Chapter 425: Lu Yuanding’s Passing and the Misty Swamp!

Lu Changsheng didn’t care much about the outside world’s discussions and was unaware of them.

In recent days, he had been quietly staying at Qingzhu Mountain with his wife Lu Miaoge, his son Lu Qingxiaa, and his daughter Lu Qingqi, accompanying his father-in-law on his final journey.

“Dad, if I seriously learn how to create talismans, can I be like Sister Wangshu?”

Lu Qingqi admired Lu Wangshu’s abilities greatly after witnessing them at the Hongye Valley Marketplace.

“You can go and ask Sister Wangshu for guidance more often.”

Lu Changsheng stroked his daughter’s hair gently and spoke softly.

“I asked Sister Wangshu before, and she told me to just eat, drink, and be happy every day, without thinking too much.”

Lu Qingqi pouted as she spoke.

“…”

Lu Changsheng paused, thinking that only Lu Wangshu could give such advice.

“Dad, when talisman cultivators make a move, they tend to use hundreds of talismans. But if they run out, wouldn’t their strength drop drastically?”

Lu Qingxian, who had been beside Lu Yuanshan Ding at the time, asked. He hadn’t witnessed Lu Wangshu subdue five dangerous cultivators but had heard that his sister used hundreds of talismans in the battle.

“Hmm, that is indeed one of the drawbacks of talisman cultivation.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of talisman cultivation to his children.

In the courtyard, Lu Yuanshan Ding lay on a reclining chair, gazing not far away, where Lu Changsheng, dressed in a long, green robe, was talking to his children with a handsome face still youthful.

His thoughts drifted back to over sixty years ago, when he first brought Lu Changsheng to Qingzhu Mountain from the base of the Azure Cloud Sect.

He faintly recalled how he slightly hesitated upon learning that Lu Changsheng only had a Ninth-Tier Spirit Root.

Who would have thought that the farmer boy, who had been eliminated from the Azure Cloud Sect, would unknowingly reach such heights?

A faint smile appeared on Lu Yuanshan Ding’s lips as memories flashed rapidly in his mind.

“Changsheng.”

Lu Yuanshan Ding’s throat moved slightly as he called out, his voice hoarse and weak.

“Father.”

Beside him, Lu Miaoge used her cultivatioo to nourish her father’s body.

But Lu Yuanshan Ding’s vitality had drained, and there was no effect.

“Father-in-law.”

Lu Changsheng immediately moved to the old man’s side.

Even though he had experienced such farewells with the Fourth Elder in the past, his feelings were still indescribably complex.

“Changsheng.”

Lu Yuanshan Ding lightly raised his hand and held onto Lu Changsheng’s wrist, his voice carrying a slight pleading tone, “Changsheng, Qingshan is naturally gifted but too proud. As his father, you must guide him.”

“Xiaozhu is clever and wise. With her by Qingshan’s side, his temperament will be tempered, but being away from home for long is not as safe as staying close. If they encounter danger or trouble, it could be big trouble.”

“Qingxuan is smart and steady; he can manage the household in the future and achieve great things. Qingqi, like Huanhuan, is playful and mischievous but pure-hearted. You, as their father, must be tolerant and protective of them.”

“Qingsong has now settled down, which puts me at ease. But among the siblings, there are too many talented ones, and he harbors bitterness. If you have time, pay more attention to him.”

The old man spoke in a low voice, as if entrusting his final wishes, the sound growing weaker and weaker.

He was fully at ease regarding his two daughters.

His only remaining concern was for his grandchildren.

Beside him, Lu Miaoge’s eyes were red, ann tears flowed unchecked.

“Father-in-law, rest assured, I will take good care of them.”

Hearing the old man’s last words, Lu Changsheng’s heart grew heavy. He held his wife’s hand firmly and spoke earnestly.

“Good.”

The old man responded with a nod, satisfied.

He then gently looked at his grandson and granddaughter, “Qingxuan, Qingqi, don’t be sad. In the future, you must be as excellent as your brothers and sisters.”

After saying that, he released Lu Changsheng’s hand, and with a peaceful smile, closed his eyes for the last time.

“Father.”

Lu Miaoge couldn’t hold back er emotions any longer and burst into tears.

Even though she had long known this moment would come, when it finally arrived, she couldn’t control herself.

“Grandpa.”

Beside her, Lu Qingqi, with her delicate face, was also crying sadly.

Lu Qingxian, while not crying loudly, had red eyes.

He had stayed at Qingzhu Mountain with his grandpa, Lu Yuanshan Ding, for several years and was very close to him.

Lu Changsheng silently held his wife and children.

Once his wife calmed down, he informed Lu Yuanzhong to prepare for a funeral for Lu Yuanshan Ding.

Lu Yuanshan Ding had already made all the necessary arrangements before his death, instructing that the funeral should not be overly extravagant. Lu Miaoge chose to honor her ather’s wishes.

However, despite their intentions, as Lu Yuanshan Ding was an elder of Qingzhu Mountain, the funeral was still significant. Many family clans voluntarily came to pay their respects.

“Father.”

Lu Miaohuan from Bihu Mountain felt a deep, indescribable sorrow after hearing the news.

Lu Miaoyun, who had experience this before, took the initiative to comfort her cousin.

Lu Qingsong quickly returned to Qingzhu Mountain after Lu Wangshu took over at White Tiger Mountain.

“Sigh.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the now-aged Lu Yuanzhong, noticing that only a few familiar faces from Qingzhu Mountain remained, and sighed.

Before he knew it, he had outlasted generation after generation.

In another few decades, there might not be any more familiar faces left on Qingzhu Mountain.

Five days later, Lu Changsheng took his wife and children back to Bihu Mountain.

“Huanhuan.”

After returning, the first thing he did was visit his wife, Lu Miaohuan.

He didn’t need to guess to know that she had been deeply saddened during this time.

“Wah… Lu Changsheng…”

Lu Miaohuan, with her mature and glamorous appearance, suddenly broke down like a child when she saw Lu Changsheng, crying as she poured out all her pent-up sorrow and grief.

“Mom, don’t be sad. Grandpa would want you to be happy.”

Beside her, Lu Qingqi pressed her lips together and held her mother’s hand as she tried to comfort her.

“Mm.”

Lu Miaohuan wiped away her tears, masking her sadness with a soft voice, “Mom is okay.”

Lu Changsheng sighed inwardly and quietly stayed with his wife and daughter.

“Wow, Mom, you should have seen it! When Sister Wangshu ‘swoosh’ unleashed all those talismans…”

Lu Qingqi enthusiastically recounted the battle at Hongye Valley Marketplace to her mother.

She wasn’t really concerned with whether the technique was powerful.

What captivated her was the sheer flair and grandeur, especially when the talismans transformed into a phoenix.

“If Wangshu is so strong, does that mean she’s even stronger than you were back then, Husband?”

Lu Miaohuan asked in surprise.

She still remembered the impressive figure of Lu Changsheng when he defeated three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Yu Family during his own Foundation Establishment breakthrough.

“Back then, it wasn’t that the three from the Yu Family were my limit; it was the Yu Family’s limit.”

Lu Changsheng chuckled lightly and said softly.

Having been married for so many years, he naturally didn’t hide his capabilities from his wife.

“Dad, Dad, Grandpa told me about that time…”

Lu Qingqi immediately asked about the battle from back then.

Although her grandfather had already told her, she was still curious.

“Haha, back then…”

Lu Changsheng held his wife and began recounting some stories from those days to his daughter.

That evening, during dinner, Lu Yun came to pay his respects.

Lu Yun stated that he had made up his mind to cultivate the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique.’

“Alright. In a few days, I will make arrangements for you.”

Lu Changsheng replied after hearing this.

The spiritual veins at Biyun Peak were about to advance to the Second-Tier supreme level.

When it advanced, the two supporting veins it nourished would mature as well, raising two small peaks on either side of Biyun Peak.

He had already planned to plant new spiritual plants on these two peaks.

“Thank you for the trouble, Father.”

Lu Yun nodded respectfully.

Shortly after, Lu Caizhen came to see Lu Changsheng.

“Caizhen, what’s the matter?”

Lu Changsheng asked with a smile, noticing his daughter seemed hesitant to speak.

The two went to a side hall.

Lu Caizhen took out a porcelain bottle from her Storage Bag and opened it.

Inside was a Foundation Establishment Pill.

“Dad, this was left for me by my brother. Now that I’ve achieved Foundation Establishment, I want to give this pill to my husband.”

Lu Caizhen looked at Lu Changsheng, biting her lip, and spoke in a low voice.

She knew how precious Foundation Establishment Pills were.

She had broken through to Foundation Establishment with the help of a pill from her family, and now she wanted to give one to Hong Xuanji.

However, with their family currently in the spotlight, every move they made was closely watched by various forces.

If Hong Xuanji attempted Foundation Establishment and either succeeded or failed, it could draw unwanted attention and cause trouble.

“Since Quanzhen left it for you, how to distribute it is entirely your decision.”

Lu Changsheng laughed lightly.

He had known for years that his son, Lu Quanzhen, had multiple Foundation Establishment Pills.

But he was unaware that Lu Quanzhen had given one to Lu Caizhen.

He had no objections to Lu Caizhen giving the pill to Hong Xuanji.

After all, they had been married for years, and as her father, he couldn’t confiscate the pill from her.

Besides, Hong Xuanji was not only his son-in-law but also the son of an old acquaintance. He had worked diligently at Bihu Mountain for decades, so his merits couldn’t be denied.

“You can go ahead and talk this over with Xuanji. The family can provide him with a Cave Dwelling for his breakthrough.”

Lu Changsheng thought for a moment.

He knew his daughter not only wanted to explain about the pill but also hoped their family could provide a Cave Dwelling for Hong Xuanji.

Otherwise, Xuanji would have to go to Immortal City or Qingyun Market Town for his Foundation Establishment.

But the journey to Immortal City or Qingyun Market Town was long, and without connections, it would be hard to rent a Cave Dwelling without a long wait.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Lu Caizhen’s fair face lit up with a smile at her father’s words.

“Tell Xuanji that his Foundation Establishment can only be done at Biyun Peak, and he must not mention Sumeru Cave Heaven.”

“If he succeeds in Foundation Establishment, unless he’s facing a life-or-death situation, he must not reveal his new power externally.”

Lu Changsheng warned his daughter.

Though he agreed to Xuanji attempting Foundation Establishment, the family’s secrets must remain within the family.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I understand.”

Lu Caizhen knew her father was only agreeing due to her and her father-in-law Hong Yi, so she didn’t dare ask for more.

“Also, keep your Foundation Establishment a secret for now, even from Xuanji. I’ll make arrangements in a few years.”

Lu Changsheng continued his instructions.

“Understood, Father.”

Lu Caizhen, no longer the naïve girl of her youth, understood the risks.

“As for the insights on Foundation Establishment, you can guide Xuanji so he can prepare well in advance.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, not saying anything further.

He wasn’t too worried about his children leaking the secrets of Sumeru Cave Heaven.

If they ever tried, the clan’s genealogy would sense it and give an alert.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Lu Caizhen happily excused herself, feeling a burden lift from her shoulders.

“I wonder how Quanzhen is doing.”

At this moment, Lu Changsheng thought about his son Lu Quanzhen.

After his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, Lu Quanzhen had gone on a journey, saying he would visit Qingluan Immortal City and then travel to the Jin Kingdom for training.

It had been over twenty years with no news. If not for the system connected to the Lu Clan Genealogy, Lu Changsheng would have worried something had happened to him.

But from the system, Lu Changsheng knew his son was doing well, having broken through to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment four years ago.

“Jin Kingdom.”

Lu Changsheng thought of this place, taking a deep breath before slowly exhaling.

He had once planned to visit Jin Kingdom after forming his Golden Core.

But now, with many family matters at hand, he couldn’t leave.

At the very least, he needed to wait until things stabilized and Hong Lian was in charge before he could visit Jin Kingdom.

Meanwhile, in Jin Kingdom…

“Qu Changtian, today I’ll see where you can run!”

In a mountain range, over a dozen cultivators were chasing after a young man in a black robe.

The leader was a tall man with Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

He wielded a giant sword Artifact, relentlessly slashing at the black-robed youth, causing thunderous sounds and deep ravines with dust and sand flying.

The black-robed youth was not ordinary either. He moved like a storm, dodging the attacks swiftly.

When a fatal danger arose, a bloodthirsty golden light shot out, deflecting some of the force of the attack.

“Whoosh—”

At that moment, the golden light suddenly shot toward the tall man wielding the giant sword Artifact.

“Hmph!”

The tall man snorted coldly, and an emerald armor on him glowed, forming a light barrier three feet away.

“Clang!”

The light barrier shattered with a metallic sound, but the golden light couldn’t advance further and retreated quickly.

“This Six-Winged Golden Silkworm is truly extraordinary. If not for my Green Vine Armor, that attack would have been dangerous.”

The tall man narrowed his eyes and continued to wield the giant sword Artifact at the black-robed youth.

The group behind them couldn’t keep up with the two’s speed and were gradually left behind.

“At this rate, I might not escape them, and I’ll eventually run out of power.”

This black-robed youth was none other than Lu Quanzhen on his training journey.

He had traveled to the Jin Kingdom after a brief stay in Qingluan Immortal City.

Though more chaotic and dangerous than Jiang Kingdom, he had adapted well.

But some years ago, a conflict erupted between two factions at a Market he was in, and he was caught in the crossfire, ending in his killing of an effeminate man.

To his surprise, the man was the son of a Yin Ghost Sect elder, known as the Ghost Demon Master.

Since then, the Ghost Demon Master had been hunting him, forcing him to flee.

Luckily, Jin Kingdom’s cultivation world was vast. As long as he hid his identity, even a Golden Core cultivator would struggle to catch him.

A few months ago, someone recognized his Six-Winged Golden Silkworm, sparking another chase.

At this moment, Lu Quanzhen spotted a vast forest stretching to the horizon in the south.

A layer of purplish-black mist hovered over the forest, eerie and cold like poison.

Lu Quanzhen narrowed his eyes and darted toward the forest.

“Hmm, the Black Mist Swamp?”

The tall man squinted as he saw Lu Quanzhen heading for the forest.

The Black Mist Swamp was notorious in Jin Kingdom, shrouded in an inescapable toxic miasma.

This miasma could corrode a cultivator’s flesh and blood and even block Divine Senses.

Normal Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn’t be able to use their Divine Senses in the Black Mist Swamp.

For this reason, the swamp was extremely dangerous. Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t survive there for long before their bodies corroded.

Even Golden Core cultivators would find their Divine Senses suppressed, making it difficult to detect danger.

“Qu Changtian, you’ve got nowhere to run!”

The tall man slowed down, no longer rushing to pursue.

After all, if Lu Quanzhen dared to delve into the swamp, all he needed to do was blockade the area.

“Something’s wrong with that forest!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Quanzhen quickly realized the forest ahead was dangerous and dared not enter.

But seeing the pursuers closing in behind him, he gritted his teeth and decided to take the risk.

Given the situation, there was no other option but to rely on the forest for a possible chance of escape.

“Boy, if you dare, go right ahead!”

The tall man sneered, controlling the giant sword Artifact and advancing step by step.

“Whoosh!”

Lu Quanzhen rushed into the forest, and the miasma hit him instantly as if trying to corrode his flesh.

His black robe billowed as protective light flared up. He ran fast, trying to escape in another direction.

“Humph! You think you can escape? It won’t be that easy!”

The tall man immediately entered the forest, ghostly as he pursued Lu Quanzhen closely.

Moments later, the dozen or so people with him hesitated briefly as they approached the purple-black misty forest before following in to block Lu Quanzhen’s escape, driving him deeper into the forest.

After delving a few miles into the forest, Lu Quanzhen felt the miasma thickening several times over.

Even with his robe’s protective light, wisps of toxic gas seeped through his pores, corroding his flesh.

“Hey, as we keep chasing, even if the miasma doesn’t get me, it won’t leave you guys any better off!”

Lu Quanzhen called out to the others.

“We can endure this for now. If you think you can keep running, go ahead and try.”

The tall man replied coldly.

The purple-black miasma clouded his vision, making it hard to see far ahead, so he kept his distance, wary of Lu Quanzhen using the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm to ambush or strike in the forest.

After all, if they fought, allowing the miasma to invade their bodies would be a huge problem.

For now, he and the others merely blocked Lu Quanzhen’s path, waiting for the right moment.