Chapter 83: Fairy’s practice!
On a thousand-zhang peak covered in lush pines and cypresses, with flying waterfalls and flowing springs, stood palace after palace.
In the magnificent palace at the peak, it was empty save for a stunning woman in a colorful dress, standing gracefully.
“Master.”
Just then, a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and flowing white robes entered the hall.
Looking at the woman in the colorful dress, her beautiful eyes sparkled as she bowed, her voice sweet and gentle.
“Xiyue, you’ve come.”
Seeing her disciple, Yun Wanshang turned around, a hint of a smile gracing her exquisite face.
She looked at Xiao Xiyue and said with a slight hint of authority, “Xiyue, I have already gathered the medicinal ingredients for refining the Hongchen Pill, but I must ask you one more time, have you truly thought it through?”
“With your fourth-grade spiritual root and your Moon Essence Spiritual Physique, even if you don’t cultivate the Grand Forgetfulness Technique, you still have a chance to form a Core in the future.”
Yun Wanshang said this.
Her trip outside to find Purple Spirit Liquid was for her disciple’s cultivation, to refine a pill.
Hearing this, Xiao Xiyue pursed her lips slightly, a serious expression appearing on her bright and peerless face.
Then, looking at Yun Wanshang with determined eyes, she cupped her hands and bowed, saying, “Master, Xiyue has thought it through and will not regret it!”
“Alas.”
Looking at the serious-faced Xiao Xiyue, Yun Wanshang sighed softly in her heart.
She wondered if it was right or wrong to have mentioned the Grand Forgetfulness Technique to this disciple.
This Grand Forgetfulness Technique was a cultivation method she had obtained in a secret realm years ago.
Although profound and powerful, it had obvious side effects.
After cultivating it, one would gradually become indifferent, unmoved by emotions and undisturbed by feelings.
Normally, Xiao Xiyue was lively and clever, which made her very fond of her.
But if she successfully cultivated the Grand Forgetfulness Technique, she would likely become a different person.
However, Yun Wanshang did not try to persuade her further.
She nodded slightly and said, “Alright, since you have decided, I will ask Elder Yun to refine the Hongchen Pill for you.”
With Xiao Xiyue’s talent and aptitude, although she had a chance to form a Core, it was merely a chance.
But if she could successfully cultivate the Grand Forgetfulness Technique, it would be more than just a chance to form a Core.
As long as she didn’t die prematurely, she would definitely achieve Core Formation.
She might even advance further.
This was also the reason why she had given this Grand Forgetfulness Technique to Xiao Xiyue to choose for herself in the first place.
The sky was azure blue, clear and vast.
A black-feathered iron-winged eagle soared in the air.
“This trip was delayed by three or four days, I wonder if I can still make it?”
Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged on the iron-winged eagle, his heart concerned about Lu Miaoyun, who was about to give birth.
According to his original calculation, returning home early should have allowed him to be present for the birth of Lu Miaoyun’s child.
But the ambush halfway and the three days and nights in the cave had delayed him.
Making him unsure if Lu Miaoyun had already given birth.
Just then.
Suddenly.
Lu Changsheng felt a profound and mysterious stirring within him.
This stirring was very familiar to him.
It was the stirring of a spiritual root!
Lu Changsheng suddenly looked into the distance, towards Qingzhu Mountain, his face showing joy and excitement.
At this moment, he seemed to hear the cry of a baby from far away.
“My child… my child is born.”
This profound and mysterious stirring made Lu Changsheng feel a sense of blood connection.
He knew that Lu Miaoyun had given birth, and his child was born.
Moreover, this child did not let him wait in vain, nor disappoint him.
Possessing a spiritual root!
“The stirring brought by this spiritual root enhancement seems to be a bit stronger than the previous two times.”
Lu Changsheng savored the spiritual root stirring from that instant.
Having already had three children with spiritual roots and experienced three enhancements, Lu Changsheng could also sense the subtle differences in the spiritual root enhancements.
He was basically certain of the spiritual roots of the first three children.
One ninth-grade spiritual root, and two eighth-grade spiritual roots.
This child now was very likely to have a seventh-grade spiritual root.
The same as Lu Miaoyun’s spiritual root!
“Hoo!”
At this moment, Lu Changsheng let out a long breath, looking towards Qingzhu Mountain, his heart eager to return home.
More than half a day later.
An iron-winged eagle landed outside Qingzhu Mountain.
Lu Changsheng put the iron-winged eagle back into his spirit beast pouch, took out his identity token, and after entering the valley, he turned into a blur and rushed towards his home.
“Husband!”
“Husband!”
“Daddy, Daddy!”
“Daddy is back!!!”
As soon as Lu Changsheng entered the manor, his wives and concubines in the courtyard and the playing children saw him, their faces lit up with pleasant surprise, and they called out to Lu Changsheng.
“Husband, Sister Yun’er gave birth today, it’s a boy.”
One of the wives stepped forward and said to Lu Changsheng.
“Good, I’ll go see Yun’er.”
Lu Changsheng nodded and quickly walked to a courtyard.
He saw Lu Miaoyun in the courtyard, holding a swaddled baby, her face full of maternal radiance.
Qu Zhenzhen and several wives were watching the child beside her, chatting with her.
“Husband!”
The women were also pleasantly surprised to see Lu Changsheng return.
Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, then said to Lu Miaoyun, “Yun’er, I’m sorry, I encountered some accidents on the way and came back late.”
He had promised Lu Miaoyun before that he would return before the child was born.
Although his plan was to make it, due to the unexpected events, he was still half a day late.
Which made him feel a bit apologetic.
“It’s alright, Husband.”
Lu Miaoyun had just given birth and was still a bit weak, her face slightly pale.
She showed no hint of blame towards Lu Changsheng, and looked at him with concern, asking, “What kind of accident did Husband encounter on the way, was there any danger?”
“I just encountered a few minor rogue cultivators. With the protective talisman given by Grandma, there was no danger.”
Lu Changsheng said with a smile.
“Rogue cultivators!?”
Lu Miaoyun and the other women were all startled when they heard this, showing expressions of lingering fear.
They naturally knew that the cultivation world was very dangerous.
There were many cultivators who bullied the weak, robbed passersby, and killed others for treasures.
These cultivators were called rogue cultivators.
These cultivators who became rogue cultivators all had a certain level of strength and means.
They didn’t expect their husband to encounter rogue cultivators on his way back.
They also knew that their husband’s cultivation level wasn’t high.
He had only recently broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and hadn’t experienced much fighting.
“Husband, it’s too dangerous for you to travel back and forth like this every month.”
“It’s fine with Sister Miaoge here, but if you’re alone in the future, you might encounter danger again.”
“Why don’t you tell Grandma and stop coming home every month, or wait until Second Grandpa comes home and you can come back with him.”
Lu Miaoyun said with a hint of worry on her face.
Lu Changsheng felt a warmth in his heart when he heard this.
He also had the same idea in his heart regarding this incident.
He was thinking of bringing Lu Miaoyun, Qu Zhenzhen, and the other women to Jiulong Market.
Otherwise, running back and forth between the two places every month might still be dangerous.
Although he now had a cultivation base of the sixth level of Qi Refining, and by then he would be able to draw some high-grade talismans to carry on him, not fearing ordinary rogue cultivators.
But what if he encountered a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator?
What if he encountered this kind of unexpected situation again?
What if his peach blossom luck turned into a peach blossom calamity?
Therefore, for safety’s sake, Lu Changsheng decided to try his best not to travel back and forth between the two places anymore.
He would just stay safely at Jiulong Market.
“We’ll talk about this later, let me see our child.”
Lu Changsheng smiled, planning to talk to the Fourth Elder about this later.
Then he looked at the child in Lu Miaoyun’s arms.
Since he and Lu Miaoyun were both cultivators.
This child was also noticeably cuter and better looking.
His two eyes were round and black, his skin smooth and fair, not red and wrinkled.
Holding the child in his arms, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but smile.
He could clearly feel that he would be more fond of this child.
“Indeed, how can one truly treat everyone equally? There will always be favoritism and preference.”
Lu Changsheng sighed inwardly.
He had known for a long time that when he had many children, he couldn’t treat them all equally and impartially.
It was fine with the first few children like Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, Lu Wuyu, and Lu Xile.
But as the children gradually increased, besides the few children he was usually fond of, he would clearly show more preference towards the children with spiritual roots.
“Husband, please give this child a name.”
At this time, Lu Miaoyun looked at Lu Changsheng, who was holding the child with a happy face, and said softly.
“Name?”
Lu Changsheng heard this, thought for a moment, and smiled, “Let’s call him Lu Yun.”
“Yun has the meaning of extraordinary ambition, broad-mindedness, and a great future, and it has the same pronunciation as your Yun’er.”
Now that he had many children, naming them was also difficult.
Therefore, Lu Changsheng was relatively more casual when it came to naming his children.
“Lu Yun.”
When Lu Miaoyun heard this name, her beautiful eyes immediately sparkled with a hint of brilliance, and her eyes looking at Lu Changsheng were full of tenderness and affection.
Then she smiled at the child in the swaddle and said, “From now on, you will be called Lu Yun, Yun’er.”
“From now on, Husband will not only have a big Yun’er but also a little Yun’er.”
A wife nearby saw this and teased.
“What little Yun’er and big Yun’er, in my heart, there is only this one Yun’er.”
Lu Changsheng immediately hugged Lu Miaoyun, who was beside him, and said.
Hearing this, Lu Miaoyun immediately showed a shy expression, leaning sweetly into Lu Changsheng’s arms, causing the wives nearby to giggle and envy her.
Just like this, Lu Changsheng stayed with Lu Miaoyun, Qu Zhenzhen, and the group of wives.
It wasn’t until the next day that he had free time.
He came to the study and began to meditate and cultivate.
To see how much his cultivation speed had increased after the spiritual root enhancement from this son.
After cultivating for an hour.
Lu Changsheng could perceive that his cultivation speed had increased by about two tenths.
This also confirmed to him that his son had a seventh-grade spiritual root!
“The cultivation speed of a seventh-grade spiritual root is about 30% faster than an eighth-grade spiritual root, and it’s also easier to break through bottlenecks!”
“As long as this child grows up a bit and his spiritual root fully develops, my spiritual root will also rise to the seventh grade!”
“If the child that Zhenzhen is carrying, due to be born next month, also possesses a spiritual root, perhaps my spiritual root can directly advance to the seventh grade!”
“At that time, it will be much easier for me to break through the bottleneck from Qi Refining Layer Six to Qi Refining Layer Seven. Otherwise, I don’t know how long it would take to break through from the mid-stage to the late-stage of Qi Refining.”
Lu Changsheng’s eyes flickered, filled with anticipation.
He had just cultivated for an hour, but his Qi Sea Dantian barely showed any movement.
This made him sigh inwardly at the difficulty of breaking through from the mid-stage to the late-stage of Qi Refining.
Thinking back to when he was stuck at the bottleneck from Qi Refining Layer Three to Qi Refining Layer Four for over a year.
The bottleneck from the mid-stage to the late-stage of Qi Refining would only be harder, probably taking three to five years to grind through.
However, Lu Changsheng was already very satisfied.
If it weren’t for this wave of ‘Peach Blossom’ opportunities, he wouldn’t know how long it would take him to break through from Qi Refining Layer Four to Qi Refining Layer Six.
It was just that having experienced breaking through from Qi Refining Layer Four to Qi Refining Layer Six in just three days, Lu Changsheng really felt a bit reluctant to put in effort.
He greatly missed the wonderful and enchanting three days and three nights.
“If I could have kept going for ten days to half a month back then, would I have been able to directly reach the peak of Qi Refining?”
Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but think.
But he knew it was impossible just by thinking about it.
Not to mention that the other party wouldn’t be willing, this kind of advancement shouldn’t be that simple either.
“Hiss, Lu Changsheng, Lu Changsheng, how can you have such thoughts?”
As soon as this thought appeared, Lu Changsheng immediately felt a bit degenerate.
“Even if I increase my strength and break through realms through this method, what difference does it make?”
“If I advance like this, my state of mind, methods, and strength won’t match this cultivation realm, leading to an unstable foundation!”
“Only by relying on my own efforts, taking one step at a time, being down-to-earth, having many children and much fortune, and improving myself, is the true path!”
“Everything else is fleeting clouds. Only by marrying wives and concubines, having children, and steadily improving myself can I reach the end!”
Lu Changsheng immediately reflected on himself, discarded the thought of taking the wrong path in his mind, strengthened his belief, and adhered to the policy of ‘many children and much fortune’, relying solely on his own efforts to improve!
“Phew, don’t forget your original intention, and you will reach your destination. You must remember your true heart!”
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
Afterward, he took out his talisman-making tools, preparing to try drawing top-grade talismans!
The biggest problem preventing him from drawing high-level talismans before was his cultivation.
Now, with his cultivation having broken through to the peak of Qi Refining Layer Six, this aspect was also easily resolved.
He laid out the talisman paper, held the artifact talisman brush, and gently dipped it in spiritual ink.
Then, the spiritual energy flowing through his palm passed into the talisman brush, causing spiritual light to surge at the tip.
The tip descended, moving like a dragon or snake, the brushstrokes inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy, flowing like moving clouds and flowing water, without any stagnation.
After a moment, Lu Changsheng lifted his hand.
There were arcs of lightning emanating from the talisman paper on the table.
A Tier 1 High-grade talisman, the Lightning Drawing Talisman, was complete!
Before, Lu Changsheng found drawing the Lightning Drawing Talisman somewhat strenuous.
He had to be extremely focused and careful during the process to avoid failure.
But now, it was as easy as eating and drinking water.
“With my current cultivation at Qi Refining Layer Six, I can draw about three or four high-grade talismans in one go.”
Lu Changsheng sensed the consumption of spiritual energy within his body and muttered to himself.
Before, drawing just one Lightning Drawing Talisman would leave him feeling completely drained.
Immediately after.
Lu Changsheng took out another piece of talisman paper and began to draw a Tier 1 Top-grade talisman - the Lightning Flash Talisman!
When drawing the Lightning Flash Talisman, a few more traces of seriousness and concentration appeared on Lu Changsheng’s face.
The talisman brush inhaled and exhaled spiritual energy, slowly outlining lines and patterns on the talisman paper, with spiritual light patterns flickering.
However, before even completing half of the outline, the talisman paper suddenly made a ‘hiss’ sound and emitted green smoke.
“My cultivation suddenly broke through to the peak of Qi Refining Layer Six, and I haven’t fully familiarized myself with it yet. My control is still a bit lacking.”
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
He immediately knew where the problem lay.
One was that the mid-grade artifact talisman brush was still a bit insufficient for drawing top-grade talismans.
Second, his control over spiritual energy was not enough.
So, the combination of these two problems led to excessive spiritual energy during the recent outlining and turning process, causing the patterns to be unstable, resulting in the failure to create the talisman.
However, these were not problems. He just needed to familiarize himself with it a bit.
Sensing the spiritual energy within his body, Lu Changsheng didn’t continue making talismans.
He planned to try drawing top-grade talismans later, after his spiritual energy and mental state recovered.
With his cultivation at Qi Refining Layer Six, drawing top-grade talismans was not a problem.
But he could only draw about one at a time; it was impossible to draw them consecutively.
Having just finished drawing one high-grade talisman and half of a top-grade talisman, it was quite draining for him, and he needed to rest.
Moreover, this kind of thing was not urgent.
Lu Changsheng went out, preparing to go to the Fourth Elder’s residence to discuss the matter of him commuting between two places.
However, as soon as he went out, he learned that the Fourth Elder had already come to his house to visit her great-grandson.
Immediately, Lu Changsheng went to the backyard.
He immediately saw the Fourth Elder holding his son, Lu Yun, with a face full of loving kindness, chatting and laughing with Lu Miaoyun.
“Grandma.”
Lu Changsheng stepped forward and bowed slightly.
“Changsheng, you’re here.”
The Fourth Elder nodded towards Lu Changsheng and said, “I just heard from Yun’er that you encountered rogue cultivators on your way back this time?”
“Yes, but thanks to the talisman you gave me, Grandma, Changsheng did not suffer any mishaps.”
Lu Changsheng replied.
“Grandma was just thinking, it is indeed easy to encounter danger if you travel back and forth alone like this.”
“Even with a talisman for protection, it’s not safe enough.”
“So Grandma was thinking, why don’t you stop going to Jiulongfang City? Grandma will find someone else to manage the talisman shop there, and you can just stay at home with peace of mind.”
The Fourth Elder spoke, saying this.
She had sent Lu Changsheng to Jiulongfang City to manage the shop, also hoping for him to gain experience and learn something.
But if something were to happen on the way back and forth, it would be a loss outweighing the gain.
Therefore, she would rather Lu Changsheng stay in Qingzhu Mountain all day and not go out.
Lu Changsheng was a bit stunned upon hearing this.
He had thought the Fourth Elder would tell him not to come back every month.
He didn’t expect the Fourth Elder to directly tell him to stay in Qingzhu Mountain and not go out.
If it were before, he naturally wouldn’t mind.
He would just stay in Qingzhu Mountain and lie low.
But now, having tasted the convenience and benefits of Jiulongfang City, he was more inclined to stay low in Jiulongfang City in the long term.
Otherwise, if he stayed in Qingzhu Mountain all day, he would lose the ability to purchase materials for the Hundred Refinements Body Tempering Art, talisman-making materials, earn spirit stones, or find women.
“Grandma, Changsheng still wants to go to Jiulongfang City and gain some experience outside.”
“However, I plan to bring Yun’er and the others to Jiulongfang City later. When I come back, I will return with the Second Elder.”
Lu Changsheng expressed his thoughts.
Yesterday, he had also heard from Lu Miaoyun that the Second Elder would return every once in a while.
“That works too. With your talent in talisman making, Grandma doesn’t have much more to teach you, and you don’t need to come back every month.”
“As for Yun’er, you and your wife can discuss it yourselves. Returning with the Second Elder is also fine.”
“The Second Elder comes back about every six months, which is sufficient.”
The Fourth Elder pondered for a moment and nodded.
She could also understand Lu Changsheng’s thoughts.
After all, a young man in his twenties wouldn’t want to stay cooped up in Qingzhu Mountain all day.
Immediately after, Lu Changsheng finished chatting with the Fourth Elder and then chatted with Lu Miaoyun, Qu Zhenzhen, and the others.
He also confirmed the subsequent arrangements.
He would stay at home this trip until Qu Zhenzhen gave birth before returning to Jiulongfang City.
As for Lu Miaoyun and Qu Zhenzhen, they were not in a hurry to go to Jiulongfang City.
They would first recuperate and take care of the children in Qingzhu Mountain.
Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, and Lu Wuyu, this batch of children, were also recently sent by Lu Miaoyun to study at Bailu Mountain Villa.
If they all left, there would be no one to look after the many children at home.
Just like that, Lu Changsheng stayed in Qingzhu Valley, waiting for Qu Zhenzhen to give birth.
During this time, Lu Changsheng also tested the waters a bit, seeing the effect of the Hundred Refinements Body Tempering Art.
He could only say, it truly lived up to its reputation as a genuine body tempering cultivation method.
Just the first layer, with a physical body comparable to an artifact, allowed him to ‘attend’ to ten women in one night!
This made him think about when he could get another cultivation method that cultivates the internal organs.
Preferably one that could turn his kidneys into an eternal furnace!
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
On this day, Lu Changsheng was feeding the Nine Nether Mastiff in the courtyard.
The Nine Nether Mastiff was now over a meter tall, its fur was black and shiny, its fangs were sharp and interlocked, and the vertical pupil on its forehead was captivating.
Lu Changsheng felt that in a few more years, anyone would be able to see the extraordinary nature of the Nine Nether Mastiff.
His previous thought of releasing the Nine Nether Mastiff to let it grow outside might truly need to be considered.
Just then, Qu Zhenzhen suddenly cried out in pain, indicating that she was about to give birth.