Chapter 88: I won’t pretend anymore, I am actually a spirit!

Lu Changsheng naturally didn’t know that the Second Elder had gone to tell the Fourth Elder about his affairs in Nine Dragon Market.

He was still playing with a group of little ones in the courtyard.

His courtyard had now been transformed into something like a kindergarten or a playground.

At this moment, Lu Miaoyun said it was getting late and she should go to White Deer Manor to pick up the children.

A few months prior, the four little ones—Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, Lu Wuyu, and Lu Xile—had been sent to study at White Deer Manor on Qingzhu Mountain.

Therefore, Lu Miaoyun and the others usually went to pick them up.

Hearing that it was time to pick up the children, Lu Changsheng immediately said he would go too.

He, as a father, had never picked up his children from school before.

Immediately, Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun left the house and walked towards White Deer Manor.

Walking along the road, Lu Changsheng also spoke with Lu Miaoyun about his life in Nine Dragon Market.

He had bought many maidservants and had many children.

For one, there was nothing to hide about such matters.

The Family would find out sooner or later.

Secondly, he felt that this matter would likely spread from the Second Elder’s mouth to the Fourth Elder’s ears.

And eventually reach the ears of Lu Miaoyun and the other women.

Since that was the case, it was better for him to tell Lu Miaoyun, his main wife, about it early.

Moreover, the Second Elder had a flying boat that could seat a few more people, and he planned to bring Lu Miaoyun and the other women with him on this trip back to Nine Dragon Market.

Otherwise, coming back once every six months meant being separated for quite a long time.

When they arrived at Nine Dragon Market, Lu Miaoyun and the others would see it anyway, so it was better to tell them beforehand so they could be prepared.

Lu Miaoyun fell silent for a moment when she heard Lu Changsheng say he had found so many maidservants.

However, she didn’t say anything, only pouted playfully and indicated that Lu Changsheng would have to spend a lot of time with them from now on.

“With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?”

Lu Changsheng sighed inwardly.

Although if he truly bought a bunch of maidservants and took a bunch of concubines, Lu Miaoyun wouldn’t have much to say, and saying anything would be useless.

But he still hoped his wives and concubines could understand and accept, making the inner court a bit more peaceful.

Otherwise, if the inner court was constantly filled with jealousy and palace intrigues, it would be exhausting.

And this aspect of Lu Miaoyun was something he particularly liked.

“Husband, Ping’an and the others will also participate in next year’s Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony.”

Lu Miaoyun said softly, holding Lu Changsheng’s arm.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Every year on the second day of the second month, Qingzhu Mountain held a Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony.

It was for all children aged five or six to test their Spiritual Roots.

Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, Lu Wuyu, and Lu Xile were all roughly that age and could participate next year.

But Lu Changsheng knew very well that these four children of his had no Spiritual Roots.

“Yes, I wonder if any of them have Spiritual Roots,” Lu Changsheng said with a slight sigh.

At this moment, a feeling of melancholy welled up in his heart.

He had quite a bit of affection for these children, Lu Ping’an and the others.

“Husband, maybe Ping’an and the others all have Spiritual Roots,” Lu Miaoyun said softly, holding Lu Changsheng’s palm with her five fingers.

She also knew that such a matter was quite cruel for parents.

Once there was no Spiritual Root, the Immortal and mortal realms would be forever separated in the future.

She couldn’t help but think of her son, Lu Yun.

If he also had no Spiritual Root… he could only be sent to the secular world in the future.

“I’m fine. Such things should be left to nature.”

“If they have Spiritual Roots, they can follow me to learn Talismans. If not, they can still live a good life in the secular world.”

Lu Changsheng squeezed his wife’s hand and said with a smile.

He had thought about this aspect many times before and was mentally prepared.

It was just that Lu Miaoyun suddenly brought it up now, and thinking that this day was approaching, he couldn’t help but feel a touch of melancholy.

Just like that, the two walked and chatted, arriving at White Deer Manor.

This manor was not large, about the same size as the estate where Lu Changsheng lived.

Inside, there were also many men, women, and children who came to pick up their children, all of them members of the Lu Family.

“Changsheng, Miao Yun, here to pick up the children?”

“Brother Changsheng, Sister Miao Yun.”

“Changsheng, Sister Miao Yun.”

Some people recognized Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun and greeted them.

Lu Changsheng didn’t recognize many of them.

He had seen some, but didn’t know their names.

Lu Miaoyun, however, recognized most of them and greeted them familiarly.

Not long after, a bell rang within the manor, and many children came out.

They were not very old, mostly five or six, with the older ones being seven or eight.

Because children without Spiritual Roots would be sent away from Qingzhu Mountain by eight or nine years old at the latest.

After all, being born on Qingzhu Mountain and seeing the Cultivation World, but being unable to Cultivate oneself, remaining there would also be a form of cruelty.

“Daddy x4, Mother Yun x4!”

Just then, two boys and two girls, four little ones, saw Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun and shouted.

Then they scurried over on their short legs.

Lu Changsheng’s face immediately broke into a smile when he saw his children, and he went to meet them, then scooped up Lu Wuyou and Lu Xile.

“Did you miss Daddy?”

Lu Changsheng said, taking out prepared candied hawthorns from his Storage Pouch and handing them to them.

“Yes!”

The two little girls replied crisply.

Afterward, Lu Changsheng looked at Lu Ping’an and Lu Wuyu, who were standing somewhat bewildered beside him, and gave each of them a candied hawthorn.

He then took out another one and handed it to Lu Miaoyun.

Because he had many children, Lu Changsheng always bought these candied hawthorns made from spirit fruits in bulk.

Lu Miaoyun’s face broke into a sweet smile when she saw she also had a share, her eyes like crescent moons.

She took the candied hawthorn, ate one herself, then reached out and offered Lu Changsheng a bite.

Just like that, the Family of four, with Lu Changsheng holding two children and Lu Miaoyun leading the other two, walked home.

“What do your teachers teach you now that you’re in school?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

He was quite curious about what the great Confucian scholars hired by the Lu Family usually taught the children.

He was worried that the education within such a Cultivation Family would instill a brainwashing-like education from a young age, making the children loyal to the Family and so on.

Immediately, the children, while eating their candied hawthorns, crisply told Lu Changsheng what they usually learned.

It was mostly children’s enlightenment books, teaching reading and writing, with no brainwashing-like education.

Listening to the children’s narration, Lu Changsheng felt much more at ease.

That night.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

The last time he came home, Lu Miaoyun and Qu Zhenzhen were both pregnant and couldn’t share a bed.

This time, Lu Changsheng naturally had to make up for it.

He also let the two women experience his current Body Refining strength.

The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.

Lu Changsheng heard a knock on the door, saying that the Fourth Elder had come to visit. Only then, with Lu Miaoyun and Qu Zhenzhen’s assistance, did he get dressed and go to the main hall.

“Grandma.”

“Grandma.”

When Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun arrived at the main hall, they immediately saw the Fourth Elder, dressed in a green skirt with black hair and silver temples, holding a baby with a face full of loving kindness.

It was obvious she was holding Lu Yun.

Although the Fourth Elder liked Lu Changsheng, she didn’t love him so much that she would like every one of his children.

She simply had a particular fondness for this great-grandson born to her granddaughter.

“Hehe, it seems Grandma came at an inconvenient time.”

The Fourth Elder looked up and saw the two of them, immediately realizing that her granddaughter and grandson-in-law had probably just woken up, and she teased them.

Lu Miaoyun immediately showed a shy expression upon hearing this.

“Changsheng just returned yesterday and was so busy accompanying his wives, concubines, and children that he forgot to pay his respects to Grandma for a moment. Please forgive him, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng, with a composed demeanor, cupped his hands and said.

He felt that the Fourth Elder’s visit this time was probably not just to see her great-grandson.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had someone notify him and Lu Miaoyun to come over.

“Hehe, Grandma also missed my good great-grandson, and thinking that Changsheng you’ve also returned, I came to visit,” the Fourth Elder said with a chuckle.

She then chatted with Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoyun about some Family matters.

When they had chatted enough, the Fourth Elder looked at Lu Changsheng and said, “Changsheng, you haven’t been back for a while. Let Grandma see how your Talismans are, whether you’ve fallen behind.”

The Fourth Elder said.

This was also the purpose of her visit this time.

After all, the Second Elder’s words yesterday made her feel compelled to come and see what Lu Changsheng’s situation was.

But she wouldn’t directly mention Lu Changsheng’s indulgence in women and having children.

So she used the excuse of checking Lu Changsheng’s Talismans skills to see if he had neglected his Cultivation and Talismans.

If he hadn’t neglected them, that would naturally be for the best.

If he had, she could use that as a reason to admonish him, telling Lu Changsheng not to indulge in women.

“Changsheng also wanted to ask for Grandma’s guidance on this trip back. Please give me your pointers, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng thought, ‘As expected,’ and with a serious expression, he said, vaguely guessing the Fourth Elder’s purpose.

Then he stood up and went to the table, taking out his Talismans tools from his Storage Pouch.

Seeing this, Lu Miaoyun took little Lu Yun from the Fourth Elder’s arms and walked out of the main hall.

To prevent the child from making noise and disturbing her husband while he was drawing Talismans.

When drawing Medium Grade Talismans, Lu Changsheng naturally wasn’t afraid of a child’s noise.

It wouldn’t be a problem for him to hold a child with one hand and draw Talismans with the other.

But in this situation, he definitely couldn’t show off like that.

After Lu Miaoyun left with the child, Lu Changsheng, under the Fourth Elder’s gaze, held the Magical Artifact Talisman brush and began to draw Talismans stroke by stroke.

He was drawing a Medium Grade Talisman, the Earth Escape Talisman.

It was also a Talisman that the Fourth Elder had taught him to draw before.

Before long, Lu Changsheng very steadily and perfectly drew the Earth Escape Talisman successfully.

“Changsheng, your Earth Escape Talisman is already so proficient?”

The Fourth Elder’s face immediately showed surprise and joy after watching Lu Changsheng fluidly complete the Earth Escape Talisman.

Just over four months ago, she had only guided Lu Changsheng in drawing the Earth Escape Talisman.

But at this moment, Lu Changsheng had not only completed the Earth Escape Talisman but had also drawn it so proficiently, with a success rate of seventy to eighty percent.

This greatly surprised and amazed her.

She immediately knew that Lu Changsheng had not been negligent or abandoned the Dao of Talismans in Nine Dragon Market.

“This is also thanks to your guidance, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng smiled shyly and continued, “Grandma, not only have I mastered the Earth Escape Talisman, but after some exploration a few days ago, I’ve also gotten a basic grasp of the Frost Talisman, though I’m still not proficient. I’d like to ask for your guidance, Grandma.”

Since he vaguely guessed the reason for the Fourth Elder’s visit, Lu Changsheng naturally had to put on a show and perform well.

He had been considering before that constantly taking concubines and buying maidservants wasn’t a sustainable situation.

The Lu Family would inevitably have some opinions.

So, he thought about it and came up with a reason and excuse for himself.

“What? You’ve gotten a basic grasp of the Frost Talisman!?”

The Fourth Elder couldn’t help but lose her composure upon hearing this.

Her calm and elegant face, at this moment, had wide eyes and a look of utter shock, gazing at Lu Changsheng with disbelief.

Her gaze was like Duan Yanqing’s when he learned that Duan Yu was his own son, looking at Duan Yu.

“Yes, Grandma, it’s just that I’m not proficient yet,” Lu Changsheng said calmly, observing the old lady’s expression.

He thought to himself if he had overdone his act.

“Alright, draw the Frost Talisman for me to see.”

The Fourth Elder took a deep breath and said.

The Frost Talisman was a Medium Grade Talisman of similar difficulty to the Earth Escape Talisman.

But the problem was that she hadn’t taught Lu Changsheng the Frost Talisman yet.

Just over four months ago, she had only taught Lu Changsheng the Earth Escape Talisman.

In four months, Lu Changsheng had become so proficient with the Earth Escape Talisman, which was already incredibly astonishing.

But now, Lu Changsheng was telling her that not only was he proficient with the Earth Escape Talisman, but he had also, through his own exploration, gained a basic grasp of the Frost Talisman.

How could she not be shocked?

Immediately, under the Fourth Elder’s gaze, Lu Changsheng began to draw the Frost Talisman clumsily.

According to the performance, the first attempt naturally failed.

“When you were drawing, the spiritual Qi wasn’t smooth enough, causing it to disperse a bit,” the Fourth Elder said gently, pointing out the problem.

“Yes, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng nodded and continued to draw.

But he still failed.

The Fourth Elder continued to point out the problems.

But her expression towards Lu Changsheng was already different.

She could tell that Lu Changsheng indeed had a certain level of proficiency with the Frost Talisman.

At this point, Lu Changsheng took out White Jade Hundred Flower Wine, took a sip, and began his third attempt at drawing.

Finally, under the Fourth Elder’s gaze, Lu Changsheng ‘luckily’ succeeded in drawing this Frost Talisman.

“Although you’re still not proficient, it’s clear that your Frost Talisman has indeed reached the basic mastery level,” the Fourth Elder said, looking at the Frost Talisman with extreme joy, yet still a hint of disbelief.

If she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that Lu Changsheng could become proficient with the Earth Escape Talisman in just over four months.

And at the same time, gain a basic grasp of the Frost Talisman.

This Talismans talent was simply…

It completely surpassed Lu Changsheng’s previous performance in Talismans talent.

“Changsheng, how did you do this?”

“I heard from the Second Elder that you’ve been taking many concubines in Nine Dragon Market during this period, and have been somewhat indulging in it…”

The Fourth Elder spoke, somewhat at a loss for words.

She had originally intended to use the inspection of his Talismans skills as an excuse to subtly admonish Lu Changsheng.

But she hadn’t expected that Lu Changsheng’s Talismans skills had not only not fallen behind at all.

Instead, they had unexpectedly surpassed his previous level by far.

This left her somewhat bewildered for a moment.

She even wondered if the Second Elder was lying to her.

Otherwise, how could someone who spent all day indulging in women and having children have so much energy for Talismans?

Hearing the Fourth Elder’s words, Lu Changsheng thought, ‘As expected, the Second Elder told the Fourth Elder about this.’

He was silent for a moment, not speaking.

“It’s fine, as long as your Cultivation and the Dao of Talismans haven’t been neglected.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng’s silence, the Fourth Elder didn’t ask further.

After all, with Lu Changsheng performing so exceptionally in Talismans, what more could she say?

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng gritted his teeth and said, “Changsheng won’t hide it from Grandma, but what I’m about to say, Grandma, you might not believe.”

“I’ve found that after intimacy, drawing Talismans feels incredibly smooth.”

“Even some areas in Talismans that I didn’t understand or hadn’t figured out before, after more intimacy, my thoughts gradually become much clearer, and drawing Talismans becomes effortless.”

Lu Changsheng spoke, saying this.

This was the reason and excuse Lu Changsheng had come up with after some thought.

It was an excuse to explain why his Talismans Dao talent was extraordinary and why he had taken so many wives, concubines, and maidservants to have children.

As for this reason and excuse, it sounded absurd.

But in the Cultivation World, it wasn’t too absurd.

Without mentioning anything else, there was one reason that could perfectly explain what Lu Changsheng said.

Spiritual Physique!

In the Cultivation World, Spiritual Physiques were diverse and varied.

There were ‘Five Elements Spiritual Physiques’ that enhanced Cultivation.

The ‘Chaste Maiden Physique’ beneficial for Dual Cultivation.

The ‘Eradication Poison Body’ for poison Cultivators, the ‘Supreme Sword Bone’ for Sword Cultivators… and so on.

Among these, there were naturally also some Talismans Dao Physiques.

Allowing people to be naturally attuned to the Great Dao of Talismans, making rapid progress in Talismans.

As for a Physique that improved Talismans skills through intimacy, Lu Changsheng didn’t know if such a thing existed.

But the world was so vast, who could say for sure about such things?

Moreover, Spiritual Physiques also had dominant and recessive forms.

The Lu Family was just a Foundation Establishment Family, so it was impossible for them to have too much understanding or research into Spiritual Physiques.

This was also why Lu Changsheng dared to say this and push his situation towards the Spiritual Physique aspect.

As for whether this excuse, feigning a Spiritual Physique, would cause any trouble, Lu Changsheng wasn’t worried.

After all, his situation wasn’t too outrageous.

He just appeared relatively talented in the Dao of Talismans.

The Lu Family wouldn’t possibly do anything to him just because of this.

Perhaps, because of this, his talent and potential would advance further, thereby adding another layer of restraint to him.