Jiulong Market.Jade Feast Pavilion.
Inside a private room, Yu Maocheng was having a meal and drinking wine with Lu Changsheng.
“Brother Lu, the current situation of the Lu Family doesn’t seem too optimistic. Do you have any ideas or plans?”
After drinking three cups of wine, Yu Maocheng spoke up.
“What ideas or plans can I have? This matter is like a heavy burden on my shoulders, and it’s not up to me to worry about it.”
“Why are you mentioning this, Brother Yu? Are you saying that there’s no way out?”
Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, sensing that Yu Maocheng had something on his mind.
Today, Yu Maocheng asked him to drink and came to this private room. He felt that the other party had something to say.
Now he heard it, and he thought it was true.
“What way can I have?”
“It’s just that the Yu Family has taken a liking to you, Brother Lu, and wants me to act as a mediator.”
“If you’re willing to join the Yu Family, they’re willing to marry one of their family’s daughters to you.”
“As for the conditions and treatment, you can negotiate.”
Yu Maocheng took a bite of his food, smiled wryly, and spoke truthfully.
“I, Lu Changsheng, have been with the Lu Family for a long time, and my wife and children are all in the Lu Family. How can I betray my family like this?”
Lu Changsheng waved his hand.
“No need to be polite, Brother Yu. The Yu Family knows that we’re acquainted, so they asked me to act as a mediator. There’s no other meaning to it.”
“I’ll punish myself with a cup of wine.”
Yu Maocheng immediately raised his wine cup and spoke, apologizing.
“I naturally understand.”
Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, not taking it to heart.
He knew that Yu Maocheng was just a mediator.
The Yu Family had asked him to be a mediator, and he couldn’t refuse.
“Very well, I’ll give the Yu Family a reply later.”
“However, Brother Lu, you’ve become a high-grade Talisman master at such a young age, with exceptional talent in the Talisman path. I estimate that the Yu Family won’t give up easily, and they’ll send someone to recruit you again.”
Yu Maocheng spoke, his tone unintentionally laced with envy.
Earlier, when the Yu Family had asked him to be a mediator, he was still a bit surprised.
When he learned that Lu Changsheng was a high-grade Talisman master, he was shocked.
He had thought that Lu Changsheng was only a medium-grade Talisman master.
He didn’t expect Lu Changsheng to have advanced to a high-grade Talisman master.
He was amazed by Lu Changsheng’s talent in the Talisman path and understood why Lu Changsheng could marry and take concubines without the Lu Family saying anything.
Because this kind of status is completely incomparable to a son-in-law from a cultivation family like him.
“Alright, thanks for the reminder, Brother Yu.”
Lu Changsheng nodded, also understanding the implication behind Yu Maocheng’s words.
It meant that the Yu Family would send someone to introduce him to their family members later.
So, this was a heads-up in advance.
“Actually, as a friend, I think you should consider this aspect, Brother Lu.”
“It’s not about betraying the Lu Family, but you should think about your own future.”
“If the Lu Family situation really doesn’t work out, you should think about your own backup plan.”
Yu Maocheng took a sip of wine and spoke.
“This matter, we’ll talk about it later.”
“It’s still too early to discuss this now.”
Lu Changsheng let out a soft sigh.
In his escape plan, he had naturally considered his backup plan.
If the Lu Family really couldn’t hold on, Lu Changsheng planned to take his wives and children and flee to a small town, where they could live in seclusion for a few years.
After a few years, he would reveal his high-grade Talisman master skills and choose to join a powerful organization like the Blue Cloud Commercial Hall.
As for the Yu Family, a cultivation family like that was not in his consideration.
After all, not all cultivation families were as upright as the Lu Family.
He wanted to find a place where he could live comfortably and at ease. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.
Moreover, after what happened with the Lu Family, if he joined a cultivation family in the future, he would definitely not fit in and would be ostracized.
It was better to join a commercial hall or a sect, which would be more relaxed and carefree.
“Yes, there is no rush for this kind of thing.”
“With Brother Lu’s Talisman making skills, he can stand out anywhere.”
Yu Maocheng nodded and didn’t continue to talk about this topic.
Half a month later.
Lu Changsheng was drawing Talismans in the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.
Zhang Shan told Lu Changsheng that Yu Maocheng was looking for him.
“Brother Yu, what’s the matter?”
Lu Changsheng went downstairs and asked Yu Maocheng.
“It’s what I said last time, the Yu Family will send someone to recruit you.”
“Today, the Third Young Master of the Yu Family has come, and I’m here to invite you to meet him.”
Yu Maocheng said.
“The Third Young Master of the Yu Family?”
Lu Changsheng didn’t know this Third Young Master of the Yu Family.
But being called the Third Young Master, he must have a high status in the Yu Family.
“Don’t you want to go and meet him?”
“Even if you don’t plan to join the Yu Family, you can still go and meet him.”
Yu Maocheng said.
After finishing, he lowered his voice and said, “Besides, from what I know, this Third Young Master has a bad reputation, so it’s better not to offend him.”
“Okay, I’ll go with you to meet him.”
Lu Changsheng smiled lightly and nodded.
He knew that if he didn’t go, Yu Maocheng would be in trouble.
Moreover, Yu Family sent a young master here, and it was impossible for him to come here and not see anyone and just leave.
If he didn’t go this time, he would come to find him later, so he might as well meet him.
“I feel like these cultivation families are trying to dig up the roots of the Lu Family.”
Lu Changsheng suddenly thought of the Bai Family’s young master pursuing Lu Miaoge.
It seemed that the Bai Family’s young master didn’t necessarily like Lu Miaoge, but was trying to show sincerity and get Lu Miaoge to join the Bai Family.
“Ah, it’s really like a collapsing wall, and everyone is pushing.”
“Now the Lu Family’s ancestor hasn’t died yet, and it’s already like this. If the Lu Family’s ancestor were to die…”
Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but think to himself.
He felt that the cultivation world was more ruthless than he had imagined.
Soon, Lu Changsheng and Yu Maocheng arrived at the Jade Feast Pavilion’s second floor private room.
The private room was already set up with fine wine and delicacies.
“Friend Lu, nice to meet you.”
A handsome young man with a gentle face, wearing a blue-green robe, looked at Lu Changsheng and nodded.
“I’ve seen Young Master Yu.”
Lu Changsheng also knew that this was the Third Young Master of the Yu Family, and slightly nodded.
“Brother Lu, I still have some matters to attend to, you chat with the Third Young Master.”
Yu Maocheng introduced them and then excused himself.
Now that he had brought Lu Changsheng here, he wouldn’t stay, and bid farewell.
“Okay.”
Yu Ningyuan slightly nodded and gestured for Yu Maocheng to leave.
Then, he made a inviting gesture, asking Lu Changsheng to sit down.
“Friend Lu, please sit.”
“I invited you here today, I’m sure you know the reason. But it’s not urgent, you can just listen.”
“Even if it doesn’t work out, just treat it as a friend and get to know each other.”
Yu Ningyuan smiled and poured wine for Lu Changsheng.
“It’s a fortunate thing to be able to meet someone as talented as Young Master Yu.”
“I’ll drink first.”
Lu Changsheng saw that the other party was being so polite, and naturally wouldn’t offend him, smiling and finishing the wine in one gulp.
“Good wine!” Lu Changsheng exclaimed.
This wasn’t just a polite phrase.
Lu Changsheng didn’t drink much wine, only Jade Bamboo Wine and White Jade Hundred Flowers Wine.
But at this moment, he could clearly feel that this wine far surpassed the Jade Bamboo Wine and White Jade Hundred Flowers Wine he had drunk before.
It was nourishing to his spiritual power and mind, and was likely a top-grade spirit wine.
“Heh heh, this is a specialty spirit wine from Green Lake Mountain, called Baishu Spirit Wine,” Yu Ningyuan said.
“It has a good nourishing effect on the mind, and as a Talisman master, you can drink more of it.”
“If you like it, I have another bottle on me, and you can take it back to try.”
Yu Ningyuan said with a smile.
“Young master Yu is too polite, I don’t deserve such treatment,” Lu Changsheng said, waving his hand.
Seeing this, Yu Ningyuan didn’t push the matter further and started chatting about other topics.
He asked Lu Changsheng about the situation in the Lu Family and his daily life.
He also talked about the current situation in the Yu Family and introduced himself.
If Lu Changsheng didn’t have a system guiding him, he would have been tempted by Yu Ningyuan’s words.
After all, the Yu Family had two Foundation Establishment great masters, and there was a possibility of a third one emerging within ten years.
The overall strength and prospects of the Yu Family far surpassed those of the Lu Family.
If Lu Changsheng was willing to join, his future would be limitless.
After chatting for a while, Yu Ningyuan took out a bottle of spirit wine and three jade boxes, placing them on the table.
The three jade boxes were opened, and inside were a Talisman pen, ten crystal clear medium-grade spirit stones and a high-level breaking pill.
“This is a small token of goodwill from the Yu Family,” Yu Ningyuan said.
“These resources are enough to help you cultivate to the late Qi Refining stage!”
“Moreover, if you’re willing to join our Yu Family, we’re willing to give you one of our daughters as your wife.”
“Once you make sufficient contributions, our Yu Family can even bestow upon you an Advanced Level technique and impart Foundation Establishment insights.”
“I think the Lu Family can’t offer you such benefits, can they?”
Yu Ningyuan said with a faintly confident smile.
Lu Changsheng looked at the spirit wine, talisman pen, ten medium-grade spirit stones, and high-grade breaking pill in front of him, and couldn’t help but feel that the Yu Family was making a big move.
This Talisman pen was an extremely high-quality magical treasure, and with the ten medium-grade spirit stones and one high-grade broken pill, it was equivalent to a value of over three thousand spirit stones.
It was indeed a big move.
He understood that the Yu Family was willing to spend so much because they saw his potential in the Talisman path.
He knew that his future wasn’t just limited to being a high-grade Talisman master, but he could become a second-grade Talisman master.
Otherwise, a high-grade Talisman master wouldn’t be worth the Yu Family’s investment.
Moreover, they would give him a daughter as his wife and bestow upon him an Advanced Level technique.
In a cultivation family like this, the stronger they were, the fewer their direct descendants would marry out.
Like Yu Ningrong, who was married to Yu Maocheng, was only a collateral descendant of the Yu Family.
“I apologize, Young Master Yu, but I, Lu Changsheng, have been in the Lu Family since I was young, and everything I have today is thanks to the Lu Family’s nurturing. I really can’t do something that would betray my family,” Lu Changsheng said with a apologetic smile.
If he were an ordinary cultivator, he would indeed find it hard to refuse such an offer.
After all, it included wealth, a wife, and techniques, as well as the backing of the Green Lake Mountain Yu Family.
Especially the high-grade technique and Foundation Establishment insights, which would be a huge killer move for an ordinary cultivator.
Even though all cultivators knew that their hopes of reaching Foundation Establishment were slim.
But when he heard about Foundation Establishment, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
After all, Foundation Establishment was the dream of countless cultivators!
Even if there was only a slight chance, they would go crazy for it.
As soon as these words were spoken,
Yu Ningyuan’s face, which had a faint smile of confidence, suddenly froze.
He looked at Lu Changsheng with a puzzled expression.
He didn’t expect that Lu Changsheng wouldn’t be tempted by his offer.
He actually refused him!
To think that he had accepted the task, seen the conditions offered by the family, and even expressed doubts.
He felt that the conditions were too good to be true.
It was only after the family told him about Lu Changsheng’s talent in the Talisman path that he reluctantly accepted.
But he never thought that Lu Changsheng would refuse him at this moment.
It was hard for him to understand what was going on.
“Friend Lu, you might not be very clear about the current situation of the Lu Family.”
“I can tell you directly, the Lu Family’s ancestor’s lifespan is only about three to five years from now.”
“And the Lu Family has no way to obtain the Foundation Establishment pill, absolutely no way to produce new Foundation Establishment great masters. Even when they sent people to the Purple Mist Secret Realm, they didn’t gain anything.”
“So in this situation, the Lu Family’s destruction is already predetermined.”
“Why bother…”
Yu Ningyuan spoke up, his tone no longer polite.
However, before he could finish speaking, Yu Ningyuan’s face revealed a look of sudden realization.
He understood why Lu Changsheng refused him.
“I understand, Friend Lu, it must be because of your wife and children, right?”
“Because your wife and children are all in the Lu Family!”
“Don’t worry, if you join my Yu Family, when the Lu Family is destroyed, my Yu Family will step in and do our best to protect your wife and children.”
“And I’ve also heard that you like women, and you’re unhappy if you don’t have a woman by your side. Coincidentally, I’m the same way.”
“If you’re willing to join the Yu Family, I’ll let you enjoy my thirty-six concubines and seventy-two maidservants.”
Yu Ningyuan smiled confidently.
“.”
Lu Changsheng was speechless when he heard this.
He was stunned by this Yu Family’s third young master.
He didn’t know whether to call this Yu Family’s third young master bold or something else.
It was hard to keep up with the other’s train of thought.
“Friend Lu, how about this?”
“In the worst case, I’ll let the children born in the future call you their godfather!”
“Or if you really like them, I can give you a few of them.”
Yu Ningyuan thought he had seen through Lu Changsheng’s thoughts and was confident in his approach.
He also thought that he had made a big sacrifice to get Lu Changsheng to join the Yu Family, and when he returned to the family, the family would definitely reward him well.
“Lu has no intention of betraying the Lu Family for the time being, and I would like to thank Master Yu for the hospitality.”
Lu Changsheng didn’t know what to say.
He felt that he couldn’t communicate with this Yu Family’s young master.
If the other party was still polite and courteous like before, it would be like doing business with a friend.
But this was really hard to deal with, and he didn’t know what to say, so he stood up to leave.
“Lu Changsheng, you…”
Yu Ningyuan looked at Lu Changsheng, who didn’t know what was good for him, and his expression turned slightly angry, wanting to say something.
But thinking that they were still in the city, he ultimately didn’t say anything.
He only let out a cold snort and put the things on the table back into his storage bag.
“Brother Lu, I’m really sorry this time.”
He saw Lu Changsheng walk down the stairs alone.
Yu Maochengg, who was waiting downstairs, also guessed the outcome.
Knowing that the conversation wasn’t very pleasant, he apologized with a bow.
“It’s nothing.”
Lu Changsheng also bowed, didn’t say anything, and left the Jade Feast Pavilion.
“I don’t know if what Yu Family’s Third Young Master said was true or false.”
After leaving the Jade Feast Pavilion, Lu Changsheng thought about the words spoken by Yu Family’s Young Master.
About the current situation of the Lu Family.
He knew that the Lu Family’s situation was not optimistic.
But the Yu Family’s Young Master said that the Lu Family was almost on the verge of collapse.
Even hinting that if the Lu Family’s Patriarch were to die, not only the Hongye Valley Chen Family, but also the Green Lake Mountain Yu Family, would come to divide the spoils.
“Regardless of whether that Yu Family’s Young Master was telling the truth or not, I must make arrangements for my wives and children.”
Lu Changsheng thought to himself.
He wasn’t too concerned about himself, as he had the ability to protect himself.
The main consideration was still the wives and children.
If the Lu Family were to face a crisis, how would he bring all his wives and children to safety?
At this moment, Lu Changsheng clearly understood why most cultivators were solitary.
Because in most cases, being alone and walking the great path was indeed far superior to being burdened with family.
As for himself, it couldn’t be said that he was burdened with family anymore.
It could be considered a small family migration.
However, since he had chosen this path, the path of multiple wives and children, Lu Changsheng naturally wouldn’t complain about the trouble at this time.
Feeling that his wives and children were too many.
“Ah, power, in the end, it’s still a matter of power.”
“If I had Foundation Establishment power, these things wouldn’t be a problem.”
Lu Changsheng let out a light sigh, deeply feeling the importance of power.
His current power was only enough to protect himself.
He was still unable to protect his wives and children.
“I’ll think about the wives’ aspect in two months when I return to Qingzhu Mountain, and see how to arrange it.”
“Rather, I just met that Yu Family’s Young Master, and I should tell the Lu Family about it.”
“Otherwise, if the Lu Family finds out later, who knows what kind of suspicion might arise.”
Lu Changsheng thought to himself.
Like the time the Bai Family’s Young Master pursued Lu Miaoge, and that Yu Family’s Young Master who offered a high price to poach people, he felt that the Lu Family would likely face many such things.
Since he had encountered it, he should still tell the Lu Family about it, to avoid any misunderstandings later on.
After all, it’s just a few words to clarify things.
Night fell.
Lu Changsheng left the Spirit Talisman shop and headed to the Lu Family’s East District mansion.
He paid his respects to the Second Elder and recounted the events of the day.
“Changseng, you have a good heart.”
The Second Elder smiled and patted Lu Changsheng on the shoulder upon hearing his words.
“The Yu Family sent people to poach you, and they must have offered a hefty price. You didn’t budge, which shows that we, the Lu Family, didn’t misjudge you.”
“You can rest assured, our Lu Family has stood tall on Qingzhu Mountain for hundreds of years, and it’s not that easy to bring us down.”
The Second Elder spoke with confidence.
“Second Elder, without the Lu Family, there would be no Lu Changsheng today.”
“I will definitely stand with the Lu Family through thick and thin!”
Lu Changsheng said with determination.
He didn’t care whether the Second Elder’s words were true or false; the Lu Family’s situation was either good or bad.
As long as he was still part of the Lu Family, he had to maintain the proper attitude.
“Good, good, your heart is in the right place, that’s enough.”
The Second Elder nodded in satisfaction and patted Lu Changsheng on the shoulder again.
Meanwhile, in Dream Immortal City…
“Qingzhu Mountain’s Lu Family Patriarch only has a few years left to live.”
Meng Xiaochan received this news, her eyes flickered, showing a thoughtful look.
She then left her cave dwelling and departed from Dream Immortal City.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.
The Yu Family’s Third Young Master’s affair was just a small interlude for Lu Changsheng.
It didn’t have much impact on his life.
He still practiced cultivation every day, crafted talismans, went to work, and helped Xiao Qing with her dual cultivation.
Although he was helping Xiao Qing, he also benefited from it.
After all, this kind of thing was just a hobby, and cultivating happily could still improve his cultivation.
Under his slight control, Xiao Qing didn’t get pregnant.
However, two other maidservants did get pregnant.
Lu Changsheng didn’t pay much attention to it.
After all, he couldn’t just stop having children because the Lu Family’s situation was unfavorable, could he?
These maidservants in Jiulong Market wouldn’t be affected by the Lu Family’s affairs.
On this day…
Lu Changsheng was meditating on the second floor of the Spirit Talisman shop when he suddenly heard an urgent voice.
“Second Master, it’s not good. The first master was seriously injured and is unconscious. She may not be able to survive!”