Chapter 182: The Sumeru tree king is a paradise in itself!
Lu Changsheng and Qu Zhenzhen stayed in Ruyi County for almost half a month.
During this period, his son Lu Wuyu’s marriage was also settled.
The bride was Li Feiyu’s daughter, Li Xueer.
Previously, Lu Lanshu wanted her son Lu Ping’an to marry Li Xueer.
Firstly, Li Xueer’s appearance, looks, and personality were all good.
And they had watched her grow up.
Secondly, Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu were good friends, so they naturally wanted to bring them together.
However, Lu Ping’an had no such intentions and was also away.
Now, Lu Qing’er also inquired about her son Lu Wuyu and Li Xueer in this regard.
Lu Wuyu and Li Xueer both had no objections to this marriage and were mutually satisfied.
Seeing both of them nod, Lu Changsheng also made the final decision.
Most marriages in this world were like this.
How could there be so many cases of mutual love?
Mutual satisfaction was already considered good.
Immediately, the two families arranged an engagement and chose an auspicious day for the wedding, which would be held six months later.
During the engagement, Lu Changsheng also met Li Feiyu’s father, Li Zhengyang.
Sixteen years had passed, and the once majestic and awe-inspiring leader of the Crimson Whale Gang had become an old man with white hair.
His face also showed a hint of illness.
“Greetings, Uncle Li.”
Lu Changsheng stepped forward to greet him.
“Greetings, Immortal Master Lu.”
Li Zhengyang looked at Lu Changsheng, whose face was handsome, still appearing to be in his twenties, and even more ethereal like an immortal compared to more than ten years ago, and bowed respectfully.
When Lu Changsheng first came to the Crimson Whale Gang, he had already seen that Lu Changsheng was no ordinary person.
Now, more than ten years later, his guess had been confirmed.
It was clear that Ruyi Marquis, the Heir Apparent of Ruyi Marquis, and the Loose Cultivators attending the engagement banquet all showed great respect to this Immortal Master Lu.
“Feiyu and I are good friends, and now my son Wuyu and Xueer are engaged and becoming in-laws, which is even more like Family. So, Uncle Li, there is no need to be so polite; just call me Changsheng.”
Lu Changsheng said with a smile to Li Zhengyang.
Li Zhengyang saw that Lu Changsheng had no airs of an Immortal Master, and he felt a sigh of emotion in his heart.
He thought to himself that his son had made a good friend.
Immediately, he also addressed Lu Changsheng as ‘virtuous nephew’.
And he introduced his eldest son, Li Feihong, who was now the leader of the Crimson Whale Gang, to Lu Changsheng.
During their casual conversation, after confirming the marriage, Li Zhengyang also inquired about his son Li Feiyu’s situation.
When Li Feiyu left, he had only briefly told him that he was going to explore the Cultivation World, without saying much more.
Regarding this topic, Lu Changsheng only said that Li Feiyu was fine and was training in a certain Immortal City.
Afterward, he gifted Li Zhengyang a bottle of healing Medicinal Pills.
He could tell that Li Zhengyang had likely overexerted himself in martial arts when he was young, or had suffered some internal injury, leading to his current poor health.
This engagement banquet made the Lu Mansion very lively.
After all, it was the first person in the Lu Family to get engaged and prepare for marriage.
“I wonder how Ping’an is doing.”
“He hasn’t written home in over a year.”
Seeing Lu Wuyu engaged and about to be married in six months, Lu Lanshu also began to murmur about her son Lu Ping’an.
“Ping’an said he would be out for at most three years, so he should be back in another year or two.”
Lu Changsheng spoke to comfort her.
He knew that his wife still disapproved of Lu Ping’an going out.
Now that his wife had brought it up, he also thought of his eldest son.
He wondered where Lu Ping’an was traveling now, and how his travels were going.
Jiang Country, Jiang Province, Guangling County.
“The White Tiger Great Yao is on this mountain, right?”
Lu Ping’an passed a village and heard that there was a white tiger on this big mountain that often ate people.
As a result, the villagers dared not go up the mountain to hunt.
So he thought of coming to see it for himself, to eliminate harm for the people.
Just as he reached halfway up the mountain, he heard a deafening roar of a Vicious Beast.
He followed the sound and rushed into the mountain.
Before long, he saw a ferocious white tiger, a full ten feet tall, chasing a black-clad girl.
However, this was not a one-sided chase.
The black-clad girl was a Cultivator.
As she ran, she was wielding a dark Flying Sword to attack the white tiger.
This made the white tiger covered in blood, roaring frantically, and trying to devour people.
“This white tiger should be the White Tiger Great Yao the villagers mentioned. It looks like it has truly become a Yao Beast!”
Lu Ping’an was surprised to see such a large and ferocious white tiger.
He knew that this white tiger had already moved beyond the realm of wild beasts and was a Yao Beast.
However, the Nine Nether Mastiff he usually fed was much more ferocious than this white tiger.
So, seeing this terrifying white tiger, he felt no fear.
“Be careful!”
Just then, he saw the white tiger’s cold, sharp claws extend, pinning down the girl’s Flying Sword.
Then its tail suddenly lengthened, reaching ten feet, and swung like a long staff towards the girl.
Caught off guard by this sudden attack, the girl was violently struck and sent flying backward, letting out a muffled grunt.
Seeing this, the white tiger opened its gaping maw and lunged towards the black-clad girl.
“Not good!”
Seeing this, Lu Ping’an quickly took out a Fireball Talisman from his embrace, concentrated his mind, and made the Talisman transform into a fireball, which shot towards the white tiger.
“Bang—”
The fireball accurately landed on the white tiger’s body.
It caused it to ’thump’ to the ground, letting out a wailing roar, its whole body scorched by the fireball, its skin torn and flesh exposed, full of charring.
“Roar!”
The white tiger, charred and bleeding, its eyes scarlet, looked at Lu Ping’an, roared in anger, and pounced.
“Secret Technique—Primordial Limitless!”
Facing the pouncing white tiger, Lu Ping’an immediately took out a Golden Light Talisman, causing golden light to appear around his body.
Then he roared, his muscles bulging with power, and he unleashed a powerful punch.
“Boom—”
The white tiger’s attack caused Lu Ping’an’s legs to sink, and the golden light on his body dimmed.
But Lu Ping’an’s terrifying punch, filled with immense power, also made the white tiger wail, and the sound of bones shattering could be heard within its body.
“Die!”
At this moment, the girl also seized the opportunity, forming hand seals, causing her Flying Sword to burst forth with sharp Qi, and slash towards the white tiger’s neck.
She intended to cut off the white tiger’s head with one sword strike.
“Puff!”
However, the Flying Sword did not sever the head; the blade was stuck in the white tiger’s bones, causing the white tiger to roar in pain, struggling in its death throes.
“Secret Technique—Primordial Limitless.”
Seeing this, Lu Ping’an’s True Qi surged, he took a step forward, and his fists, like twin Dragons emerging from the sea, or a hidden Dragon rising from the abyss, slammed towards the white tiger.
One punch!
Two punches!
Three punches!
“Boom, boom, boom—”
A moment later, the white tiger wailed, its eyes dimming.
“Hello, thank you for your help.”
“My father’s surname is Qin, and my mother’s surname is Yi, so I am Qin Yi.”
The black-clad girl stepped forward, looked at Lu Ping’an, and said expressionlessly.
Lu Ping’an heard this self-introduction, grinned and said, “Hello, my father’s surname is Lu, and my mother’s surname is also Lu, so I am Lu Ping’an.”
“Pfft.”
The originally expressionless girl, hearing this, immediately burst into laughter.
However, this laugh caused her Qi and blood to churn and surge, and she coughed up blood.
The white tiger’s attack just now had also left her in a very bad state.
“Are you alright, miss? I have healing medicine here.”
Seeing this, Lu Ping’an took out a porcelain bottle from his satchel, poured out a Medicinal Pill, and handed it to the girl.
“Just now, you used two Talismans to save me, so I already owe you a favor.”
“Therefore, I cannot accept this Medicinal Pill, and I have no money to repay you.”
The black-clad girl could tell at a glance that this was not a mundane Medicinal Pill, but a Spirit Pill.
She thought to herself, where did this silly boy come from?
He clearly had no spiritual power fluctuations, was a Martial Artist, yet possessed Talismans and Medicinal Pills.
Moreover, he was a complete stranger to her, yet he generously offered them.
“When you see injustice, you lend a hand. Don’t worry about it, miss.”
“You don’t need to repay this Medicinal Pill either.”
Lu Ping’an grinned and waved his hand.
The black-clad girl heard this, looked at Lu Ping’an in front of her, and her small face showed a hint of conflicted heartache.
Then she spoke, saying, “I, Qin Yi, never owe anyone favors. I will accept this Medicinal Pill, and you can take this tiger yao. This way, we are even.”
“I said you don’t need to repay me, and besides, what would I do with this tiger yao?”
Lu Ping’an shook his head.
“This tiger yao can be sold for more than twenty Spirit Stones, and you actually don’t want it.”
“Weren’t you specifically here to hunt this tiger yao?”
The girl heard this, her expression a little surprised and doubtful.
“No, I heard the villagers say that there was a White Tiger Great Yao eating people here, so I came up the mountain to take a look, thinking of getting rid of the white tiger so the villagers could hunt in peace.”
Lu Ping’an said with a smile.
The black-clad girl, hearing this, looked at Lu Ping’an as if he were an idiot.
She never thought there would be such a person in the world.
He was a complete stranger to her, yet he was willing to spend Talismans to help her, and even gave her Medicinal Pills for free.
And his purpose for coming up the mountain was simply because he heard there was a white tiger eating people.
“No matter what, I, Qin Yi, never owe anyone favors. You take this tiger yao, and our debts are cleared.”
Qin Yi’s small face was tense, expressionless, and she continued to speak.
She had already decided that Lu Ping’an was a傻儿子 (silly son) from a wealthy Family and did not want to take advantage of an idiot.
“Miss said this tiger yao is worth more than twenty Spirit Stones.”
“My Medicinal Pills and Talismans are not worth that much money.”
“If you feel uneasy about it, go sell the tiger yao and just give me the equivalent Spirit Stones.”
Lu Ping’an said this, seeing the other party’s determined expression.
He had trained in the Crimson Whale Gang and usually interacted with Hong Yi, so he knew some of the prices at the lower levels of the Cultivation World.
He knew that his two Talismans and one Medicinal Pill were worth about seven Spirit Stones.
The girl heard this, and her heart was immediately swayed.
It had taken her a lot of time and effort to hunt this tiger yao.
Moreover, she was reluctant to give away all the Spirit Stones she had obtained.
Now, if they split it, she would at least have some gains.
And she would feel better internally, not owing a favor.
“Alright, there’s a Loose Cultivator gathering place on Cangya Mountain, five hundred li away.”
“You come with me, and when I sell this tiger yao, we’ll split the Spirit Stones.”
“If it’s inconvenient for you, give me an address, and I’ll send the Spirit Stones to you then.”
The girl spoke, her voice clear and crisp.
“Loose Cultivator gathering place.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
Lu Ping’an’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
He had always yearned for Cultivation and had a strong interest in it.
However, he knew that he had no Spiritual Root and was destined not to Cultivate, so he never mentioned it at home.
Now, hearing the young girl mention a Loose Cultivator market, he suddenly became curious and wanted to go see it.
Immediately, after the young girl rested and healed her injuries, the two traveled together.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
Two months ago, the bustling Black Cloud Mountain Secret Realm’s popularity also waned.
This was just a small Secret Realm.
So, in half a year, it was completely developed, swept clean, and turned into a barren land.
In this Secret Realm exploration, the Lu Family not only gained nothing but also lost one Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator and one Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, which was a considerable loss.
However, Lu Changsheng heard Lu Yuanding say that the Bai Family had quite a harvest in this Secret Realm.
Perhaps there was hope for a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator to emerge.
The Lu Family was happy to see this situation.
Because the Bai Family and the Lu Family had a good relationship.
Now, Old Ancestor Bai’s lifespan only had a little over ten years left.
If no new Foundation Establishment Cultivator could emerge, they would face the same danger the Lu Family once did.
Furthermore, the cooperation of the Four Great Families in the Hongye Valley Market would also encounter problems because of this.
[Congratulations to the Host! Your number of descendants has reached one hundred and fifty, granting you one Advanced Draw!]
On this day, Lu Changsheng’s one hundred and fiftieth child was born.
This child had no Spiritual Root.
But when this child was born, a System notification sound rang out.
“Advanced Draw!”
Lu Changsheng felt a surge of pleasant surprise when he heard this System notification.
He had thought that the draw for a hundred descendants meant he needed two hundred children to get a draw based on the number of children.
He didn’t expect it would only take one hundred and fifty.
And it was an Advanced Draw.
This made him very happy.
After all, the previous Advanced Draw had yielded a heavenly spiritual treasure.
Although this heavenly spiritual treasure was a bit lacking, without a Spirit, it was still a heavenly spiritual treasure.
It allowed his Hundred Treasures Body Refining Art to progress rapidly; he estimated he could Breakthrough to the fifth layer in another year.
At that time, he could also fuse this heavenly spiritual treasure and turn it into his Natal Treasure Bone.
“System, draw!”
Without overthinking, Lu Changsheng silently chanted in his mind.
He wanted to see what he could draw in this Advanced Draw.
After all, ordinary draws no longer held much surprise for him.
Immediately, an Advanced Draw盘 with only four sections appeared.
As Lu Changsheng’s mind stirred, the draw began directly.
Before long, the golden light slowly decelerated, stopping on the ‘Spirit Pet Magic Treasure’ section.
“Another Spirit Pet Magic Treasure?”
Lu Changsheng’s heart also paused abruptly as the golden light stopped.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Spirit Pet: Xumi Tree King!]
[Reward has been issued to the System Space; Host can view it at any time]
A golden jade divine tree pattern, flowing with divine radiance and surging with auspicious light, emerged from the Draw盤, accompanied by a System notification sound.
“Spirit Pet, Xumi Tree King?”
Lu Changsheng’s brows furrowed as he saw the reward from this draw.
He immediately knew that he had drawn a heaven and earth spiritual plant type of Spirit Pet.
“I wonder if this Xumi Tree King, like the Nine Nether Mastiff and Six-Winged Golden Silkworm, needs to be cultivated by me.”
“If it needs to be cultivated by me, even with True Spirit Bloodline, it’s quite useless to me at the moment.”
Lu Changsheng looked at his draw reward and thought to himself.
The Nine Nether Mastiff he initially drew was still a First-Rank Middle Stage Yao Beast.
It would probably take another year or two for it to advance to a First-Rank Late Stage Yao Beast.
Even though the Nine Nether Mastiff’s combat power far surpassed that of Yao Beasts of the same Rank.
But now it could only serve as a guardian Spirit Beast for the mundane Lu Mansion.
Although the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm he drew the second time had slightly higher combat power than the Nine Nether Mastiff, it was unknown how long it would take to grow a second pair of wings.
After eight or nine years of raising it, its combat power was still at the First-Rank Peak.
So, Lu Changsheng truly didn’t have many thoughts about Spirit Pets.
His mind stirred, and he looked at the Xumi Tree King in the System Space.
[Spirit Pet: Xumi Tree King]
[Rank: Low-Rank True Spirit]
[Description: In the past, Lotus Lamp Buddha Venerable obtained a half-branch of the ‘World Tree’ and planted it on Mount Sumeru, nurturing it. It currently possesses Third-Rank strength, nurturing a heaven and earth within its body, forming its own cave heaven, endlessly regenerating.]
“Hiss!”
Lu Changsheng was shocked when he saw the description of the Xumi Tree King.
Third-Rank strength meant that this Xumi Tree King didn’t need to be slowly cultivated like the Nine Nether Mastiff and Six-Winged Golden Silkworm.
It directly possessed the strength of the Golden Core Realm!
Not only that, this Xumi Tree King also nurtured a heaven and earth within its body, forming its own cave heaven, endlessly regenerating.
This ability utterly surprised Lu Changsheng.
In the Cultivation World, there was a type of Magic Treasure called a ‘cave heaven magical treasure’.
This type of Magic Treasure formed its own space, which could be constructed into a small cave heaven Secret Realm, accommodating Cultivators and Spirit Beasts.
It could even form a Spiritual Vein by transplanting spiritual treasures like the ‘Spirit Eye Spring’, allowing for Cultivation, planting Spirit Medicine, and Spirit Fields within, serving as a mobile Immortal Cave.
And at this moment, this Xumi Tree King possessed such an effect, nurturing a heaven and earth within its body, forming its own cave heaven.
“The internal cave heaven of this Xumi Tree King can completely serve as the core of the Family in the future.”
“I just don’t know if this Xumi Tree King can currently take human form.”
“If it cannot take human form, then there must be a Spiritual Vein place to plant this Xumi Tree King.”
“Moreover, the strength of this Xumi Tree King, and the Rank of Spiritual Vein it requires, is probably not low, at least a Second-Rank, or even a Third-Rank Spiritual Vein.”
Lu Changsheng looked at the Xumi Tree King in the System Space and did not extract it.
Just by looking at the description of this Xumi Tree King, he felt it was many times larger than the Lingming Treasure Tree he had drawn before.
Once extracted, it would immediately be revealed.
If it couldn’t take human form and move, such a heaven and earth spiritual plant, once noticed by others, would likely cause a stir in the Qingyun Sect and the entire Jiang Country Cultivation World.
Moreover, the higher the Rank of a Yao Beast, the harder it was to take human form, so he felt there was a high probability that this Xumi Tree King would not be able to take human form.
“It seems that determining the spiritual land and establishing the Family must be accelerated.”
“Only by establishing my own Family and having my own Family spiritual land will it be convenient to release this Xumi Tree King.”
“And by then, the Family will also have a Core Formation Great Yao guarding it, allowing for peaceful development.”
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
He knew that this Xumi Tree King had to be planted in his own home and then well-hidden with a Formation.
Otherwise, such a Yao Plant could easily cause trouble.
“Xiao Xiyue’s previous letter asked if I wanted to participate in the Hundred Arts Conference, and I chose to postpone it.”
“It seems that in the next Hundred Arts Conference, I must use this method to enter the Qingyun Sect, and then, depending on the situation, obtain a good spiritual land through the Qingyun Sect.”
Lu Changsheng murmured to himself.
Currently, he still preferred to go through the Qingyun Sect’s path to acquire a Family spiritual land.
He wanted to see if he could obtain a good spiritual land through the Qingyun Sect.
If not, he would then consider the Hongye Valley Market.
After all, the Four Great Families in the Hongye Valley Market had put so much effort into it, and there were so many Family forces stationed there.
It would not be easy for him to take it down through the Lu Family without paying a considerable price.
“Now I have more than two hundred Second-Rank Talismans in reserve, and the Lu Family and Peace Talisman Hall’s upcoming Talismans are also ready.”
“After Wuyu’s wedding is over, it will be almost time to depart for Nine Heavens Immortal City.”
“In Nine Heavens Immortal City, after purchasing the Materials for the Nine-Nine Mysterious True Strategy, Third-Rank Talisman Materials, and Second-Rank Alchemy Materials, my overall strength will rise another level.”
“When I return, Miaoge will also be almost ready to prepare for Foundation Establishment.”
“I can also use this opportunity to publicly state that this trip was to the Immortal City for Foundation Establishment, thereby revealing my Foundation Establishment strength.”
“Afterward, I will participate in the Hundred Arts Conference through the quota given by Xiao Xiyue, enter the Qingyun Sect, and acquire a spiritual land.”
“By then, the children in the Family will also be old enough to manage the Family for me, their old father.”
“The Family establishment is only missing a Formation; if I haven’t drawn a Formation by then, I’ll invite an Array Master from the Qingyun Sect, and then I’ll study some simple Formations myself.”
Lu Changsheng pondered his future plans.
After half a year of Talismans, he had accumulated over two hundred Second-Rank Talismans.
Due to Material reasons, most of these Talismans were Low Grade or Medium Grade Second-Rank, with only a small portion being High-Grade Talismans.
But that was already enough.
If all these Talismans were unleashed, Lu Changsheng felt that even a False Core True Person would surely die.
So, this trip to Nine Heavens Immortal City for a major purchase would basically be without any danger.
“There are still half a month until Wuyu’s wedding day; I should probably go over there.”
Lu Changsheng didn’t think further, stood up, and walked out of the study.
In the courtyard, Lu Miaoyun and several of her children were feeding a large bird with a body like azure jade.
This large bird was the Azure Jade Luan Bird that had hatched not long ago.
Since it had only recently been born, it couldn’t be ridden as a mount for a short period.
So, Lu Changsheng generously said he would give it to Lu Miaoyun, which made Lu Miaoyun delighted and caused Qu Zhenzhen, Lu Miaohuan, and others to feel envious.
“Yun’er, Wuyu’s wedding day is approaching; call Zhenzhen and Huan’er, and let’s go together.”
Lu Changsheng said to Lu Miaoyun.
After all, he was the first son to get married.
As his father, he naturally had to attend the wedding.
And as the main wives, Lu Miaoyun, Qu Zhenzhen, and Lu Miaohuan, he felt they should also participate in such an occasion.
“Yes, husband.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Miaoyun immediately handed the bird food to the children and went to inform Qu Zhenzhen and Lu Miaohuan.
The other children, hearing about this, all expressed interest and wanted to go together.
But Lu Changsheng’s Spirit Boat could only carry twelve people.
So, he only brought his sons Lu Yun, Lu Huaizhen, Lu Qingshan, Lu Qingzhu, and a few others.