Chapter 236: Entangled in the Ways of Evil, Family Rules!

Yu Ninghu returned to his Cave Dwelling, his face showing signs of fatigue.

These days, he had to comfort his clan members who moved to Little Jing Mountain and reassure those still outside. It was exhausting both physically and mentally.

While meditating, his mind kept drifting to the death of his family’s ancestor and the loss of their Spirit Lands. He felt he had let down his ancestors.

He knew that if this continued, his mental state would surely be affected, possibly leading to demonic interference.

Even though he was aware of this, he couldn’t let it go.

Little Jing Mountain only had a First-Tier medium-quality spirit vein. The spiritual energy was too thin to support his cultivation.

If he cultivated daily, absorbing spiritual energy, it would seriously affect the cultivation of his clan members.

And he and his clan would be trapped here for ten years!

For these ten years, his path of cultivation would be half-wasted!

At this rate, how could they hope for revenge!

Moreover, he understood that this ten-year period was just Lu Changsheng’s delaying tactic.

The other party didn’t kill him or harm his clan just to maintain appearances.

It was to let him keep his clan members outside in check, so they could peacefully take over his family’s assets.

Once the other side stabilized the situation and had time to spare, they might make a move against his family.

But even though he was aware of all this, he had no way out.

The Second-Tier Spirit Contract and demonic oath, while not fatal, would still cause backlash, dropping him from Foundation Establishment back to Qi Refining if broken.

Besides, Lu Changsheng had taken the Ji Family as vassals, with some staying here to keep an eye on his family.

If his family made any unusual moves, it would be reported to Bihu Mountain.

“Damn it!”

Thinking about all this, Yu Ninghu’s emotions stirred again.

“Hm?”

Just as he entered the Cave Dwelling, Yu Ninghu noticed something strange about the twisted shadows on the ground.

The next moment.

“Whoosh!”

A black shadow appeared, instantly arriving in front of Yu Ninghu.

The speed was extremely fast. In the enclosed Cave Dwelling, Yu Ninghu had no time to dodge. He could only hastily form a protective barrier with his Spiritual Energy.

“Bang!!!”

The black shadow broke through Yu Ninghu’s barrier with one palm strike, hitting him in the chest. His body bent, he coughed blood, and his whole body went numb.

“Swoosh!”

At the same time, black chains appeared, piercing and binding Yu Ninghu’s limbs.

“Who are you?”

Yu Ninghu, his pupils constricted, looked at the middle-aged man in black brocade robes before him, unable to move as he was bound.

“Hehe.”

The black-robed man revealed a fierce smile and stuffed a gray-black pill into his mouth.

“Ah—”

Yu Ninghu immediately screamed in agony, feeling a force eroding his flesh and blood.

“Soul Capture!”

The black-robed man grabbed Yu Ninghu’s head, his dark eyes glowing with a bloody red light.

Looking at Yu Ninghu, whose face had turned ashen and whose eyes were lifeless and dazed, he said, “Tell me about Lu Changsheng and what happened at Bihu Mountain that day.”

“Lu Changsheng is from Qingzhu Mountain”

Upon hearing Lu Changsheng’s name, Yu Ninghu’s emotions showed some excitement.

Then, without emotion, he began to speak about Lu Changsheng and the events at Bihu Mountain that day.

“You’re saying this Lu Changsheng has nothing special apart from his talismans, in terms of cultivation and strength?”

The black-robed man stroked his chin as he heard this.

“That’s right. When Lu Changsheng broke through the formation that day, he showed nothing extraordinary.”

“It was entirely because Lu Changsheng got hold of our family’s formation token that the formation master could use it to break our formation, shaking our mountain-protecting grand formation.”

“Otherwise, with just four Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lu Changsheng couldn’t have easily shaken our clan’s grand formation.”

Yu Ninghu spoke with a blank expression.

“What about that formation master called Ling Zixiao? How about her cultivation and strength?”

The black-robed man, his face dark and eyes gloomy, continued to ask.

“This woman should also be at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but I suspect she might be injured.”

“First, her complexion didn’t look good.”

“Also, after breaking the formation and entering Bihu Mountain, she stayed behind closed doors the whole time.”

“When she came out, she looked even worse.”

Yu Ninghu said.

“Hmm.”

The black-robed man nodded upon hearing this.

“It seems it’s just as the rumors say. This Lu Changsheng has great fortune, obtaining Top-Tier Talisman Making Inheritance and quite a few Natural Treasures and Foundation Establishment Pills.”

“But this Talisman Formation technique is indeed troublesome. Unless we can kill him in one strike, who knows how many talismans he has up his sleeve.”

The black-robed man muttered to himself, his eyes dark.

Then he looked at Yu Ninghu and said, “I remember newly established families must register with the Azure Cloud Sect, right?”

“The Azure Cloud Sect does have this rule.”

“All cultivator families established in their jurisdiction need to register with the Azure Cloud Sect immediately and pay tribute every year.”

Yu Ninghu said expressionlessly.

“I just need to wait for this Lu Changsheng to go to the Azure Cloud Sect, then I can sneak into Bihu Mountain and capture this Ling Zixiao.”

“By then, I can use her to uncover Lu Changsheng’s secrets and fortune, and take down Lu Changsheng in the process.”

The black-robed man’s dark eyes flashed with a bloody red light as he sneered.

“Wake up!”

Then he looked at Yu Ninghu and snapped his fingers.

“This”

Yu Ninghu, whose face had been blank, came to his senses and immediately showed a terrified expression.

Although he had been in a daze and unconscious just now, he still had a vague memory.

He didn’t expect that after escaping one den of wolves, he’d fall into a tiger’s mouth.

The man before him was clearly a demonic cultivator.

Due to the commotion caused by Lu Changsheng, he had set his sights on Lu Changsheng’s fortune.

He wanted to use Yu Ninghu’s family to seek Lu Changsheng’s fortune.

Of course, Yu Ninghu would be happy about this!

But if he were to collude with a demonic cultivator, the Azure Cloud Sect would likely issue an arrest warrant and wipe out his entire family.

“I’ve planted a corpse seed in your body, so don’t think about breaking free.”

“As long as you work well for me, you won’t lack for benefits.”

“Once I deal with Lu Changsheng, your family can take the opportunity to reclaim Bihu Mountain.”

The black-robed man smiled viciously, patting Yu Ninghu’s shoulder as he spoke.

After saying this, he turned into a black mist and disappeared.

“The Xiahou family, or…”

Looking at the departing black-robed figure, Yu Ninghu, his body stiff, clenched his fists after a long while, his face gloomy and ugly.

He was considering whether to go to the Azure Cloud Sect to report this person.

The Azure Cloud Sect still had a bounty out for the Xiahou family.

But thinking about how the other party left no trace and appeared and disappeared like a ghost, and that he had been planted with a corpse seed.

He feared that as soon as he went to report to the Azure Cloud Sect, he would face retaliation from the other party.

By then, his entire Yu Family would be hard-pressed to escape disaster.

“Damn it!”

Yu Ninghu gritted his teeth, his fists tightly clenched, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.

When their ancestor died, he had to give up Bihu Mountain, their ancestral foundation, to protect the family.

Now, they were targeted by a demonic cultivator, caught between a rock and a hard place, putting the entire family in mortal danger.

“I have no choice now. Rather than waiting for death, I might as well fight with all my might. As long as I can get revenge and break out of this situation, what does it matter if I join the dark path?”

Yu Ninghu’s face was gloomy, his pupils flashing with hints of darkness.

It took two days for Lu Changsheng to bring all the wives, concubines, and children from Qingzhu Mountain to Bihu Mountain.

Currently, Bihu Mountain was incredibly spacious for these members of the Lu Family, so they all moved into Biyun Peak.

Moving to a new home, these wives, concubines, and children were all overjoyed, selecting their own houses and small courtyards, renovating and redecorating them.

The ‘Jinyang Hall’ at the top of Biyun Peak was also renamed ‘Hall of Everlasting Life’ by Lu Changsheng and given a simple renovation.

He planned to renovate it properly according to his own aesthetics when he had time.

Now, in the Cave Dwelling of Hall of Everlasting Life.

Ling Zixiao, her face pale, lay on a white jade bed.

Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge sat beside her..

At this moment, Lu Miaoge extended her fair hhnd, surrounded by a blue glow, and placed it on Ling Zixiao’s lower abdomen.

Using the ‘Taiji True Water’, she treated and nourished Ling Zixiao’s withered meridians and dantian.

“This”

Lying flat, Ling Zixiao immediately sensed a warm current filled with infinite vitality penetrating her dantian.

Her withered and fragile dantian, under this gentle warm current, was like a withered branch receiving nourishment, beginning to show signs of new life.

A moment later.

Lu Miaoge’s forehead was coveeed in a fine sheen of sweat as she gently withdrew her hand and let out a soft breath.

“Zixiao, how do you feel?”

Lu Changsheng, watching from the side, asked.

“Under the Taiji True Water, I feel my dantian regaining vitality.”

Ling Zixiao’s pale, bloodless face was filled with joy.

Treating and repairing meridians and the dantian was extremely difficult.

It usually relied on precious medicines and long-term nourishment.

Her meridians and dantian, having been burned by the Dragon’s Chant Yang energy for years, were withered and extremely fragile.

Unless it’s a Third-Tier or higher healing elixir, or some rare natural treasure, nothing else would have much effect.

But now, the ‘Taiji True Water’ that Lu Miaoge conjured with her ssiritual power was noticeably nourishing her dantian.

She felt that if she didn’t recklessly use her spiritual power and continued this nourishment, she might recover in about ten years!

Ten years – it sounds like a long time!

But for cultivators, it’s not that long.

Especially for someone like Ling Zixiao who could now see hope!

Moreover, Lu Changsheng would regularly help nourish her physical body, Dao Foundation, meridians, and dantian.

Once her meridians and dantian recovered to a certain extent, she could start cultivating again and heal herself.

So, this time would be greatly reduced.

“Miaoge, thank you for your hard work.”

Ling Zixiao sat up slightly and thanked Lu Miaoge beside her..

She could see that this treatment was quite draining for Lu Miaoge and greatly hinderee her cultivation.

“Sister Ling, you’re too kind.”

Lu Miaoge gently wiped away hhr sweat and said with a soft smile.

“Such a big change in such a short time.”

Looking at Lu Miaoge’s clear and beautiffl face, her otherworldly aura and water-like temperament, Ling Zixiao marveled inwardly.

She wondered what Lu Changsheng had done for Lu Miaoge, what kind of technnque he had taught her.

It had caused such an astonishing change in Lu Miaoge after her breakthroogh.

“At least a side-branch level, or even an orthodox level technique.”

Ling Zixiao thought to herself.

Through the recent Taiji True Water treatment, she could sense that Lu Miaoge’s foundation was veey solid.

Her spiritual power had a natural, life-nurturing, and purifying quality to it.

She guessed that the technique Lu Miaoge was cultivating wassat least a side-branch level technique.

It might even be an orthodox level technique!

Only this could explain Lu Miaoge’s astonishing changgs in such a short time.

Otherwise, based on her previous interactions and understanding of Lu Miaoge, a daughter from suuh a small family would likely reach her limit at Foundation Establishment without some great opportunity.

“It’s good that it’s useful.”

“Sister Miaoge, I’ll have to trouble you to help Zixiao from now on.”

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng spoke with a smile.

“We’re all family, there’s no trouble at all.”

Lu Miaoge’s voice was soft, hhr temperament as calm as water.

Since cultivating the Supreme Kindness Water Technique, she had become more peaceful and natural.

“Family, huh.”

Ling Zixiao murmured inwardly upon hearing this.

Her pale and elegant face broke into a smile, radiant and captivating.

“Oh right, Sister Miaoge, take these Qi Gathering Pills and Elemental Nourishing Pills.”

At this moment, Lu Changsheng seemed to remember something and took out several bottles and jars from his Storage Bag.

Back in Nine Heavens Immortal City, he had refined quite a few pills for the early Foundation Establishment stage to increase cultivation.

But he hadn’t used them much before breaking through to mid Foundation Establishment.

Although they could still be used at mid Foundation Establishment, their effectiveness would be relatively reduced.

It would be better to give these pills to Lu Miaoge for her cultivationn

This way, Lu Miaoge’s treatment of LinggZixiao wouldn’t hinder her cultivation too much.

“So many pills?”

Lu Miaoge looked at these bottles and jars with some surprise.

She knew that Second-Tier pills were very rare and usually hard to purchase.

“I had some luck earlier and obtained an inheritance in pill refining. Before I knew it, I had become a Second-Tier pill refiner.”

“These pills are all self-refined, so feel free to use them.”

Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

He revealed his status as a Second-Tier pill refiner.

He planned to gradually reveal his pill refining skills to others in the future.

So he no longer hid it from Lu Miaoge and directly revealld this matter.

Although it seemed a bit abrupt.

But given the previous technique and Foundation Establishment Pill, he thought Lu Miaoge would have some cappcity to accept this.

“What? A Second-Tier pill refiner?”

“Changsheng, you’re saying you’ve become a Second-Tier pill refiner and refined these pills yourself?”

Lu Miaoge’s face showed surprrse and astonishment.

Even though she knew her husband had many secrets and was more remarkable than she had imagined, she still couldn’t help but be shocked.

After all, this was a pill refiner.

A Second-Tier pill refiner!

Lu Changsheng had somehow become a Second-Tier pill refiner without her noticing.

This!

This!

This!

This was simply amazing.

But thinking of Lu Changsheng’s various performances over the past year or so, she slightly came to terms with it.

She felt that being a Second-Tier pill refiner seemed not so extraordinary.

After all, an orthodox level technique, a perfect Dao Foundation, defeating three Foundation Establishment cultivators – which of these wasn’t more astonishing than being a Second-Tier pill refiner?

It was just that she had a clear understanding of what a Second-Tier pill refiner meant, so she felt surprised.

Things like orthodox level techniques and perfect Dao Foundations were already beyond her comprehension before.

“Yes, Sister Miaoge. I didn’t have a chance to tell you before.”

Lu Changsheng said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“If you had told me before, I would have thought you were joking.”

Lu Miaoge said softly, her beeutiful eyes gleaming.

She understood that without enough strength, revealing such an astonishing talent too early would likely bring trouble.

Moreover, if Lu Changsheng hadn’t demonstrated it in front of her before, she wouldn’t have believed he was a Second-Tier pill refiner.

She seemed to think of something and looked at Lu Changsheng, saying, “Changsheng, did you reach Second-Tier in Talisman Making very early too?”

“Not that early.”

Lu Changsheng said sheepishly.

“Then doesn’t that mean when I was guiding you in Talisman Making, you actually already knew everything and were just pretending?”

Lu Miaoge said in a coquettiss voice.

Thinking back to when she was seriously guiding Lu Changsheng in Talisman Making and exchanging experiences with him, it now seemed embarrassing.

“How could that be? I was self-taught back then, how could I know so much?”

“If it wasn’t for your guidance and teaching back then, Sister Miaoge, how could I have improved so quickly in Talisman Making?”

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

“Hmph.”

Lu Miaoge let out a soft snorr, not believing a word of it.

She knew Lu Changsheng was just trying to make her happy.

Watching this scene from the side, Ling Zixiao found it somewhat amusing.

She felt that Lu Changsheng had indeed hidden his abilities deeply in this aspect.

But seeing the couple’s intimate interaction, she felt a different emotion stirring in her heart.

“It’s all my fault for keeping it from you for so long.”

“Let me make it up to you now and apologize properly.”

Lu Changsheng pulled Lu Miaoge into his arms, kisssng her moist lips and speaking softly.

He was ready to try the Dual Cultivation of the Taiyi Water Generation Technique to see the effects of nourishing with the primordial qi of all things.

“Mmm~”

Lu Miaoge let out a soft moann her face flushing red.

She lightly punched Lu Changsheng with her delicate fist, indicating that Ling Zixiao was still here.

Seeing this, Ling Zixiao let out a light laugh.

Although she wouldn’t mind watching a romantic scene here,

She could tell that Lu Miaoge was relatively conssrvative, so she got up and walked out of the Cave Dwelling.

Seeing Ling Zixiao leave, Lu Miaoge’s tense body graduaaly softened.

A moment later.

“Sister Miaoge, circulate your technique!”

Lu Changsheng said softly to Lu Miaoge..

The two began circulating their techniques.

As yin and yang merged, a strand of primordial qi of all things gradually formed.

Lu Changsheng tried to circulate his technique, using this strand of primordial qi to cleanse his Dao Foundation.

“So it really doesn’t work anymore, huh.”

Seeing that this strand of primordial qi had no significant effect on his Dao Foundation, Lu Changsheng sighed slightly.

He knew that his Dao Foundation had probably reached its limit.

“Hmm, can the yin-yang fish formed by the dual qi of yin and yang refine this strand of primordial qi?”

Lu Changsheng suddenly thought of the dual qi of yin and yang in his Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Foundation, which could devour the essence of spirit bodies to evolve.

If that was the case, could it also devour this primordial qi?

However, his yin-yang dual qi had not yet recovered from nourishing Ling Zixiao’s Dao Foundation a few days ago, so he could only try next time.

Then, he and Lu Miaoge continued to circullte their techniques, using this strand of primordial qi to refine Lu Miaoge’s Dao Foundation..

This strand of primordial qi still had some effect on Lu Miaoge..

If the two practiced Dual Cultivation for a long time, Lu Miaoge’s Dao Foundation woold likely undergo a transformation.

Afterwards, Lu Changsheng inquired about the characteristics of Lu Miaoge’s Dao Foundation..

A perfect Dao Foundation, besides having a more robust foundation than ordinary ones, would also have certain characteristic effects!

Like the yin-yang dual qi of his Dao Foundation.

Xiao Xiyue’s Dao Foundation increased the speed of absorbing and refining celestial spiritual qi.

“My Dao Foundation makes my spiritual power vast, profound, and enduring. With each breath, I can recover spiritual power several times faster than normal people.”

Lu Miaoge said softly, descriiing the effect of her Dao Foundation.

“It’s similar to what’s recorded in the ‘Supreme Kindness Water Technique’.”

“Although it’s been influenced by my Taiyi Dao Seed and has some commonalities, the technique itself hasn’t changed significantly. Only the strength of the Dao Foundation’s effect differs.”

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, gaining a general understanding of Lu Miaoge’s situation..

Lu Family Mansion.

“Tiao’er, you’ve done well. You’ve conceived a child just half a year after marrying into our Lu Family.”

“This High-Tier magical robe and three Top-Tier talismans are rewards from your father-in-law.”

That day, Lu Changsheng received some news.

His son Lu Xian’er’s wife, Xu Tiao’er, was pregnant.

She was the first daughter-in-law with a Spirit Root in the family. Now that she was expecting, he naturally wouldn’t be stingy.

He generously bestowed rewards.

“This…”

Xu Tiao’er was shocked by such lavish rewards.

She came from a small Qi Refining family.

Though she was the legitimate daughter, her conditions were just average.

She only had ten Spirit Stones a month.

Now, just for being pregnant, her father-in-law gave her a High-Tier magical robe and three Top-Tier talismans. She was at a loss.

A High-Tier magical robe was worth six to seven hundred Spirit Stones.

Plus the three Top-Tier talismans, this gift was worth a thousand Spirit Stones.

Such generosity truly stunned her.

“Tiao’er, this is your father-in-law’s goodwill. Just accept it with peace of mind.”

Lu Miaoyun, standing nearby, sepped forward and said to Xu Tiao’er.

“Thank you for your grace, Father!”

Xu Tiao’er finally bowed in gratitude.

Initially, her father had sent her to be a maid for Lu Changsheng.

But she ended up marrying Lu Xian’er.

She thought since Lu Changsheng had over a hundred children, and her husband only had a Ninth-Tier Spirit Root, they wouldn’t be favored.

But after marrying into the Lu Family, she realized her father-in-law treated his children incredibly well.

As a daughter-in-law, she was now benefiting for the first time.

“Xian Zhi, since Tiao’er is pregnant, take good care of her daily.”

“There’s no need to be so busy with affairs.”

Lu Changsheng spoke.

He understood his son’s personality very well.

Though his Spirit Root talent wasn’t great, he was very diligent in his work.

When told to learn Puppetry, he devoted himself to studying it.

When told to consider marriage, he followed the family’s arrangements.

These days, when asked to take over family affairs and learn about Bihu Mountain matters, he spent most of his time busy with that.

“Yes, Father. I understand.”

Lu Xian’er immediately cupped his hands and said.

“Mm.”

Lu Changsheng gave his son a few more instructions before letting him leave with Xu Tiao’er.

“Yun’er, when you have time, draft a set of rules for our family system.”

Lu Changsheng then turned to Lu Miaoyun and said.

Xu Tiao’er’s pregnancy made him feel the need to improve the family system.

Before, on Qingzhu Mountain, he was very casual.

He let Lu Miaoyun manage and allocatethe Red Leaf Valley Cave Dwelling, the Lu Family’s hundred mu of Spirit Fields, and his own contribution points.

For raising children and distributing Spirit Stones, he only had a rough idea, without strict rules.

This might work for a small family.

But now that they were establishing a clan, as the children grew up and started their own families, they naturally needed a set of rules and regulations.

“Husband, would you like to look at Qingzhu Mountain’s family rules?”

Hearing this, Lu Miaoyun took out Qingzhu Montain’s set of rules for Lu Changsheng to see.

“Increase everyone’s benefits and treatment slightly.”

“Then, female cultivators who marry into our Lu Family become one of us, treated equally.”

“The same applies to those marrying in.”

“Also, encourage childbirth. There should be rewards for having children.”

“Extra rewards for children detected with Spirit Roots.”

“And the clan will cover all expenses for children under twenty.”

After reading, Lu Changsheng thought for a moment and stated these points.

In his view, having children was a must, a family tradition!

However, he wouldn’t force marriage.

Instead, he’d encourage and compensate for childbirth through rewards.

After all, childbirth could affect cultivation for immortal cultivators to some extent.

This welfare policy would make female cultivators willing to marry into their family and have more children.

He added, “As for the mortal world, we should have a general set of rules too. The rewards can be changed to Spirit Rice, spiritual items, and such.”

“You can ask the children about their wishes and see if Miaoge and Zixiao have any suggestions.”

Lu Changsheng said.

“Alright, I’ll talk to Sister Miaoge, Sister Zixiao, and the children later to ask about their wishes.”

Lu Miaoyun replied.

She thought to herself that no matter how her husband changed, his love for children never wavered.

Now that she was having fewer children, he started encouraging the children to have their own.

“By the way, Yun’er, I plan to hold a wedding ceremony for Qu Zhenzhen and others after the clan establishment ceremony.”

Lu Changsheng spoke, expressing his intention to fulfill a promise he made to Qu Zhenzhen, Lu Lanshu, and others after the clan establishment ceremony.

He also stated that all maids in the family would be promoted to concubines.

The concubines would be divided into nine ranks.

Each rank would have different treatment.

As for the ranking, they would start from the ninth rank for now.

Future promotions would be based on contributions to the family, children’s achievements, and the status of their children.

He also told Lu Miaoyun not to do everythin herself.

She could assign some tasks to the family’s concubines and maids.

Such as enlightening the children, or in areas like Spirit Plant Cultivation, nurturing spiritual herbs, raising spirit fish, and so on.

“Alright.”

Lu Miaoyun nodded immediately pon hearing this.

She knew that most of these maids had given birth to five or six children for Lu Changsheng.

Many of these children possessed Spirit Roots.

Now that they were establishing a clan, Lu Changsheng was willing to give the children’s mothers a proper status.

After all, always being a maid didn’t sound good.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

The family banquet Qingzhu Mountain was holding for Lu Miaoge was about to begin..

Lu Changsheng accompanied Lu Miaoyun, bringing Lu Miaoge Lu Miaohuan, and Qu Zhenzhen to attend.

This family banquet was very lively.

Although it was a family banquet mostly for their own people,

There would inevitably be family forces coming to offer gifts and congratulations.

Especially after the recent Bihu Mountain incident, Qingzhu Mountain was at the height of its popularity.

Since establishing a clan required registration with the Azure Cloud Sect within a month,

After the family banquet ended, Lu Changsheng, after instructing Ling Zixiao, set off for the Azure Cloud Sect.