Chapter 326: Xiao Xiyue Returns! Preparing for a Proposal!

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

During this period, Lu Changsheng stayed home accompanying his wives and children.

Of the fifteen concubines he recently took in, three have successfully conceived.

While this isn’t fast, it’s not slow either.

After all, there’s no need to rush such things, as if completing a task.

Being too goal-oriented can make it lose its pleasure.

This should be savored slowly, like reading a book or enjoying tea, to fully appreciate its beauty.

In these three months, the Beast Taming Xu Family mentioned by Xu Ruoyin has been quiet.

That’s expected.

The Xu Family isn’t foolish; they can see that Jinlong Ridge had intentions of using them as a pawn.

Moreover, the Xu Family’s third ancestor is only keeping an eye on Bihu Mountain and Lu Changsheng.

But it’s not enough to cause immediate trouble.

Even if the person is shameless and likes bullying the weak, they still need a reason to act, not just out of the blue.

However, during this time, the Jin Family has been secretly suppressing the White Tiger Mountain industries, causing the Mo and Ning Families to send messages to Lu Changsheng for discussion.

Faced with this, Lu Changsheng naturally expressed solidarity with them, condemning the Jin Family.

But it was just that, condemnation.

After all, the Jin Family was only suppressing them in business; they weren’t sabotaging mines, herb gardens, or committing robbery. What could you do to them?

On this day, at the Lu Family Mansion.

Lu Changsheng was holding his daughter, Lu Linghe, while chatting with his wives.

Although this daughter wasn’t even a year old, she was far more lively than an ordinary baby, climbing all over Lu Changsheng as if she were climbing a tree.

Lu Lingxiao, cradled in Ling Zixiao’s arms, quietly watched his sister climb around.

His clear eyes seemed to have a faint golden glow under the bright sunlight.

“Master.”

At this moment, Sumeru’s voice sounded in Lu Changsheng’s mind, informing him that the spiritual veins had been nurtured.

“Hmm, it’s done.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng lightly raised his eyebrows.

He had kept one of the two Spirit Eye Springs in the Cave Dwelling to prevent any sudden needs, rather than using it to nurture new spiritual veins in Bihu Mountain.

He only used the Spirit Eye Spring obtained from the Wujing Ore Field to create spiritual veins in the Cave Dwelling.

Hearing this, he immediately lifted his daughter off him and handed her over to his daughter Lu Wangshu to take care of.

Although Lu Wangshu was lively and cheerful, getting along with everyone,

Lu Changsheng could sense that there was a barrier between her and most of her siblings.

It wasn’t out of disdain.

It was simply a lack of genuine closeness.

Many times, the happy chats were more out of politeness.

Like Lu Quanzhen, although not very close with most siblings,

At least he was still very close to Lu Xian’er, Lu Yun, Lu Yu, and Lu Caizhen.

So, Lu Changsheng still hoped his daughter could be close to a few of her younger siblings.

“Sister.”

Lu Linghe was not shy at all; after being handed over to Lu Wangshu, she sweetly called out.

Her chubby little hands reached for Lu Wangshu’s hair, making Lu Wangshu look helpless.

But with her father handing the child to her and Aunt Ling Zixiao nearby, she couldn’t say anything.

After all, she was very close with Lu Miaoyun, Lu Miaoge, and Qu henzhen, like mother and daughter, but rarely interacted with Ling Zixiao.

This was because Ling Zixiao always preferred solitude.

It was only after she got pregnant and had a child that she gradually became more involved, often bringing the child to the Lu Family Mansion.

“As expected, it’s just a Top-Tier first-rank spiritual vein.”

Lu Changsheng arrived at Sumeru Cave Heaven to inspect the spiritual vein formed.

Seeing that the effect of this Spirit Eye Spring was as he expected.

But even just a Top-Tier first-rank spiritual vein caused Sumeru Cave Heaven to slightly expand, as if it had grown a bit.

“Sumeru, does adding a spiritual vein help your growth?”

Lu Changsheng asked Sumeru.

Sumeru could feed itself through its internal world, thus gaining growth.

So he was curious about how much help adding a Top-Tier first-rank spiritual vein would be to Sumeru.

Sumeru immediately replied that it had limited growth, with not much improvement.

Mainly, Sumeru Cave Heaven had expanded slightly, thus slightly increasing its power.

“It seems that to truly gain significant growth from Cave Heaven, I would need to cultivate it to the level of an Immortal City.”

Lu Changsheng murmured to himself, thinking of Qingluan Immortal City and Nine Heavens Immortal City.

If he could cultivate Sumeru Cave Heaven to that level, Sumeru could probably suppress Nascent Soul True Lords.

However, even with such a precious Spirit Eye Spring, it only formed a small to medium-sized spiritual vein.

To cultivate it to the level of a large to medium-sized third-rank spiritual vein like those in Immortal Cities, he would need to extract the spiritual vein’s essence from major immortal sects or cities.

Otherwise, relying on the system’s lottery with extremely good luck wouldn’t be enough to cultivate it to that level.

“Sumeru, take these spiritual vein essences.”

Lu Changsheng took out the Three-legged Bronze Cauldron, which contained the spiritual vein essences of White Tiger Mountain.

“Thank you, Master.”

Sumeru, like a deity of the Cave Dwelling, perfectly controlled Sumeru Cave Heaven, not needing external spiritual lands to nurture spiritual veins.

It could absorb the spiritual vein essences itself to nurture spiritual veins.

“With these spiritual vein essences, this vein is enough to advance to the second rank.”

“In that case, I can start cultivating some spiritual herbs and spirit plants in the cave.”

Lu Changsheng stroked his chin, planning what to plant in the Cave Dwelling.

Not that he intended to cultivate spiritual herbs and spirit plants seriously, but he simply wanted to decorate the Cave Dwelling.

Currently, the Cave Dwelling had nothing but grass, a pond formed by the Spirit Eye Spring, and Hall of Everlasting Life, making it quite monotonous.

After checking the situation, he returned to the Lu Family Mansion.

Seeing his daughter Lu Wangshu looking helpless under Lu Linghe’s mischief, he couldn’t help but laugh.

After all, he rarely saw his daughter in such a flustered state.

Immediately, Lu Changsheng took back his daughter Lu Linghe, briefly asked Lu Wangshu about her cultivation progress, and then let her go off to play.

Watching her fly away towards Bishui Lake, as if escaping, Lu Changsheng sighed lightly, thinking of Xiao Xiyue.

After Chu Qingyi’s Golden Core Formation ceremony, Xiao Xiyue had gone with her to explore a secret realm in the Luoyun Mountain Range. It had been over two years.

Xiao Xiyue hadn’t returned in these two years.

She only wrote a letter once or twice, expressing her longing, but said she couldn’t leave for now.

Although two years is a short time for cultivators,

To Lu Changsheng, and especially to Lu Wangshu, who was now only seventeen, two years felt like a long time.

“I wonder what the situation is in the Luoyun Mountain Range now.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the sky, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.

Although he had been keeping an eye on the situation in the Luoyun Mountain Range,

The area was sealed off, so no information had come out, leaving him in the dark.

In the Luoyun Mountain Range,

A stronghold was shrouded in a hazy formation.

“Master, are you alright?”

Chu Qingyi and Xiao Xiyue looked at their master with concern.

“Hoo, I’m fine.”

Yun Wanshang’s elegant face, usually radiant, was now pale and bloodless, as she gently raised her hand and spoke.

Then, she looked towards her disciple, Chu Qingyi, who was dressed in a snow-white sword robe, her face cold and heroic. “Qingyi, now that the secret realm’s restrictions have been broken, you stay here and lead the exploration.”

“As for me, I need to return to the sect to heal.”

Yun Wanshang said this.

Although she claimed she was fine, it was clear that her current condition wasn’t suitable for staying here and exploring the secret realm.

She needed to return to the Azure Cloud Sect to quickly recover from her injuries so as not to affect her foundation.

Besides, with Chu Qingyi leading the exploration, she was very reassured.

“Yes, Master.”

Chu Qingyi nodded in agreement, then asked with concern, “Master, should I escort you back to the sect?”

“No need, I’m not in that bad of a condition.”

Yun Wanshang’s pale face remained dignified and authoritative as she said, “Qingyi, if anyone from the sect comes, remember, you hold the authority here.”

She had been the first to discover this secret realm and had fought with the Sunset Glow Sect for its ownership.

Now, after expending a lot of effort and even getting injured, she had finally broken through the secret realm’s layers of restrictions. She would not allow anyone to take the fruits of her labor!

“Don’t worry, Master. I understand!”

Chu Qingyi’s sword-like eyebrows rose, and a cold, stern look appeared on her beautiful face.

She didn’t achieve Golden Core Formation by being naïve.

She understood that immortal cultivation was a battle for the great Dao!

Even within the same sect, everyone was in competition with each other.

This secret realm was extraordinarily mysterious and could benefit both her and her master.

After spending so much time and effort, it was only natural that they wouldn’t allow others to take too much of the benefits.

“Hmm.”

Yun Wanshang nodded, then looked at Xiao Xiyue, who was wearing a moon-white dress. “Xiyue, stay here and continue exploring the secret realm with your senior sister.”

“If you gain something, it will help you in your future Golden Core Formation.”

Although Xiao Xiyue was only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, far from forming a Golden Core,

It’s something that should be prepared for early.

After all, even though Xiao Xiyue was her disciple, it would still be difficult to apply for Condensing Crystal Pills or Golden Core materials from the sect in the future.

She would need to rely on her own efforts and contributions to the sect to gain approval.

And now was the opportunity.

As long as Xiao Xiyue worked hard with them in this secret realm, it would be a great merit when reported to the sect.

“Master, let me escort you back to the sect.”

Xiao Xiyue suddenly lifted her head, lightly biting her lip.

She had been here for over two years and now had the chance. She desperately wanted to return to Bihu Mountain to see Lu Changsheng and her daughter, Lu Wangshu.

Yun Wanshang looked at her disciple.

As a Golden Core practitioner, her spiritual senses were extremely sharp.

At this moment, she clearly sensed that her disciple’s state of mind was somewhat disturbed, and a soft light appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Normally, this shouldn’t happen to someone practicing the “Supreme Forgetting Emotions Technique.”

But as her master, she naturally understood why her disciple was like this.

“Sigh!”

Yun Wanshang sighed inwardly.

She regretted letting Xiao Xiyue practice the Supreme Forgetting Emotions Technique.

She also regretted agreeing to Xiao Xiyue’s choice back then.

But now, things had come to this point, and there was nothing more she could say.

She could only let things take their course, hoping that Xiao Xiyue could figure things out on her own.

Although, in her opinion, it would be extremely difficult for her disciple to figure it out, the hope was slim.

“Alright.”

Yun Wanshang gazed at Xiao Xiyue for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

“Thank you, Master.”

Xiao Xiyue immediately thanked her.

Chu Qingyi, however, glanced at her junior sister in surprise.

As a Golden Core practitioner with a naturally clear sword heart and a mind like a mirror, her spiritual senses were even sharper than her master Caiyun Zhenren’s.

At this moment, she also sensed that her junior sister’s state of mind was disturbed.

She didn’t know why her junior sister’s state of mind was disturbed when she offered to escort her master back to the sect.

But she didn’t ask, only nodded towards Xiao Xiyue. “In that case, thank you, junior sister.”

“You’re welcome, senior sister.”

Xiao Xiyue replied softly.

Yun Wanshang said nothing more. She raised her jade-like hand, and a cloud-patterned, colorful handkerchief appeared, transforming into a cloud of rainbow light.

She and Xiao Xiyue floated up, landing on the cloud and flying into the Nine Heavens Wind.

“Xiyue, how are things between you and Lu Changsheng now?”

Yun Wanshang sat cross-legged on the cloud, her beautiful eyes closed as she asked softly.

Though she knew about her disciple’s relationship with Lu Changsheng, she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

On one hand, thinking about her disciple and Lu Changsheng’s relationship made her feel uneasy.

On the other hand, she respected her disciple’s feelings and didn’t want to interfere too much.

But now, with her disciple’s current condition, she had no choice but to ask.

“Master.”

Xiao Xiyue, dressed in a moon-white skirt, her face as cold as the moon, felt her heart tremble when she heard her master’s words, and she lightly bit her lip.

She knew that her actions today had disappointed her master.

But faced with her master’s question, she didn’t dare to hide anything and told her about her relationship with Lu Changsheng.

However, she didn’t dare to mention anything about her daughter, Lu Wangshu.

A month later.

At Bihu Mountain, in Hall of Everlasting Life.

Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue were expressing their longing for each other.

The two hadn’t seen each other for years, and their longing flooded over them like a tidal wave.

Afterward!

Afterward!

Afterward!

Lu Changsheng held Xiao Xiyue’s jade-like, flawless body, which was like the moon and morning light, and asked about her situation over the past two years.

“Caiyun Zhenren was injured?”

Lu Changsheng’s hand gently stroked Xiao Xiyue’s smooth, flat belly, his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise.

He hadn’t expected the secret realm to be so dangerous.

Even with two Golden Core cultivators guarding it, Caiyun Zhenren, a Golden Core True Lord, was injured and needed to return to the sect to recuperate.

If it weren’t for Caiyun Zhenren’s return to the sect to heal, he and Xiao Xiyue wouldn’t have known when they could meet again.

But hearing that Xiao Xiyue would return to the Luoyun Mountain Range to explore the secret realm with her senior sister, Chu Qingyi, soon after, he couldn’t help but feel worried.

“Xiyue, isn’t this secret realm too dangerous?”

Lu Changsheng asked softly.

He had never been to a secret realm or explored any ancient ruins.

In his understanding, ancient ruins or secret realms were synonymous with danger.

If possible, he would avoid them.

Hearing that this secret realm had injured a Golden Core cultivator, he naturally became concerned about Xiao Xiyue’s safety.

“The secret realm’s outer area had many restrictions and beasts, which is why Master was injured.”

“Now that the initial exploration is complete, there shouldn’t be much danger.”

Xiao Xiyue explained.

However, since the secret realm was a sect secret, she couldn’t divulge too much to Lu Changsheng.

Even so, Lu Changsheng was still worried about Xiao Xiyue.

After a brief moment of tenderness, they got up from the bed.

After being apart for over two years, Lu Changsheng expressed his longing by dressing Xiao Xiyue and doing her makeup.

A full-body, moon-white, gauzy, cloud-like undergarment,

Simple and elegant, a full-body, moon-white robe with a moon-white flowing cloud skirt.

Although it was just a simple moon-white dress, it made Xiao Xiyue’s graceful figure seem even more ethereal and otherworldly, adding a touch of coldness to her stunning beauty.

Then, Lu Changsheng let Xiao Xiyue sit in front of the bronze mirror, styling her hair, using various perfumes, rouge, and eyebrow pencils to do her makeup.

It’s said that practice makes perfect, and as a man with many wives and concubines, he was skilled in these basic crafts.

Besides, cultivators were naturally beautiful, with fair skin, so they only needed a little touch-up.

After finishing everything, seeing Xiao Xiyue’s soft, radiant eyes, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but smile.

The life he, Lu Changsheng, pursued was as simple and unpretentious as this.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Changsheng, with his handsome jade-like face, held Xiao Xiyue’s hand to see their daughter, Lu Wangshu.

But the next moment, he noticed that Xiao Xiyue was still barefoot.

Her slender, white, and delicate feet were like lotus leaves, flawless and exquisite, with a graceful shape.

Then, he slipped on her stockings and embroidered shoes, which he had often admired and played with.

The two left Sumeru Cave Heaven and found their daughter, Lu Wangshu.

“Daddy, Mommy.”

When Lu Wangshu saw her mother, who had been gone for over two years, she didn’t show much joy but rather a little sulkiness.

Naturally, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue had to coax their daughter together.

Xiao Xiyue seemed to have anticipated that her daughter might be upset and had prepared a gift for her.

Lu Wangshu wasn’t really angry.

She was simply upset that Xiao Xiyue had promised to visit her often but had taken so long to return.

Now, seeing her mother’s guilty explanation, she immediately forgave her.

At Bishui Lake,

On a small boat,

Xiao Xiyue, dressed in a moon-white dress, sat playing the zither, like the moonlight from the Ninth Heaven, exuding a celestial aura.

Lu Changsheng, dressed in a green spiritual robe, held a bamboo flute to his lips, looking relaxed and otherworldly.

The sound of the zither and flute floated together, harmonizing beautifully, creating a romantic and melodious atmosphere.

The lake breeze stirred, causing ripples on the water, as fish swam, and a Green Jade Luan Bird danced gracefully in the sky.

Since obtaining the third-rank musical skill, Lu Changsheng finally understood the purpose of this Green Jade Luan Bird.

It was to accompany his music, adding to the charm.

Nearby, Lu Wangshu sat on her fishing boat, holding a fishing rod, resting her beautiful face on her hand, watching her parents’ duet.

It must be said, the music was truly enchanting, making one’s heart melt.

But seeing her parents’ lovey-dovey performance, it made her feel a bit nauseous.

They had promised to spend time with her, but now she felt like an outsider!

“Hmph!”

She noticed a big fish swimming nearby and immediately channeled her spiritual power, striking the nearby spirit mechanism.

“Boom! Splash!”

Instantly, the small boat’s miniature cannon fired a blazing lightning bolt, causing a huge wave and electrocuting the big fish black.

“Daddy, Mommy, look! I caught another fish king!”

Lu Wangshu cast her line and reeled in the big fish, looking cute and obedient.

“Lu Wangshu, are you allergic to elegance? Don’t you know you’re ruining the mood?”

Lu Changsheng looked at his daughter, feeling speechless.

As a father, how could he not know that this little troublemaker did it on purpose?

“I just didn’t want the fish king to get away.”

Lu Wangshu replied innocently.

“Alright, alright~”

Xiao Xiyue looked at her daughter with a loving expression and asked if she wanted to join in the music or continue learning to play the zither.

“Yes, yes!”

Lu Wangshu immediately smiled, sticking out her tongue at her father, making Lu Changsheng shake his head with a smile.

And so, Xiao Xiyue stayed at Bihu Mountain for seven days.

During these seven days, she spent most of her time with her daughter, Lu Wangshu, doting on her to make up for lost time.

“Xiyue, since Caiyun Zhenren knows about us, and now that she’s back at the sect, how about we go see her together?”

“If she agrees, it’ll be easier for you to visit Bihu Mountain in the future.”

One day, as Xiao Xiyue was about to leave, Lu Changsheng held her white jade-like hand and seriously suggested.

He had mentioned proposing to Xiao Xiyue at Azure Cloud Sect before.

But at that time, Caiyun Zhenren wasn’t at the sect.

Now that he knew Caiyun Zhenren had returned, he planned to visit Azure Cloud Sect to propose.

After all, he had promised Xiao Xiyue before.

And when he mentioned it to Xiao Xiyue before, he saw a hint of hope and longing in her eyes.

There was also the matter of their daughter, Lu Wangshu.

Although their daughter had never brought it up,

He knew that she was probably curious about his relationship with Xiao Xiyue.

So now that the opportunity had come, he planned to keep things simple and direct—visit and propose!

Whether successful or not, at least he would show the proper attitude and responsibility!