Chapter 131: Brother-in-law is back!

Cultivators do not attach as much importance to formalities as the secular world.

After paying respects to the Lu Family Old Ancestor’s spiritual tablet and each person offering three incense sticks, the ceremony concluded.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Just as Lu Changsheng was about to leave, Lu Yuanzhong, the newly Advanced Old Ancestor, called out to him.

“Changsheng, how is your Cultivation progressing now?”

Lu Yuanzhong had an elegant appearance, somewhat similar to Lu Yuanding.

Lu Changsheng also knew that this Old Ancestor Yuanzhong was the Elder brother of his father-in-law, Lu Yuanding.

Therefore, he should address this Old Ancestor as his Elder father-in-law.

However, in a Cultivation Family like Qingzhu Mountain, once one successfully establishes Foundation Establishment, their seniority automatically elevates to Old Ancestor.

“Replying to Old Ancestor, I am currently at Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and I estimate it will take another three years to reach the Peak of the sixth layer.”

Lu Changsheng said so.

He had only announced his Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivation two years ago, so he naturally didn’t dare to say more.

“Very good.”

Lu Yuanzhong nodded slightly upon hearing this.

After observing Lu Changsheng for a few moments, he took out a jade slip.

“I heard you are Cultivating ‘Changchun Gong’. This ‘Azure Wood Art’ is an Advanced Cultivation Technique treasured by our Lu Family; take it and Cultivate it.”

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can also ask Lu Yuanding; he also Cultivates this Azure Wood Art.”

Lu Yuanzhong said so.

Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

He hadn’t expected Lu Yuanzhong to call him just to give him a Cultivation Technique.

Because Lu Yuanzhong had been busy in Red Leaf Market for over a year.

So he hadn’t had much interaction with this newly Advanced Old Ancestor.

They had only met briefly twice.

He hadn’t expected that as soon as the Lu Family Old Ancestor passed away today, the other party would express goodwill towards him.

“Many thanks, Old Ancestor!”

Lu Changsheng immediately thanked him respectfully.

Although he had the Seven Luminaries Great Freedom Sword Scripture and had no use for this ‘Azure Wood Art’.

But at least it was a kind gesture.

After all, as far as he knew, the highest-grade Cultivation Techniques stored by the Lu Family were just a few Advanced Cultivation Techniques.

Now, to be willing to give him one already showed that they considered him one of their own.

“Remember, this Cultivation Technique can only be Cultivated by you yourself and must not be passed on to outsiders.”

Lu Yuanding cautioned.

“Old Ancestor, please rest assured, Changsheng understands.”

Lu Changsheng nodded in response.

After so many years in Nine Dragon Market, he also had an understanding of the Cultivation World.

He understood why the Legacy of Cultivation Techniques in the Cultivation World was so rare and scarce.

Because the sources of Legacy for Cultivation Techniques and the hundred arts of Cultivation were nothing more than Immortal Sects, Families, and Loose Cultivators.

As the largest supplier, Immortal Sects, in order to continuously harvest excellent Disciples and cheap labor and Materials, prohibited the sale of Advanced Cultivation Techniques and Advanced skill Legacies within their jurisdiction.

As for Cultivation Families, who would take out their foundation, their means of livelihood, to sell?

They were also willing to abide by this rule, not allowing such Legacies to leak out, so as to get a share of the pie.

The same was true for Loose Cultivators.

It was impossible for them to be completely selfless and risk selling Advanced Cultivation Technique Legacies; at most, they would conduct private transactions.

Therefore, most Loose Cultivators who wanted to obtain Advanced Cultivation Techniques and Legacies either had an Opportunity or a fortuitous encounter.

Or they had good talent and chose to join a Cultivation Family or a force under an Immortal Sect.

This kind of thing was almost a rule in the Cultivation World.

Elementary Cultivation Techniques and First-order skill Legacies were commonplace and could be purchased for a few Spirit Stones.

But if you wanted to go further, without an Opportunity, you could only find a way to join a force and be exploited by others.

This was also why Third Young Master Yu had offered Advanced Cultivation Techniques and Foundation Establishment insights to tempt Lu Changsheng back then.

“Alright, you go busy yourself.”

Lu Yuanzhong didn’t say much more, patting Lu Changsheng’s shoulder.

“Yes.”

Lu Changsheng bowed slightly and left.

“Lu Changsheng.”

Watching Lu Changsheng’s retreating back, Lu Yuanzhong was slightly lost in thought, silently repeating the name in his heart.

Remembering the Lu Family Old Ancestor’s dying instructions and his high regard for Lu Changsheng, he let out a soft sigh.

Three days later.

Fourth Elder informed Lu Changsheng to return to Nine Dragon Market.

“Changsheng, should I go look after the Lingfu Shop?”

Lu Miaoge, holding her daughter Lu Qingzhu, said softly.

She had now given birth and had recovered almost completely, so she wanted to share Lu Changsheng’s burden.

“It’s fine, Lu Miaoge, you just stay home and Cultivate well, and learn Talismans with Grandma.”

“If you go to the Market, you’ll be distracted and delay your Cultivation, and Qingzhu is still young and needs you to look after her.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and pinched his daughter’s fair, tender cheek.

Lu Miaoge’s Talismans skill was currently in the stage from High Grade Talisman Master to Top-Grade Talisman Master.

So he didn’t want his wife to run back and forth for him, busy with things.

“Okay.”

Lu Miaoge smiled gently upon hearing this.

After pregnancy and childbirth, her clear and refined face was constantly filled with a motherly, gentle smile.

She then continued: “Changsheng, the Red Leaf Market will open in a few months, and the Family plans to open a Talisman shop there and have me oversee it.”

“If you think Nine Dragon Market is too far, I can go to Nine Dragon Market, and you can come to Red Leaf Market.”

Lu Miaoge spoke, saying so.

Even as a wife, her personality remained gentle as water, like an Elder sister and a mother.

“Lu Miaoge, the Old Ancestor gave me a shop in Hongye Valley back then, and I’m thinking of opening a Talisman shop there as well.”

“So for Nine Dragon Market, I plan to have Grandma find someone to manage it then.”

Lu Changsheng pondered slightly.

The Lu Family Old Ancestor had previously rewarded him with a shop and an Immortal Cave in Hongye Valley Market.

Now that the Market was about to open, Lu Changsheng didn’t want to simply collect rent from the shop and Immortal Cave.

He was thinking of opening a Talisman shop there as well.

After all, the Red Leaf Market had just opened, and it was a good time to seize the market.

Now that the children were gradually growing up, they would soon begin Cultivating in a few years.

At that time, the expenses would also increase significantly.

If he had a Talisman shop, it would add another stable source of income.

“Open a Lingfu Shop?”

Lu Miaoge paused slightly upon hearing this.

Then she nodded and said, “That’s fine; with your Talismans skill, you can already open your own shop.”

“However, you need to tell Fourth Elder about this.”

Not long ago, Lu Changsheng had further improved his Talismans skill, demonstrating the Talismans skill of a First-Order Top-Grade Talisman Master.

With this level of skill and the Lu Family’s supply channels, supporting a Talisman shop was not a problem.

“I’ve already mentioned this to Grandma and plan to discuss it again later.”

“Alright, Fourth Elder is still waiting for me, Lu Miaoge, I’ll go now.”

Lu Changsheng said.

He didn’t say much more to Lu Miaoge.

He kissed his daughter and wife on the cheek, then waved his hand and left.

He arrived at the entrance of Qingzhu Mountain, boarded the Fourth Elder’s spiritual boat, and set off for Nine Dragon Market.

Two days later.

Lu Changsheng returned to Nine Dragon Market.

As soon as he arrived home, Xia Zhiyue happily announced good news to Lu Changsheng.

“Husband, I think I’m pregnant.”

Two months ago, she had broken through from Lianqi Third Layer to Lianqi Fourth Layer.

After Xia Zhiyue broke through to Lianqi Fourth Layer and actively requested it, Lu Changsheng no longer used contraception.

However, whether it was bad luck or the reason for her Spiritual Nurturing Body, it took this long for Xia Zhiyue to become pregnant.

“Pregnant? Let me see?”

Lu Changsheng smiled upon hearing this and pressed his head against Xia Zhiyue’s lower abdomen.

He immediately confirmed that she was indeed pregnant.

“Zhiyue, you should rest well at home from now on.”

Lu Changsheng gently stroked her dark, soft hair and said gently.

Although Xia Zhiyue only had a 7th Grade Spiritual Root, she possessed the Spiritual Nurturing Body, which made him quite anticipate this child.

He could feel that his Spiritual Root was almost at the critical point between a 6th Grade and 5th Grade Spiritual Root.

He estimated that another 6th Grade Spiritual Root would allow his 6th Grade Spiritual Root to advance to 5th Grade.

If he could have a Fourth Grade Spiritual Root like Xia Chaoyang, then he would truly take off.

“Mhm.”

Xia Zhiyue nodded obediently.

Thinking about his plan to open a Lingfu Shop in Red Leaf Market.

Lu Changsheng went to Gao He’s house next door and knocked on the door.

“Uncle Lu.”

Opening the door was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl with a delicate face, dressed in a moon-white embroidered ruqun.

It was Gao He’s daughter, Gao Xiaoya.

The former little loli had now grown into a graceful young woman.

“Xiaoya, is your father home?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

“He’s not here, Uncle Lu, is there something you need my father for?”

Gao Xiaoya tilted her head and asked.

“It’s nothing much, if your father comes back, just tell him I was looking for him.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and said.

“Okay, Uncle Lu, won’t you come in for a cup of tea?”

Gao Xiaoya said very politely.

“No, I have other things to do.”

Lu Changsheng waved his hand and said.

It wasn’t until night fell that Gao He returned.

As soon as he got home, he came to ask Lu Changsheng if there was anything.

“Brother Gao, you should know about the Red Leaf Market, right?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

“Of course, I know that. It’s a market established by your Qingzhu Mountain Lu Family, the Bihu Mountain Yu Family where Old Yu is, the Centipede Ridge Zheng Family, and the Bai Family of the Hundred Birds Lake.”

Gao He nodded when he heard this.

As a Talisman Master, he also had his own channels for information.

So he knew that Red Leaf Valley had been destroyed and the Four Great Families had turned Red Leaf Valley into a market.

“I’m planning to open a Talisman shop in the Red Leaf Market, so I wanted to ask Brother Gao if you’re interested in going there to be a resident Talisman Master?”

Lu Changsheng got straight to the point.

Although he was going to open a Lingfu Shop in the Hongye Valley Market,

having managed the Lingfu Shop in the Nine Dragon Market for so many years, he knew it would be difficult for a single person to manage a shop.

Especially in the initial stages, there were many things to be busy with.

Relying on him alone would definitely be too much to handle.

So he had to hire someone to manage it.

Having known Gao He for so many years, he knew that apart from occasionally going to brothels to listen to music and carouse, his character was relatively reliable.

He was a trustworthy person.

So Lu Changsheng thought of inviting Gao He to manage his shop.

“Resident Talisman Master.”

Gao He didn’t answer immediately when he heard this, showing a thoughtful expression.

He was a person who enjoyed stability.

He had no great ambitions, only wanting to raise his daughter and live a stable life.

Currently, he was a resident Talisman Master in a Lingfu Shop in the Nine Dragon Market, and his life was very stable.

Going to the Red Leaf Market would certainly not be as stable as here.

“If Brother Gao is willing, you only need to manage the shop, refine some Talismans, and incidentally train apprentices. I will basically not interfere with the shop’s affairs.”

“As for salary, it will be 50% higher than your current base salary. Moreover, in the Hongye Valley Market, I also have a second-order Spiritual Vein Immortal Cave that I can rent to Brother Gao at a low price.”

“This way, you and Xiaoya will also have a much better time Cultivating.”

Lu Changsheng continued.

Since he wanted to poach someone, he naturally had to offer a good price, otherwise, why would anyone work for him?

“Since Brother Lu has said so, how can I refuse?”

Gao He said with a beaming smile when he heard this, making his face even rounder.

Just the 50% salary increase made him a little tempted.

Coupled with the second-order Spiritual Vein Immortal Cave, he had no reason to refuse at all.

For ordinary Loose Cultivators, unless they joined a force, there was basically no way to get a second-order Immortal Cave.

“Alright, then it’s settled.”

“The Hongye Valley Market will open in about a few months. I will notify Brother Gao then.”

Lu Changsheng nodded when he saw the other party agree.

“Okay, no problem.”

Gao He nodded.

“Brother Gao, how are you doing with High-Grade Talismans now?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

Gao He had also become a High Grade Talisman Master from a Middle-Grade Talisman Master.

But he wasn’t too clear about the specific situation.

Although he had chatted with Gao He and discussed Talismans over the years, it wasn’t very frequent.

“Only the Golden Light Shield Talisman has a 50% success rate, while the Sweet Dew Talisman only has a 30% success rate. As for the Stealth Talisman, it only has a 10% success rate.”

Gao He shook his head and sighed.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng immediately spoke up, discussing and guiding Gao He on Talismans.

After all, the other party was now his resident Talisman Master.

So spending some time to guide him was fine.

In addition, it was also a way to enable Gao He to work better for him.

In a flash, three months passed.

During this period, Fourth Elder also learned of Lu Changsheng’s idea to open a Talisman shop in Red Leaf Valley.

She didn’t say much about it, but rather supported Lu Changsheng’s idea.

After all, it would indeed be a pity to rent out the shop if one possessed Talismans crafting skills.

Immediately, she also hired a Talisman Master to be a resident in the Lingfu Shop in the Nine Dragon Market.

This allowed Lu Changsheng to no longer have to go there and could return to Qingzhu Mountain to rest.

Qingzhu Valley, inside the cultivation room.

Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged, his five centers facing the sky, circulating his Qi.

Seven sharp Sword Qi surrounded him, ethereal and radiating sharpness, making his body feel cold.

“Hoo!”

“I’m about three or four months away from Qi Refining Ninth Layer.”

Lu Changsheng exhaled lightly, ending his routine Cultivation for the day.

He could clearly feel that his spiritual power would be at Perfection in a few months, and he could attempt to Breakthrough to Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

For him, advancing from Qi Refining stage eight to Qi Refining Ninth Layer was not a problem at all; it was a matter of course.

Stepping out of the cultivation room, Lu Changsheng went to the study to routinely draw Talismans.

After drawing one top-grade Talisman and two High-Grade Talismans, Lu Changsheng went to the courtyard to accompany his wife, concubines, and children.

Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingzhu could already walk.

Lu Qingshan, who possessed a Spiritual Nurturing Body, didn’t seem to be any different.

He was pretty much like an ordinary infant.

If anything, he was a bit more lively and active.

This made Lu Changsheng inwardly wonder if his son’s personality would take after his mother when he grew up.

If his personality was like Second Miss’s in the future, he would probably cause his father a lot of trouble.

At this moment, Lu Changsheng also received a piece of news.

The Hongye Valley Market was opening in ten days.

“Ten days.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly upon hearing this news.

He wrote letters to inform Hong Yi and Gao He of this news.

He planned to go to the Red Leaf Market once it opened.

Although the market had just opened and there would certainly not be many Cultivators,

it would take some time for the foot traffic to pick up.

However, opening a shop also required advance planning and preparation.

On a solemn, eerie, and imposing high platform.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”

Around the high platform stood golden flagpoles.

The black banners on the flagpoles were embroidered with various lifelike demons of different forms.

At this moment, the banners fluttered, transforming into Rolling Devilish Qi, causing phantom images of demons to emerge, terrifying and eerie.

Just then, a white-haired, stern-faced young man, who was sitting cross-legged on the high platform, suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes were dark and profound, and a half-moon-shaped lotus pattern appeared between his brows.

The half-moon lotus was crimson, almost dripping, incredibly demonic, and a vast and majestic aura surged around him, like a multitude of wild Dragon and tigers.

“Qikeduo, Samoyed, Prajna Prajna Samoyed, Qikeduo Prajna Samoyed…”

The white-haired youth suddenly spoke, chanting a long and profound secret incantation.

His voice was low and humming, and behind him, a three-headed, six-armed bloody figure slowly emerged.

This bloody figure also seemed to be chanting, making its voice gradually become eerie and grand.

It was as if countless voices were mixed together, causing the high platform to continuously vibrate, and the demons appearing on the banners submitted to the three-headed, six-armed bloody figure.

“Not bad, truly worthy of being my Disciple. You certainly haven’t disappointed me.”

Just then, a young man wearing a loose black robe, with ancient eyes and a demonic, handsome face, appeared on the high platform.

He looked down at the white-haired youth, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he clapped his hands.

“You once promised me that as long as I establish the Demonic Path Foundation, you would let me return for a visit.”

Qu Changge looked indifferently at the young man before him, his voice somewhat hoarse as he spoke.

“Since I promised, I naturally won’t break my word.”

The black-robed youth chuckled lightly, then called out softly: “Black Qiao.”

Soon, a surge of Rolling Devilish Qi, resembling a black snake, surged forth.

It transformed into a bald man with bulging muscles, dressed in black armor, covered in black demonic patterns, and with deeply chiseled, evil features.

“Black Qiao pays his respects to Ancestral Master!”

The demonic patterns on the bald man’s body seemed to be countless small snakes writhing, giving off an extremely terrifying feeling.

But at this moment, upon seeing the black-robed youth, he knelt down and prostrated himself with the reverence of a pilgrim.

“You will accompany the Young Lord to Jiang Country.”

The black-robed youth said flatly.

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure slowly disappeared.

“Young Lord, when will you depart for Jiang Country?”

The bald man, seeing the youth disappear, immediately looked at Qu Changge on the high platform, a fawning smile appearing on his face.

It seemed extremely incongruous with his terrifying appearance.

“Jiang Country.”

Qu Changge paused slightly, his eyes, like deep pools, flickering with a strange light.

Then, his voice hoarse, he said: “Now.”