Chapter 325: An Apology from the Beast Taming Xu Family!

“What is the gift for!?”

Inside the Great Hall, everyone was surprised by the words of the Jin Family’s patriarch.

His visit today had already caught everyone off guard, making them feel that something was amiss.

Now that he was presenting a gift and asking Lu Changsheng to open it on the spot, there was definitely something wrong.

“Could there be some hidden danger in this gift?”

Someone in the crowd speculated silently.

After all, in the world of immortal cultivation, there are countless ways to set traps. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators can fall if they’re not careful.

However, he quickly dismissed this thought.

This was Bihu Mountain!

If the Jin patriarch dared to do something here, it would mean completely tearing apart relations with Bihu Mountain.

Even if Lu Changsheng were to be harmed, once the Bihu Mountain formation was activated, the patriarch himself would likely suffer—if not die, at least be seriously injured.

At this moment, everyone looked at Lu Changsheng, curious about how he would respond.

“Hong Lian.”

Lu Changsheng also wanted to know what the Jin patriarch was up to.

He asked Hong Lian, who was in the ancient beast-taming talisman inside his sleeve.

Although Hong Lian only had a divine soul, her Divine Sense was very sharp and could detect things he couldn’t see.

At the same time, he secretly communicated with Sumeru.

If this old man had any malicious intent, he would immediately activate the formation to suppress him.

“Young master, it seems to be some sort of natural treasure inside, with no traps.”

Hong Lian’s voice echoed in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

“A treasure?”

Lu Changsheng was surprised by her words.

Could this old man really be here to deliver a gift?

After confirming that Sumeru was already sensing and locking onto the area from Biyun Peak, he laughed, “Oh, it seems that the Jin patriarch’s gift is extraordinary.”

“In that case, I will open it here.”

Lu Changsheng said this.

As he spoke, he lightly brushed the Jade Box, causing it to open on its own, revealing its contents.

Inside was a walnut-sized, pitch-black, diamond-shaped crystal that was both bright and hazy.

The crystal seemed to be alive, with water flowing automatically between its breaths, emitting a chill.

“What!?”

“This is…”

All of a sudden, everyone in the hall looked at the crystal in the Jade Box.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators were visibly moved, their gazes filled with greed and desire as they stared at the crystal.

“Young master, this is a Profound Water Cold Crystal, a spirit item for Golden Core Formation. It can increase the success rate by about five percent and can also be used to refine a True Core.”

Hong Lian feared that Lu Changsheng might not recognize the crystal and explained to him.

“A spirit item for Golden Core Formation, Profound Water Cold Crystal?”

Lu Changsheng squinted as he looked at the Jade Box in his hand.

He didn’t expect this old man to really be here to deliver a gift.

And such a precious gift at that!

A spirit item for Golden Core Formation!

Over the years, as he began collecting spirit items for Golden Core Formation, he came to understand their value and rarity.

In the Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world, Foundation Establishment Pills are something that ordinary cultivators can still hope to obtain, as they appear on the Market.

But Condensing Crystal Pills, which help in Golden Core Formation, are almost impossible to find on the Market.

Even if someone were to miraculously gather all the materials needed to refine a Condensing Crystal Pill,

there would be no one outside of the major sects, the elders of Immortal City, or guest experts who could refine it!

This is why there are so few independent cultivators and family clans that reach Golden Core in the Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

It’s extremely difficult for independent cultivators to form a Golden Core.

They can only travel across various kingdoms, seeking opportunities, or rely on spirit items like the Profound Water Cold Crystal to gamble on the slim chance of success.

This makes spirit items that increase the chances of Golden Core Formation both rare and expensive.

Many independent cultivators and family clans are willing to pay any price for such items!

After all, once they break through to the Golden Core stage, they can live for five hundred years and establish their own sects!

“Jin patriarch, this gift is far too valuable.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the Jin patriarch, his expression calm.

For a moment, he couldn’t figure out the purpose behind such a gift.

“Haha, this gift is not only to congratulate you on your great joy, Master Lu, but also to apologize for the White Tiger Mountain incident.”

The Jin patriarch sipped from a wine jug and said, “The White Tiger Mountain incident was something my Jin Family was unaware of. It was caused by my incompetent descendants, creating unnecessary conflict between our two families.”

“So I brought him here to apologize to you in person, hoping to resolve the enmity between our families.”

The Jin patriarch’s voice boomed as he spoke.

Then he turned to Jin Zan and said, “Why aren’t you apologizing to Master Lu?”

“Hiss!”

“Hiss!”

“Hiss!”

Everyone in the hall was shocked and stunned at this moment.

They never expected that the Jin patriarch had come not to seek revenge,

but to apologize!

Not only did he bring an extremely precious spirit item for Golden Core Formation, but he also made the Jin Family’s elder, Jin Zan, apologize to Lu Changsheng in person!

This was simply unbelievable!

After all, Jin Zan, as the elder of the Jin Family and a cultivator with potential to reach Golden Core, held a status higher than almost everyone present.

Yet, this person was now apologizing to Lu Changsheng.

“Could the rumors be true that the Lu couple’s combined power rivals a False Core cultivator, and with Lu Changsheng’s Talisman Formation, they can suppress a False Core cultivator? Is that why the Jin patriarch is here to apologize?”

“This… this…”

“The Lu Family of Bihu Mountain, the Lu couple… It seems they are an even greater threat than Jinlong Ridge!”

“I used to think that if we could kill one of the Lu couple while they were apart, the crisis would be resolved. But if the rumors are true, the Lu couple is a far bigger threat than Jinlong Ridge.”

“If the Lu couple breaks through to the late Foundation Establishment stage in a few decades, they might be comparable to Golden Core cultivators!”

At this moment, all the cultivators in the hall were shocked and speculated wildly.

However, cultivators like Ling Zixiao, who knew the inside story, roughly guessed the Jin Family’s intention.

This was an attempt to elevate Lu Changsheng and Bihu Mountain, to raise them up high and make the rumors true!

Even if the rumors can’t be proven, after today, the outside world will likely take Bihu Mountain even more seriously.

“Master Lu, I made a mistake regarding the White Tiger Mountain incident. I was tempted by the benefits offered by the Zhao Family and grew greedy. I hope you can forgive me.”

Jin Zan suppressed his anger and bowed to Lu Changsheng.

If not for his family’s patriarch coming out of seclusion and scolding him severely,

with his pride, he would never lower himself to apologize to anyone.

But he understood that the patriarch was doing this for his own good.

His life had been too smooth, making him arrogant.

If he didn’t overcome this hurdle after being defeated by Lu Changsheng, it would affect his Golden Core Formation!

Therefore, he had to face his inner demons and rebuild himself to break through to the Golden Core stage in the future!

He also aimed to retrieve his life-bound Spirit Tool from Lu Changsheng.

Without this life-bound Spirit Tool, his chances of success in forming a Golden Core would be greatly reduced.

Lu Changsheng watched this scene without speaking.

He roughly understood the Jin Family’s intentions.

The many rumors about him in the outside world were likely spread by the Jin Family.

Now, by giving him this spirit item for Golden Core Formation, they wanted to elevate him further and make the rumors true.

They also wanted to let the world know that Lu Changsheng had a spirit item for Golden Core Formation, attracting the envy of other independent cultivators and family clans!

Secondly, there was Jin Zan’s apology.

If he accepted it and took Jin Zan’s life-bound Spirit Tool, he would naturally have to return it.

In this situation, if he didn’t reconcile and didn’t return the Spirit Tool, it would make him look petty and vengeful, disrespecting the Jin Family.

Not giving face to a False Core patriarch—how would other families think of him?

They might see Lu Changsheng as arrogant and reckless!

An obvious plot!

This was a blatant, obvious plot!

But the scale of this plot was enormous.

They were even willing to use a spirit item for Golden Core Formation to make Jin Zan apologize in person.

Unless they believed he wouldn’t dare accept the spirit item and would back down.

But even if he didn’t take it, with the Jin Family acting so sincerely, he would still have to return the life-bound Spirit Tool.

“As expected, the older, the wiser. The Jin patriarch wants to use this method to make Bihu Mountain stand out, drawing attention away from Jinlong Ridge.”

Lu Changsheng murmured to himself.

If his family were an ordinary Foundation Establishment family, they might indeed be worried in this situation.

But when he acted against Jin Zan, he had already considered the consequences!

So what if he attracts attention?

If anyone dares to cause trouble, he’ll handle it just like he did with Jin Zan—use the Talisman Formation to scare them off and kill a few to make an example!

After all, reputation isn’t always a bad thing.

A reputation like this would make other families wary and prevent them from harboring ill intentions.

In the past, he was worried that his reputation would attract envy.

But now, how many people would dare?

It would be enough to deter most petty thieves and ensure the family’s peaceful development!

Moreover, if his family remains strong but not oppressive, and develops peacefully, it will demonstrate the family’s magnanimity and lay the foundation for future reputation and goodwill!

“Haha, Jin patriarch, you’re too kind. It was just a misunderstanding, and we’ve cleared it up now.”

“I was planning to visit after I finished my business to clarify things, but I didn’t expect you to come in person. You truly are a magnanimous patriarch.”

Lu Changsheng said politely.

As he spoke, he naturally stored the Profound Water Cold Crystal into his Storage Ring.

Then he took out a golden weapon, shaped like a spear and a knife, and said, “You left in a hurry that day and forgot to take this weapon. I’m returning it to you today!”

Since the Jin Family had acted this way, Lu Changsheng made it clear to everyone that he not only defeated Jin Zan, the elder of the Jin Family but also took his life-bound Spirit Tool!

“Hiss, that seems to be the Jin Family elder’s life-bound Spirit Tool, the Golden Dragon Fangtian Halberd!”

“I didn’t expect even his life-bound Spirit Tool to be taken by Master Lu!”

“No wonder the Jin patriarch brought Jin Zan here to apologize. A life-bound Spirit Tool is connected to one’s life. If it’s lost, it would take years to re-cultivate it, delaying his Golden Core Formation!”

“But Master Lu is indeed magnanimous. The Jin Family may be courteous, but they hide a knife behind their smiles. Yet he calmly and generously returned the life-bound Spirit Tool.”

“It’s said that Lu Changsheng is a man of deep emotions and righteousness. It seems he is indeed upright in his actions. As long as no one offends Bihu Mountain, it should be possible to coexist peacefully.”

Everyone in the Great Hall watched this scene and began to calculate in their minds.

But a few people still had their thoughts on the spirit item for Golden Core Formation that Lu Changsheng had just stored in his Storage Bag.

“Lu Changsheng is truly something. Is he really confident, or…”

The Jin patriarch was slightly surprised when he saw Lu Changsheng calmly accept the spirit item for Golden Core Formation and then take out the Golden Dragon Fangtian Halberd.

By taking out the Spirit Tool, Lu Changsheng was showing that he understood the Jin patriarch’s intentions.

But in this situation, he still dared to take the spirit item for Golden Core Formation.

The Jin patriarch didn’t dwell on it and coldly said to Jin Zan, “Jin Zan, thank Master Lu.”

“Thank you, Master Lu.”

Jin Zan said, but his tone lacked any sincerity, in sharp contrast to Lu Changsheng’s behavior.

However, most people in the hall could guess why Jin Zan was like this.

After all, it was likely that the spirit item for Golden Core Formation was prepared by the Jin Family for Jin Zan.

It was no wonder he was in a foul mood.

“Haha, Jin Daoist, you’re too polite.”

Lu Changsheng smiled and didn’t mind his attitude.

After all, Jin Zan was just a minor character.

He looked around at the crowd and laughed, “Come, everyone, let’s continue drinking.”

The hall was filled with the clinking of glasses and the sound of drinking.

Later, as night fell, Lu Changsheng, the groom, began to fulfill his duties.

However, taking too many concubines at once wasn’t ideal, as it would leave Lu Changsheng overwhelmed.

Faced with this situation, Lu Changsheng could only encourage his concubines to get to know each other and bond, to avoid too much trouble for himself.

The next day, the wedding banquet continued.

However, Lu Changsheng did not accompany the guests this time.

Instead, he took his wives, Lu Miaoyun, Lu Miaoge, Ling Ziiao, and his son, Lu Yun, to meet with the patriarchs and family heads privately.

They had simple conversations, expressing their attitudes and goodwill.

Regardless of what the others thought, Lu Changsheng always adhered to his philosophy of ‘avoiding conflict and making friends’ externally, while focusing on ‘raising and having more children’ internally!

Sumeru Cave Heaven.

Hall of Everlasting Life.

“Hiss, you’re saying that the Beast Taming Xu family has taken an interest in me, and you’ve come to find out more about the situation and test my attitude?”

Lu Changsheng was casually chatting with a representative of the Beast Taming Xu family, gently stroking her fiery red hair as he squinted his eyes.

He knew that standing out could attract trouble and that his recent actions might have made other families wary.

But he didn’t expect to catch the attention of the Beast Taming Xu family.

Compared to them, Jinlong Ridge seemed insignificant.

“Yes, I suspect that this has something to do with the Jin Family. They deliberately passed the news about you to the Three Ancestors.”

Xu Ruoyin let her fiery red hair fall, partially covering her stunningly beautiful face, as she spoke in a slightly muffled voice.

“The Jin Family… The Three Ancestors?”

Lu Changsheng twirled a strand of her hair around his finger, raising an eyebrow.

He knew about the Beast Taming Xu family, but not much about their internal affairs.

He only knew that besides a Golden Core patriarch, the Xu family had three False Core cultivators on the surface.

“Yes.”

Xu Ruoyin nodded, her voice muffled as she explained in detail.

The Three Ancestors of the Xu family were False Core patriarchs, with Xu Ge being one of them.

It’s said that he had the potential to form a Golden Core in his youth but was injured by an Inner Disciple of the Spirit Control Sect, damaging his Dao Foundation and causing him to fall into despair for many years.

Later, by chance, he obtained a demon core and condensed a False Core.

However, after breaking through to the False Core stage, his personality became increasingly eccentric, lacking the demeanor of a true patriarch.

He once bullied a disciple of the Spirit Control Sect, crippling his dantian, which led the sect to cause trouble for the Xu family. It was only resolved when the Xu family’s Golden Core patriarch intervened.

Although the Xu family’s patriarch restrained him afterward, Xu Ge continued to bully the weak.

After becoming the Xu family’s overseer elder, he liked to eliminate newly rising family clans and geniuses.

When it came to major sects like the Spirit Control Sect, Xu Ge wouldn’t dare cause trouble, but small family clans had no way to complain about his actions.

The Xu family’s patriarch turned a blind eye to this behavior.

So Xu Ruoyin said that she had come because Xu Ge had taken an interest in Lu Changsheng and might act against him in the future.

“Hiss…”

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and squeezed her full, firm breast.

So this is where the Jin Family was waiting for him.

He had thought the Jin Family’s plan to elevate him was just to make his family attract attention.

But it turned out they wanted to kill him by proxy!

By elevating him, they had drawn the Beast Taming Xu family’s attention, hoping they would act against him.

“That Jin patriarch is really a crafty old man.”

Lu Changsheng was so angry that his eyes narrowed, and his body trembled slightly.

After a while, Xu Ruoyin raised her head, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with desire as she looked at Lu Changsheng.

Her swan-like neck moved as she seductively whispered, “Master…”

“Yin’er, let’s see how much you’ve improved in the Beast Taming Xu family over the past year.”

Lu Changsheng gently stroked her fiery red hair and then playfully slapped her round buttocks, engaging in a deep conversation to inquire about the Xu family.

At first, Xu Ruoyin could still answer intermittently, her voice muffled and unclear.

But as time passed, she began to sob and moan, calling out ‘Master’ and ‘Husband.’

Despite this, Lu Changsheng still managed to learn a lot about the Beast Taming Xu family during their conversation.

Although the Xu family only had three False Core cultivators on the surface, there might be more in the shadows.

Moreover, the Xu family’s strength lay in the fact that their False Core cultivators were primarily used to maintain the family’s power.

As long as they had a Golden Core patriarch, they wouldn’t deliberately cultivate False Core cultivators.

After all, False Core cultivators may be called ‘patriarchs,’ but they can’t compare to true Golden Core cultivators.

Not only do they have a shorter lifespan of three hundred years, but their cultivation also cannot advance any further.

So the Xu family could easily cultivate one or two False Core cultivators if they wished.

Additionally, the Xu family had a third-rank old turtle as their guardian spirit beast.

Xu Ruoyin didn’t know the exact strength of this turtle or what kind of beast it was.

She only knew that it was very ancient and was the Xu family’s guardian spirit beast.

As for whether there were other third-rank spirit beasts like the rumored Fire Crow Dao Soldiers and Water Serpent Dao Soldiers, Xu Ruoyin didn’t know the specifics.

After all, she had only been at the Xu family for a year.

Although she had entered the core circle, her understanding was still limited.

“Alright, I understand.”

Lu Changsheng nodded, showing some concern for Xu Ruoyin’s situation.

Then he returned the ancient beast-taming talisman to her, letting her catch up with Hong Lian and see their son, Lu Chensha.

“Beast Taming Xu family… Xu Ge…”

Lu Changsheng shared what he had learned about the Xu family with Lu Miaoge and Ling Zixiao..

Faced with this situation, the two had no immediate solution.

They could only ask Xu Ruoyin to downplay the situation as much as possible when she returned.

Meanwhile, Lu Miaoge was advised to avoii going out alone as much as possible.

After all, Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge were now a unit..

Who knows if the Xu family’s False Core cultivator might target Lu Miaoge as well??

“I just want a peaceful, quiet, and leisurely life, spending time with my wives and children, watching them grow up happily.”

“But… why does someone always try to disturb me? Why force me?”

Lu Changsheng looked at the blue sky, murmuring to himself.

Although he wasn’t afraid of the Xu family’s False Core cultivator,

this matter would still bring him some trouble and inconvenience.

Especially since the Beast Taming Xu family was a colossal force. If Xu Ge really came to cause trouble, and Lu Changsheng ended up killing him, wouldn’t that provoke the Xu family’s Golden Core patriarch?

If he then killed the Xu family’s patriarch, how could he continue to live in seclusion!?

The wedding banquet lasted for three days before it ended, with all the guests gradually departing.

In fact, many had already left on the first day.

By the second day, most of the family patriarchs had spoken privately with Lu Changsheng and then bid farewell.

On the last day, only a few nearby families and those with closer ties remained.

After the wedding banquet, Xu Ruoyin stayed at Bihu Mountain for two more days before leaving.

She promised to downplay the situation regarding Bihu Mountain, Lu Changsheng, and Lu Miaoge as much as possibleewhen she returned to the Xu family.

If she learned of any developments, she would inform him immediately.

Lu Changsheng didn’t worry too much about this situation.

He focused on spending time with his wives and children, expanding the family.

After all, with fifteen new concubines in the family, he had to put in the effort.