Chapter 437: The Lu family has given birth to a dragon!

Yanyu Market.

Countless Cultivators looked up at the sky, trembling as Lu Ping’an rode his spirit beast away.

Although Old Ancestor Sima was severely injured, his aura was weak, and his strength was less than 60% of his Peak.

However, the astonishing and surging False Core-level Spiritual Pressure during their brief exchange just now was not fake.

Yet, such a False Core Old Ancestor, who was usually high and mighty, was chased so miserably and then suppressed and captured.

Moreover, this Cultivator, who claimed to be from Bihu Mountain, dragged this False Core Immortal Master behind his spirit beast, like escorting a prisoner, not avoiding others.

What was this for?

A display of power?!

This was too overbearing, wasn’t it?

“The Xuanwu Ridge Sima Family is an old False Core Family. Isn’t Bihu Mountain afraid of the Sima Family’s retaliation by doing this?”

“Yes, this kind of behavior is simply a slap in the face, a blatant slap in the face.”

“With this combat power, what is there to fear from the Sima Family?”

“When did Bihu Mountain produce such a False Core Old Ancestor? This person doesn’t seem to be Lu Changsheng, the Lu Family Old Ancestor.”

“Just now, I saw him fighting; he didn’t seem like a Spell Cultivator, but a Body Cultivator.”

“False Core Immortal Master, I wonder if I can ever reach this Realm in my lifetime!”

Many Cultivators discussed in low voices, their hearts trembling.

Their eyes, filled with respect, awe, fear, envy, longing, and other emotions, watched the direction Lu Ping’an disappeared.

“I heard that a few months ago, there were rogue Cultivators causing trouble in Hongye Valley Market, which belongs to Bihu Mountain. The Lu Family produced a daughter who inherited the Lu Family Old Ancestor’s Talisman Dao Legacy. She single-handedly killed five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and now such a figure has emerged.”

Yanlan, the Market Lord of Yanyu Market, also looked at the departing Lu Ping’an with a sigh of emotion.

As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the lord of a market, she paid attention to many things in the Cultivation World.

“I think this person just now looked a bit like Lu Ping’an, the eldest son of the Bihu Mountain Lu Family Old Ancestor…”

Beside her, the Market Lord Yu Fei, dressed in a light blue skirt, with a beautiful face and an icy temperament, spoke up.

“Lu Ping’an?”

Yanlan said in surprise, “Isn’t this Lu Ping’an a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?”

“I’m not very clear, I just think the appearance is somewhat similar.”

Yu Fei shook her head gently and said softly, “If this person is truly Lu Ping’an of Bihu Mountain, then Bihu Mountain is truly about to rise.”

“I remember that the Lu Family Old Ancestor of Bihu Mountain is only about a hundred years old. If this person is truly Lu Ping’an of Bihu Mountain, then at this age and with this cultivation, isn’t Core Formation within reach?”

Yanlan’s eyes showed envy and longing.

The two sisters, starting as Loose Cultivators and reaching their current stage, had already surpassed ninety percent of Cultivators.

But to advance further was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Seeing Lu Ping’an with such cultivation at such a young age, they felt very emotional.

“Sister, the Sima Family acts very overbearingly. Today, their Sima Family False Core Old Ancestor sought help from our market, and we stood by and did nothing. If they vent their anger on us afterward, it might cause trouble.”

At this moment, Yu Fei, who was beside her, showed some worry in her eyes.

Although their Yanyu Market was decent and somewhat famous.

But in front of a behemoth like the Sima Family, it was simply insignificant.

If the Sima Family truly vented their anger on them, they really couldn’t bear the wrath.

“It’s not impossible.”

Yanlan’s expression slightly hardened, and she said, “Fei’er, do you have any suggestions?”

Their Yanyu Market was able to develop to this day not only because of the sisters’ strength but also because they made many connections and never participated in disputes between other forces.

“If this person is truly Lu Ping’an of Bihu Mountain, I think we can go to Bihu Mountain to visit…”

Yu Fei pondered for a moment before saying, “Once the Bihu Mountain Lu Family advances to a False Core Family, they will definitely expand their influence.”

“If we go to pledge allegiance at this time, Bihu Mountain will likely accept us gladly and even go out of their way to show appreciation.”

“Sister, you are now at Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. If you have a Second-tier Advanced Breakthrough Pill, you can break through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage sooner.”

“Bihu Mountain has top Alchemists who can refine Foundation Establishment Pills, so they will certainly be able to refine Second-tier Advanced Breakthrough Pills.”

“Moreover, compared to the Sima Family, Bihu Mountain’s current reputation and standing are still good. Not long ago, Lu Miaoge, the Lu Family Matriarch, even expressed an invitation for other forces to form an alliance.”

Yu Fei paused in her words, then looked at her sister and smiled, “Besides, the Bihu Mountain Lu Family Old Ancestor is widely renowned. If sister is willing…”

But before she could finish, Yanlan playfully slapped her sister and said, “Still teasing your sister? If you have such thoughts, I wouldn’t stop you.”

After speaking, she said seriously, “Since that’s the case, Fei’er, prepare a gift now and go to Bihu Mountain to see what Bihu Mountain’s attitude is.”

“Sister, you must be careful. If the Sima Family becomes aggressive, then abandon the market.”

Yu Fei knew that her sister was stationed in the market, and if the Sima Family came to demand accountability, there might be danger, so she reminded her.

“Don’t worry. Unless a False Core Old Ancestor comes, with the market’s grand Formation, even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator is no match for me.”

Yanlan smiled.

Lu Ping’an was unaware of the commotion he caused in Yanyu Market and the chain reactions it triggered.

He was merely following his aunt’s instructions to make the matter as big as possible.

Lu Ping’an rode his spirit beast, escorting Old Ancestor Sima, and quickly flew towards the merchant company’s encampment.

Along the way, some Cultivators had previously seen Lu Ping’an relentlessly pursuing Old Ancestor Sima.

Upon seeing this scene now, they didn’t know what was happening, but they respectfully gave way.

When Lu Ping’an rode his spirit beast, escorting Old Ancestor Sima, back to the Jiulian Mountain region, all the spies who were monitoring the Lu Family Merchant Company were dumbfounded and horrified upon seeing this scene.

“This, this, this…”

“Old Ancestor Sima has been captured!”

All the Cultivators looked shocked and disbelieving.

At that time, they were too far away. They only saw Old Ancestor Sima trapped by a Formation and Symbol Array, and then, through some means, he managed a desperate escape.

But they never expected that a dignified False Core Old Ancestor would fail to escape and be captured alive by Lu Ping’an.

This was too astonishing!

One must know that among Cultivators of the same Realm, the difficulty of capturing and suppressing an opponent was much greater than killing them.

“The Lu Family… a Dragon has emerged!”

A Cultivator looked at Lu Ping’an on the spirit beast, his body tall and robust, clad in tattered armor, and said with a dry throat and trembling voice.

They all came from various forces and were aware of Bihu Mountain and Lu Ping’an’s situation.

At such an age and with such strength, he was simply a Flood Dragon emerging from shallow waters!

“I originally thought Lu Wangshu was the hope of the Lu Family in this generation, but I never expected that this Lu Ping’an was hiding so deeply!”

“Lu Changsheng, rising from a live-in son-in-law to this level, was already a person of great Luck. As a result, his son actually surpassed him!”

“Damn it, the Lu Family’s ancestral grave must be glowing with golden light!”

“Lu Changsheng, Lu Ping’an, Lu Wangshu… even if the ancestral grave is prosperous, it needs to rest a bit.”

“And Ling Zixiao, this Lu Family Matriarch, since establishing Bihu Mountain in her early years, has not made a move for so many years. I never expected that her first move would be to ambush a False Core Immortal Master!”

“Quickly send a message back and prepare gifts to visit Bihu Mountain!”

At this moment, everyone sent messages to their respective families.

Some people had already sent messages home earlier.

But now, they found the messages too slow and either crushed emergency communication Talismans or rushed back to their clans directly.

“Big Brother!”

“Big Brother!”

At the Lu Family Merchant Company’s encampment, Lu Ruyi, Lu Lingxiao, Lu Linghe, and others immediately stepped forward and called out upon seeing Lu Ping’an’s return.

They all noticed Lu Ping’an’s chaotic aura and tired expression, knowing that this pursuit of Old Ancestor Sima was not simple.

“I’m fine.”

Lu Ping’an grinned, his hand flowing with magic power, dispelling the dried blood on it, and rubbed his sister Lu Linghe’s head.

Then he looked at Ling Zixiao and said, “Aunt, I did not fail your mission.”

“Ping’an, you’ve worked hard.”

Ling Zixiao looked at Lu Ping’an’s appearance, pursed her red lips, and said softly.

Even though she usually felt indifferent towards most Lu Family disciples, at this moment, she felt that Lu Ping’an was very good.

“Aunt is too kind, this is what I should do.”

Lu Ping’an briefly recounted his process of chasing Old Ancestor Sima.

“You rest well. I have already sent a message to your father, and he will arrive later.”

Ling Zixiao continued.

In this battle, although the Lu Family Merchant Company suffered no deaths, everyone was in poor condition.

So, she planned to return to Bihu Mountain to rest first, to prevent the Sima Family or other forces from coming to intercept them again.

And during this time, the matter between Lu Ping’an and the Sima Family could spread and ferment.

“Father is coming?”

Lu Ping’an was slightly stunned, then nodded, pointing at the unconscious Old Ancestor Sima, and said, “Aunt, his condition is not good now. If he’s not treated, he might die directly or become crippled.”

At the last moment, Old Ancestor Sima truly wanted to self-destruct his Core Formation and perish together.

But fortunately, at the critical moment, the interference of the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet allowed Lu Ping’an to suppress his Qi Sea Dantian with a single punch.

This also led to Old Ancestor Sima’s condition being as bad as it could get, almost at the end of his rope.

“Good.”

Ling Zixiao called a Lu Family disciple to check Old Ancestor Sima’s condition.

This Lu Family disciple was a physician.

After seeing Old Ancestor Sima’s physical condition, he couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“Is this the vitality of a False Core Immortal Master?”

He sighed in his heart.

If it were an ordinary Cultivator, they would have died countless times with such injuries.

Facing this situation, he was completely powerless.

Seeing this, Ling Zixiao gave Old Ancestor Sima a few Medicinal Pills to sustain his life force.

The other party couldn’t die yet.

Once he died, he would be worthless.

After a simple settlement, the merchant company rested in place.

At the same time.

Xuanwu Ridge, Sima Family.

“How could this be? Didn’t the Third Elder go with Old Ancestor? How did his soul tablet shatter?!”

The Sima family head stared at the shattered soul tablet in the ancestral hall, his face extremely grim.

Although his Sima Family had deep foundations,

they couldn’t withstand the death of five Foundation Establishment Cultivators at once.

Moreover, these five Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

The Sima Four Heroes, each of them had the combat power of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

With all four attacking simultaneously, even a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not be their opponent.

The Third Elder Sima Tai, with his Foundation Establishment eighth-layer cultivation, was also one of the Sima Family’s top combat forces.

But now, all of them were dead!

For the Sima Family, such a loss was extremely tragic, a severe blow to their Origin Qi!

“Could Old Ancestor have encountered some danger?”

The Sima family head looked at Old Ancestor Sima’s soul tablet, his brows tightly furrowed, muttering in his heart.

His Third Elder went out with Old Ancestor.

If the enemy wasn’t powerful, they absolutely couldn’t have killed the Third Elder in front of Old Ancestor.

“Investigate! Go quickly and investigate, contact Old Ancestor, and see what happened to the Third Elder!”

The Sima family head didn’t dare to think too much and immediately sent people to contact Old Ancestor, wanting to know what happened to his Family.

Half a day later.

Nine Heavens Gang Wind Layer.

A figure with a rugged face and burly build broke through the Gang Wind Layer, silently descending to the Jiulian Mountain area.

“Hmm?”

This figure was Lu Changsheng, who had rushed over after receiving the message.

Seeing that Ling Zixiao and the others were fine, and many Cultivators around were paying attention, Lu Changsheng found a deserted spot, his face and figure blurred for a moment, restoring his true appearance, which was incomparably handsome, like a banished Immortal.

A moment later, Lu Changsheng, in a green robe, with a tall and slender physique, stood with his hands behind his back on a purple flying shuttle, arriving at the merchant company’s encampment.

“Father!”

“Greetings, Father!”

“Daddy!”

“Greetings, Lu Family Old Ancestor!”

The people resting at the encampment saw Lu Changsheng and immediately called out in surprise, cupping their hands in salute.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng responded with a smile.

He then looked at the dignified and beautiful Ling Zixiao, asking, “Zixiao, what happened here?”

Although he had received a message,

the distance was too great, and the communication Talisman couldn’t convey precise information, so he didn’t know the situation here.

“Lang Jun…”

Ling Zixiao’s aura was also somewhat chaotic, and she softly narrated the general situation.

“Old Ancestor Sima?”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing his wife’s words, and he looked at the unconscious Old Ancestor Sima not far away.

He knew this merchant trip would encounter many obstacles and had made several preparations in advance.

But he didn’t expect it to escalate to the point where a Fake Core Old Ancestor had to appear.

“Ping’an, you’ve worked hard.”

Lu Changsheng let out a light sigh, looked at his son Lu Ping’an, stepped forward, and patted his shoulder, saying.

He was very clear about his son Lu Ping’an’s combat power.

The Hundred Refinements Treasure Body Technique had just broken through the eighth layer.

Fighting a blank slate Fake Core like Jin Zan was no problem.

But facing a Fake Core True Person like Old Ancestor Sima, who possessed Divine Abilities and Magic Treasures, he was not an opponent.

“Ruyi, Xiao’er, you all have worked hard too.”

Lu Changsheng then looked at his other children, speaking gently.

He then looked at Zhou Datong and said, “As long as you do things well, my Lu Family will not treat its own people unfairly.”

“Please rest assured, Lu Family Old Ancestor, this humble one would certainly not have second thoughts.”

Zhou Datong quickly said respectfully.

Originally, he was quite unwilling.

But after seeing Lu Ping’an’s combat power and Ling Zixiao’s methods, he no longer had any second thoughts.

“Let’s handle things as you said, Zixiao. We’ll go back first.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t say much and returned with Ling Zixiao, Lu Ping’an, Lu Lingxiao, and others first.

As for the goods, he let Lu Ruyi and Zhou Datong transport them to the nearest Market.

These storage crates mostly contained supplies, with each crate weighing tens of thousands of catties.

Unless Lu Changsheng used his Core Formation cultivation, there was no way he could transport them all back at once.

However, the storage crates all had Restriction markings, so there was no fear of them being intercepted.

Seeing Lu Changsheng arrive and take Lu Ping’an, Ling Zixiao, and others back, the other scouts and Cultivators who were observing the Lu Family Merchant Company also dispersed, returning to their respective families to relay the news.

Several days later.

A piece of news spread, shaking the entire Qingyun Territory, astonishing countless Family forces and Cultivators.

The Xuanwu Ridge Sima Family sent their renowned Sima Four Heroes to intercept and kill the Lu Family Merchant Company, but all of them were slain by the Lu Family.

Afterward, the Sima Family’s Fake Core Old Ancestor Sima Tong went for revenge.

The Lu Family’s matriarch, Ling Zixiao, directly set up a grand Formation and an ambush, and, teaming up with the Lu Family’s eldest son Lu Ping’an, forced Old Ancestor Sima to self-detonate his Magic Treasure to escape the Formation.

But in the end, he was still suppressed and captured by the Lu Family’s eldest son Lu Ping’an.

This news was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.

Countless people were dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe, discussing it animatedly, thinking it was incredible.

“The Sima Four Heroes, it’s rumored that the four brothers once killed several Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators and repelled a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Even if they couldn’t compare to the core disciples of Immortal Sects, they were still extraordinary. Yet, they were all wiped out by the Lu Family!?”

“The Sima Family’s Fake Core Old Ancestor was even suppressed by the Lu Family! This is simply unbelievable!”

“Even with a Formation ambush, it shouldn’t be possible to achieve such a feat, right!?”

Most people only heard about this battle; they didn’t witness it.

But it still caused a huge uproar, spreading like wildfire, with Cultivators in many small families and Loose Cultivator strongholds discussing it.

Because this news was too astonishing.

They were about to witness the birth of a new Fake Core Family!

And at this very moment.

The Lingxi Xie Family, Dayuan Mountain Yuan Family, Xuanwu Ridge Sima Family, Golden Dragon Ridge Jin Family, and other Fake Core Families, as well as some other Foundation Establishment Families, were all dumbfounded and bewildered upon hearing the reports from their scouts.

“Quasi-third-tier Body Refining!?”

“Third-tier Talismans!”

“Symbol Array techniques!”

They were all incredibly shocked as they listened to the details of the battle between Ling Zixiao, Lu Ping’an, and Old Ancestor Sima.

Although this battle could be said to have had the right time, advantageous terrain, and human harmony, with the Lu Family using every means at their disposal,

regardless, Lu Ping’an’s age and combat power made it impossible for all of them to remain calm.

Even if they didn’t care about Lu Ping’an’s current combat power,

they couldn’t ignore Lu Ping’an’s future potential.

They often claimed that their own Prodigies had the potential for Core Formation, hoping to achieve Core Formation.

But they all knew in their hearts that only one out of ten would ultimately achieve Core Formation!

And the potential Lu Ping’an displayed at this moment was the true potential for Core Formation!

He was already no worse than an Immortal Sect’s true successor!

Even if the Lu Family didn’t have the conditions of an Immortal Sect, as long as they were given enough time to grow, there might be a thirty to forty percent chance of achieving Core Formation.

Once Core Formation was achieved, then the Bihu Mountain Lu Family would be a Core Formation Family!

Fake Core Families, though lofty and called great families,

were like mud compared to Core Formation Families!

Lingxi Lake, Xie Family.

“I didn’t expect Lu Ping’an to have hidden his strength that day. Could it be that the Lu Family deliberately set a trap?”

Xie Ying felt a surge of horror upon hearing this news.

He couldn’t help but feel fortunate that his Family had not fallen out with the Lu Family, and that he hadn’t dealt a heavy blow to the Lu Family Merchant Company at that time.

Otherwise, the three of them might have already become a pile of withered bones.

He immediately looked at his Family head and said, “Family Head, prepare generous gifts. I will go to Bihu Mountain to congratulate them right now!”

Before this, his Lingxi Xie Family, although willing to establish cooperation with Bihu Mountain, still maintained a certain aloofness, waiting for Bihu Mountain to take the initiative to seek an audience.

Now, upon hearing the scout’s news, he immediately dropped his pretense, treating the Bihu Mountain Lu Family as equals, and proactively went to offer congratulations.

Dayuan Mountain, Yuan Family.

“What? Sima Tong was suppressed and captured by the Bihu Mountain Lu Ping’an?”

The Yuan Family head’s expression was one of shock and disbelief upon hearing his scout’s words.

One must know that their Yuan Family not only sent people to intercept and kill the Lu Family Merchant Company, but also participated in the incident at Hongye Valley before.

He immediately called a Family meeting to discuss this matter.

Just as they were discussing, a majestic voice rang out.

“Since the Bihu Mountain has such power, this Old Ancestor will personally go to Bihu Mountain to apologize for the previous incident.”

A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and a steady face, dressed in a purple brocade robe, walked into the deliberation hall and spoke.

“Greetings, Old Ancestor!”

“Greetings, Old Ancestor!”

Everyone in the hall saw this middle-aged man.

He was precisely the Yuan Family’s Fake Core Old Ancestor, Yuan Chengshan.

“This…”

The Yuan Family head, clan Elders, and others looked at each other upon hearing this.

Although the Bihu Mountain Lu Family had Fake Core combat power overseeing them, it shouldn’t warrant their Old Ancestor personally visiting to apologize, should it?

“Now that Bihu Mountain and the Sima Family have completely fallen out, there’s no need for us to get involved in these matters.”

The Yuan Family Old Ancestor said indifferently.

As a large Fake Core Family, his Yuan Family naturally wasn’t afraid of Bihu Mountain.

But the two families only had minor friction, and he wasn’t willing to escalate the matter into a full-blown fight for it.

Wouldn’t it be better to just let Bihu Mountain, the Sima Family, and the Jin Family fight to the death?

Of course, it was also because the Lu Family had truly possessed Fake Core-level combat power and suppressed Old Ancestor Sima that he was willing to lower his stance and go to apologize.

Otherwise, how could a mere Foundation Establishment Family make him, a dignified Fake Core Old Ancestor, go forward to apologize?

“Old Ancestor is wise!”

Everyone in the hall cupped their hands in salute to their Old Ancestor.