middle-aged cultivator had only come to Lu Mansion.

Another detail: the conscription order was targeted only at late-stage Qi cultivators. Someone like Lu Chang’sheng, who had late-stage strength but hadn’t officially reached that realm, usually wouldn’t be included.

Even in the last demon calamity, which had a huge impact and was far more serious, they hadn’t done this.

After their discussion, everyone looked uneasy—for this involved Zhu Qing, and none of their families were better off than Lu Chang’sheng.

"We’ll just have to play it by ear!" Lu Chang’sheng said.

Another thing: the time given by the middle-aged man was different. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Qu Feng and the others were told to go to West Gate Imperial Court at 7:00 AM. Lu Chang’sheng was told to go at 7:00 PM—a difference of several hours.

"Lucky I checked in with them," Lu Chang’sheng thought darkly.

"All our families have grudges with Zhu Qing, so we’d better confirm and double-check whatever happens at West Gate Imperial Court."

Lu Chang’sheng said, extra cautious.

Right now, he couldn’t afford even a hint of carelessness.

The others felt a chill, realizing that if Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t brought it up, they might not have thought of this themselves.

So, the group immediately got their family contacts and spies to verify what was going on.

It didn’t take long before their expressions all changed.

This wasn’t just targeting Lu Chang’sheng alone!