Chapter 170: If you meet a girl you like, bring her back home

Time flew by, and another half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Lu Changsheng’s life during this half-year was still as monotonous yet fulfilling.

Every day, he would Cultivate, make Talismans, make babies, and then Dual Cultivation with Xiao Xiyue.

In the past year, he had nine more children, bringing the total to one hundred and thirty-eight.

And after such a long period of Dual Cultivation, Xiao Xiyue’s Dao Foundation was almost fully recovered.

Inside the Immortal Cave, accompanied by a low growl and a soft moan, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue finished their Cultivation.

The two quietly embraced each other, savoring the afterglow.

“Changsheng, two or three more times, and the cracks in my Dao Foundation will be completely repaired.”

Xiao Xiyue nestled in Lu Changsheng’s arms, her face flushed, and she whispered softly.

These two or three times naturally did not refer solely to Dual Cultivation, but to the repair of the Dao Foundation by the Yin-Yang Two Qi.

“Let me see.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng held Xiao Xiyue’s wrist and used his Divine Sense to examine her Dao Foundation.

The cracks on the Dao Platform were almost imperceptible.

“It seems it’s really close. Xiao Xiyue, didn’t you say before that my Yin-Yang Two Qi can not only repair the Dao Foundation but also resonate with your Dao Foundation, causing a transformation?”

“Can you feel how much longer it will take to transform now?”

Lu Changsheng played with the full, creamy, smooth skin in his hands, piling it up like a snowman, and asked.

“I feel that the moment my Dao Foundation is completely repaired, the Dao Foundation will also undergo some kind of change.”

Xiao Xiyue said so.

“Oh, there’s such a good thing? Congratulations, Xiao Xiyue.”

Lu Changsheng chuckled softly.

“Changsheng, aren’t you worried that I will leave you after my Dao Foundation is repaired?”

Xiao Xiyue looked at Lu Changsheng’s casual expression, her pink lips slightly pouting.

“I said I would respect all your choices.”

Lu Changsheng said with sincere eyes.

“Hmph, Xiao Xiyue doesn’t believe it. Lu Lang must be saying one thing and thinking another, believing that I will surely not escape his grasp.”

Xiao Xiyue snorted delicately.

Her mind was exquisite and clear. Having spent so much time with Lu Changsheng, she also realized that Lu Changsheng was not someone who would easily let go. He possessed an extremely strong possessive desire deep down, and was very overbearing.

Saying this was just to coax her and not to make her sad.

“Of course, respect is respect, but how can my love for Xiao Xiyue be something I can just let go of?”

Lu Changsheng smiled wryly.

Just as the two were chatting intimately, a System prompt sounded in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

【Congratulations to the Host! Your first descendant has achieved a Breakthrough to Martial Dao Innate, gaining the Bloodline effect: Probability of bearing descendants increased by 5%, and one lottery chance!】

As the System prompt sounded, a surge of vital Qi entered Lu Changsheng’s body out of thin air.

This strength of a Martial Dao Innate Martial Artist did not bring any significant improvement to Lu Changsheng, who had Cultivated the Hundred Refinements Treasure Body Technique to the Fourth Layer.

The improvement it brought was negligible.

However, compared to the feedback when Lu Xianzhi and Lu Quanzhen completed Qi Introduction into the Body, it was much stronger.

“Ping’an has achieved a Breakthrough to Innate, has he?”

Lu Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat.

He knew that his son, Lu Ping’an, had achieved a Breakthrough to Martial Dao Innate.

When he had returned to Ruyi County before, Lu Ping’an had told him that he would be able to achieve a Breakthrough to Martial Dao Innate in a few months.

Calculating the time now, it was about right.

What Lu Changsheng hadn’t expected was that his child achieving a Breakthrough to Martial Dao Innate also came with a System achievement reward.

Previously, when his children practiced martial arts, the System had never given a prompt, and their strength on the panel was displayed as ‘None’.

This had led him to believe that there were no System achievement rewards in this regard.

Now that the System prompt sounded, he realized that only when a Martial Artist achieved Innate did it meet the conditions for triggering an achievement reward.

“It seems that in the System achievements, a Martial Artist’s Breakthrough to Innate is considered entry-level, corresponding to a Cultivator’s Qi Introduction into the Body.”

“Martial Dao Innate is very difficult for Mortals, but for me, as long as I am willing to spend money and my children are willing to practice, they can generally achieve Martial Dao Innate by the age of twenty.”

“Indeed, System achievement rewards cannot rely solely on having children; I also need to Cultivate my children more.”

Lu Changsheng mused in his heart.

Although he had the idea of letting his children practice martial arts to enhance his own strength, with his own strength improving, this idea had faded a lot.

Cultivating his children in martial arts was more about letting them strengthen their bodies through practice.

So that they would also have the strength to protect themselves if they encountered danger in the secular world.

“Before, it was an increase in the probability of Spiritual Root for descendants; now, it’s an increase in the probability of bearing descendants.”

“Each time a Cultivator achieves a Breakthrough in a Cultivation Realm, bearing children becomes more difficult.”

“I wonder how effective this 5% probability increase is.”

“And this probability increase should only be a one-sided increase for me.”

“However, when a Cultivator’s strength increases, bearing descendants becomes more difficult, which applies to both male and female Cultivators.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the 5% increase in the probability of bearing descendants on the System prompt and pondered in his heart.

He knew that it became more difficult for Cultivators to bear children after each major Realm Breakthrough.

But he couldn’t judge exactly how much more difficult it became.

And there was no record of this information in the Cultivation World.

After all, everyone’s Cultivation Technique was different, the Dao Foundation they condensed was different, and their own situations were also different, so the final results might also vary.

Not many Cultivators would research such matters either.

“Changsheng, what’s wrong?”

At this moment, Xiao Xiyue saw Lu Changsheng lost in thought and asked.

“Nothing, just thought of something just now.”

Upon hearing Xiao Xiyue’s voice, Lu Changsheng immediately came back to his senses and chuckled softly.

Xiao Xiyue heard this and didn’t ask further questions.

The two continued to chat for a while, then embraced and fell asleep.

The next day, Lu Changsheng left Xiao Xiyue’s Immortal Cave and came to his own Peace Talisman Hall.

Although he didn’t usually come here much, he still had his own quiet room and Talismans room on the third floor.

“System, lottery.”

After arriving at the quiet room on the third floor, Lu Changsheng silently chanted in his mind.

Immediately, the System’s lottery wheel appeared.

“Start the lottery.”

Subsequently, a golden light rapidly spun on the lottery wheel.

A moment later, the golden light slowly stopped on ‘Other’.

【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Gu ‘Hope Gu’!】

【Reward has been issued to the System Space, Host can view it at any time】

A thumb-sized, light-cluster-like pattern emerged from the large spinning wheel, accompanied by a System prompt.

“Gu, Hope Gu?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow upon seeing this reward.

With the Peach Blossom Gu before, he subconsciously thought that Gu were good.

After all, among the more than twenty previous lottery items, the Peach Blossom Gu was considered a good reward.

It could not only improve one’s appearance and temperament, and subtly enhance one’s Peach Blossom Luck.

It could also guard the Sea of Consciousness, making one fearless of other Gu effects and resistant to Divine Sense attacks.

“It’s just that the name Hope Gu sounds a bit strange.”

Lu Changsheng muttered in his heart, unable to guess the Gu’s effect from its name.

Immediately, his mind stirred, and he looked towards the System Space.

【Gu: Hope Gu】

【Quality: Heaven Spirit Gu】

【Description: A strange Gu naturally born between heaven and earth, it can enlighten Mortals and give birth to Spiritual Roots. As long as there is hope in one’s heart, miracles will happen.】

“Enlighten Mortals and give birth to Spiritual Roots!”

Lu Changsheng’s heart suddenly skipped a beat when he saw the description of the ‘Hope Gu’.

A long time ago, he had flipped through books, searching for information about Mortals Cultivating and giving birth to Spiritual Roots.

But there was no relevant record at all.

He knew that it was impossible for Mortals to Cultivate.

As for treasures that could allow Mortals to give birth to Spiritual Roots, one would at least need to reach Core Formation and Nascent Soul Realm before being able to come into contact with them.

Although he had thought that he might draw such treasures through the System, allowing Mortals to Cultivate and give birth to Spiritual Roots.

But Lu Changsheng did not hold too much hope.

After all, with hope comes disappointment.

Of course, Lu Changsheng also couldn’t deny that he didn’t have such a deep obsession with this aspect.

“Hope Gu.”

“To give a glimmer of hope?”

Lu Changsheng looked at the Hope Gu in the System Space, and his mind recalled the time he took Lu Ping’an and others to test their Spiritual Roots.

After testing and finding no Spiritual Roots, the children returned home with disappointed little faces.

Then Lu Ping’an looked up, his eyes full of hope, looking at him.

Asking if he couldn’t become a Cultivator if he didn’t have a Spiritual Root?

“Is this Hope Gu for enlightening one person, or…”

Lu Changsheng’s mind stirred, and he extracted the Hope Gu from the System.

Instantly, the Hope Gu, like a thumb-sized ball of light, appeared in his hand.

Detailed information about the Hope Gu entered his mind.

Like the Peach Blossom Gu, it could only be used on one person to enlighten them and give birth to a Spiritual Root.

As for the quality of the Spiritual Root born, it depended on each person’s situation and would be strongly influenced by their physical condition and the intensity of their hope.

In addition to enlightening and giving birth to a Spiritual Root, the Hope Gu had another effect.

That was, when a person faced a desperate situation, as long as the hope in their heart did not die, the Gu could forcibly stimulate their potential.

“Phew!”

“This Hope Gu, I’ll give it to Ping’an.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the Hope Gu in his hand and let out a light breath.

He planned to give this Hope Gu to his eldest son, Lu Ping’an.

This was his first son.

He had also raised him since childhood and invested a lot of affection.

Moreover, this son had always been a source of peace of mind and satisfaction for him from childhood to adulthood.

Now that Lu Ping’an had diligently practiced martial arts, achieved a Breakthrough to Martial Dao Innate, and won a lottery draw, he happened to draw the Hope Gu, which made him feel that there was a divine will at work.

“However, the Hope Gu’s ability to enlighten Mortals and give birth to Spiritual Roots is too astonishing.”

“If I were to enlighten Ping’an with the Hope Gu now, it would very likely cause trouble.”

“And it’s not about scarcity, but about unevenness.”

“There is only one Hope Gu, and it can only allow one person to give birth to a Spiritual Root.”

“Other children, who originally accepted the reality that Spiritual Roots are Innate, would likely feel unbalanced and resentful if they saw Ping’an gain a Spiritual Root at this time.”

“Therefore, the matter of the Hope Gu must never be exposed.”

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

He knew that many of his children had dreams of Cultivation.

Or rather, born on Qingzhu Mountain and growing up in this environment, how could they not want to become Cultivators, having been influenced by what they saw and heard?

It was just that because Spiritual Roots were Innate, those without them could only accept reality.

At this time, if they saw him allow Lu Ping’an to give birth to a Spiritual Root, it would easily cause internal imbalance.

Even if his wives and concubines knew he had such a thing and chose to give it to Lu Ping’an, they would feel uncomfortable inwardly, even if they didn’t say anything.

“Ping’an has now achieved a Breakthrough to Innate and is preparing to travel outside; it’s a good time for him to gain experience.”

“Then, I’ll see the situation and decide whether to give him the Hope Gu.”

“As for the matter of the Hope Gu, just don’t let anyone know about it.”

“After all, how can one truly be fair?”

Lu Changsheng didn’t think much further.

He was no longer the person who used to be overly sentimental about such matters.

He already had a plan for the Hope Gu.

He intended to wait until Lu Ping’an went out to explore and gain some experience before deciding whether to give him the Hope Gu.

Moreover, what he had in mind was that if he were to enlighten Lu Ping’an with the Hope Gu and give birth to a Spiritual Root, this eldest son would then have to live outside under another identity from then on.

He could no longer appear before the world as Lu Ping’an.

“An innocent man is guilty because of his treasure.”

“I also need to make a trip to Ruyi County later.”

Lu Changsheng took out a jade box, put the Hope Gu inside, and placed it in his Spirit Beast Bag.

When Lu Ping’an had said he wanted to go out for training, he had told him to wait until he achieved a Breakthrough to Innate.

Now that he had achieved a Breakthrough to Innate, he naturally wouldn’t say anything more.

But when his son was leaving home, as a father, there were certainly some things he needed to tell him.

After saying goodbye to Lu Miaoge and Xiao Xiyue, Lu Changsheng rode his Iron Feather Eagle back to Qingzhu Mountain.

After handling some miscellaneous affairs on Qingzhu Mountain and staying for half a month, Lu Changsheng took Bai Ling with him to Ruyi County.

Currently, Bai Ling’s Cultivation has reached Lianqi Third Layer.

It’s estimated that it won’t be long before she breaks through to Lianqi Fourth Layer.

This speed is quite astonishing.

Lu Changsheng estimated that his previous guess of Bai Ling having a High Grade Spiritual Root was too low.

Judging by Bai Ling’s Cultivation speed, she might truly be able to Cultivate to Qi Refining Perfection and prepare for Foundation Establishment in her twenties.

“Little Ling’er, aren’t you bored staying on Qingzhu Mountain all the time?”

As the Iron Feather Eagle soared, Lu Changsheng asked Bai Ling.

“No, everyone here is so nice, Sister Yun, Sister Zhenzhen, Sister Zhiyue, they are all so good to me.”

“And Ruyi, Xiao Ru, Qingshan, Xiao Zhu’er, they often play with me too.”

Bai Ling immediately said happily when she heard this.

In her opinion, Qingzhu Mountain was simply a paradise on earth.

The people here not only didn’t dislike or reject her, but they also liked her very much, cared for her, and played with her.

So, during the more than a year she spent on Qingzhu Mountain, Bai Ling’s personality also became much more cheerful.

She was no longer as socially anxious as before, getting nervous and looking timid and scared when encountering people.

Of course, this cheerfulness was currently limited to Lu Changsheng’s manor.

Facing Lu Changsheng’s wives, concubines, maids, and children.

When she stepped out of the manor and faced others on Qingzhu Mountain, her personality became quiet again.

But it was already much better than before.

“That’s good. If anything happens, you can tell your Sister Yun directly.”

“If it’s inconvenient, you can also tell older brother directly.”

Lu Changsheng smiled gently, looking at Bai Ling’s happy expression.

He ruffled the little girl’s small head, which had two bun hairstyles.

This had become a habit for him.

And Bai Ling also greatly enjoyed him affectionately ruffling her small head like that.

Three days later, the two arrived at Ruyi County City.

Walking on the bustling streets of Ruyi County City, looking at the coming and going pedestrians, the little girl immediately became a little nervous, tightly holding Lu Changsheng’s hand.

“Older brother is here.”

Regarding this situation, Lu Changsheng squeezed her fair, tender hand and smiled gently.

Looking at Lu Changsheng’s handsome and unparalleled face, elegant and refined demeanor, and gentle smile like a spring breeze, Bai Ling pursed her small lips, and much of the tension in her heart dissipated.

Only with Lu Changsheng would she dare to walk on such a crowded street.

If she were alone, she would never go out to such a crowded place.

“Master.”

“Young Miss.”

The two arrived at the Lu Mansion.

The butler and guards at the manor’s entrance immediately saluted.

“Mm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded and led Bai Ling into the manor.

“Father, Father!”

“Husband, Ling’er!”

Upon returning home, it was naturally a lively scene.

All the wives, concubines, and children came to pay their respects.

The first batch of children had grown much older now.

They wouldn’t be as intimate as when they were young, rushing into his arms and asking for hugs.

As for the younger batch of children, due to less time spent together, their relationship with Lu Changsheng, their father, was relatively less intimate.

They respectfully saluted their father.

After a simple exchange of greetings and well wishes with his wives and children, Lu Changsheng noticed that most people had dispersed and looked at his son, Lu Ping’an, who had been standing by the side.

“Ping’an, why have you been standing there in a daze? Is there something you want to tell Father?”

Lu Changsheng chuckled.

He knew his son wanted to tell him about breaking through to Innate, but had kept quiet because others were present.

“Father, I’ve broken through to Innate!”

Lu Ping’an immediately grinned and said.

“Breaking through to Innate, not bad, not bad, truly my son.”

“I remember you still have over a month until you turn sixteen.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, breaking through to Martial Dao Innate before sixteen, you can be considered a Genius in the Jianghu.”

Lu Changsheng patted his son’s shoulder and said with a laugh.

At the same time, he scrutinized his son before him.

Having practiced martial arts since childhood, Lu Ping’an’s posture was very agile.

But he didn’t appear overly muscular, giving people a sense of being tall and strong.

His height was about 1.75 meters, only half a head shorter than him.

It’s estimated that in two more years, he would catch up to him.

His facial features couldn’t be described as handsome, only delicate.

He only had a similar outline to his current father.

This was entirely due to Lu Changsheng’s Cultivation of the Immortal Appearance Art and the improvement from the Peach Blossom Gu.

Additionally, Lu Ping’an’s appearance was delicate with a hint of firmness and ruggedness.

Whereas Lu Changsheng was handsome and refined, gentle as jade.

The father and son had completely different temperaments.

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to your nurturing, Father.”

“If it weren’t for eating spirit rice and spirit meals every day, how could my martial Dao have progressed so quickly?”

Lu Ping’an scratched his head and said with a grin.

“Before, you said you wanted to travel, and Father told you to wait until you broke through to Innate.”

“Now that you’ve broken through to Innate, Father naturally won’t stop you. Do you have any plans in mind?”

Lu Changsheng sat down next to his son and asked.

Actually, he wasn’t entirely at ease with Lu Ping’an going out to travel.

Because his son’s nature was honest and kind-hearted.

Under Lu Lanshu’s education, although he had gained some shrewdness and adaptability, he was still straightforward.

“I don’t have any big plans, I just intend to go see Grandpa Li first.”

“Teacher Zhao, Teacher Mu, and Uncle Li, Uncle Hong, all said that the Jianghu is dangerous. Uncle Li said before that if I wanted to go out and travel, I could first go to the Crimson Whale Gang to experience the dangers of the Jianghu, and then decide whether or not to travel far.”

Lu Ping’an said honestly.

“It’s good that you have such an idea. Going to the Crimson Whale Gang to gain some experience is also good.”

Lu Changsheng nodded upon hearing this.

Due to the relationship between himself, Hong Yi, and Li Feiyu, the three families had a lot more interaction.

Li Feiyu’s Crimson Whale Gang also prospered under Hong Yi’s care, constantly handling Jianghu affairs for the Ruyi Marquis Manor.

It wasn’t bad for Lu Ping’an to gain some experience at the Crimson Whale Gang; at least he could go through some things.

Otherwise, if his son just ran around like that, he, as a father, wouldn’t be at ease.

“Father, it’s just that Mother still needs you to talk to her.”

Lu Ping’an scratched his head, saying somewhat embarrassedly.

“What, your mother heard you want to travel and won’t let you, is that it?”

Lu Changsheng immediately laughed upon hearing this.

His wife, Lu Lanshu, had the temperament of a well-bred young lady, so she naturally didn’t like her son getting into fights and killings.

Especially since Lu Ping’an was the eldest son, she always hoped that Lu Ping’an would read more, learn how to conduct himself, and manage the household.

When the children first started practicing martial arts, it was Lu Changsheng who said that all children should practice to strengthen their bodies; otherwise, she wouldn’t have wanted Lu Ping’an to be obsessed with martial arts.

“I mentioned it to Mother before, and Mother not only refused but also said I wasn’t young anymore and asked me what I thought of Sister Xue’er.”

“But I’ve always regarded Sister Xue’er as my own sister.”

Lu Ping’an said with a helpless expression.

The Sister Xue’er he referred to was Li Xueer, Li Feiyu’s daughter.

She was two years younger than Lu Ping’an, well-behaved and sensible, and also liked by Lu Lanshu.

So, she also wanted this little girl to be her daughter-in-law.

“But your mother is right, you are indeed not young anymore.”

Lu Changsheng said, stroking his chin upon hearing this.

In this world, getting married at sixteen was considered normal.

Although Li Xueer was still a bit young, Lu Lanshu bringing up the matter was to settle it first.

“Father.”

Lu Ping’an immediately looked crestfallen upon hearing this.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go talk to your mother about that later.”

“But you really can start considering it at your age.”

“If you don’t like Xue’er, that’s fine, since you grew up together.”

“In the future, when you travel the Jianghu, if you meet a girl you like, bring them all back, understand?”

Lu Changsheng said with a chuckle.

Although his children’s children would also give him a bonus, and it was very likely to trigger System achievement rewards.

But Lu Changsheng would not force his children to marry and have children.

If they were willing to have children, that would naturally be best.

He would strongly support it and reward them handsomely.

If they were unwilling to have children, he would not force them and let nature take its course.

“Yes, Father.”

Lu Ping’an, seeing his father also talk about this, immediately looked helpless and deflated.

“Don’t look so dispirited, Father isn’t forcing you, just telling you not to miss out if you meet someone suitable.”

“Let’s go, I’ll go talk to your mother with you.”

Lu Changsheng, seeing his son’s appearance, playfully patted his head.

He suddenly understood the feelings of parents when they urge marriage.

Now that Lu Ping’an wasn’t married, he wasn’t anxious or worried.

After all, he was still young.

And he had many children.

But if the child was older and there were only one or two children, he might indeed feel a bit anxious.

Immediately, the two came to the backyard.

“Lan Shu.”

Lu Changsheng looked at his wife, Lu Lanshu.

Lu Lanshu was the same age as him.

They had been married for almost seventeen years now.

Her face was not like his, still maintaining a twenty-year-old appearance.

But having taken beauty pills, coupled with long-term nourishment from spirit rice and spirit meals, her skin was fair and beautiful, her face as lovely as a hibiscus, without too many traces of time.

Her figure was also graceful and slender, showing no signs of having given birth to three children.

“Husband, Ping’an.”

Lu Lanshu saw her husband and son and gracefully stepped forward.

Her cloud-like hair was coiled up, with a jade hairpin slanted in it.

She wore a light green palace dress, dignified and elegant.

As Lu Changsheng’s wife, she now managed most of the affairs of the Lu Mansion, which also gave her a dignified and noble bearing.

“Lan Shu, I already know about Ping’an’s matter.”

“He’s not young anymore. Since he wants to travel, let him go.”

Lu Changsheng looked at his wife, stepped forward, held her hand, and said softly.

He actually understood his wife’s thoughts.

She hoped that Lu Ping’an could inherit the family business in the Mortal world.

Lu Lanshu immediately glared at her son upon hearing this, making Lu Ping’an instantly lower his head, not daring to look at his mother.

She bit her lip lightly and said, “Husband, I really can’t rest assured with Ping’an’s personality going out.”

“This Jianghu outside is full of fighting and killing…”

Her unwillingness to let Lu Ping’an go out wasn’t entirely about wanting her son to marry early and inherit the family business.

It was also because she knew her son’s personality made him prone to suffering losses outside, so she was worried.

“Lan Shu, I know your thoughts. You hope Ping’an can be safe and sound, and I also hope Ping’an can always be safe and sound; this is also the idea behind me giving him that name.”

“But a young eagle will one day have to fly towards the sky, facing the abyss and storms alone; this is a necessary path to growth.”

“Although Ping’an doesn’t have to go through these, if he is willing to experience them, it’s a good thing.”

“This way, I can also entrust more things to him in the future.”

Lu Changsheng smiled gently and said this to his wife.

After a period of casual conversation between the couple, Lu Lanshu also nodded in agreement.

Although she was extremely reluctant in her heart.

But since Lu Changsheng had spoken, she couldn’t refuse anymore.

After all, Lu Changsheng was the head of the family.