Chapter 87: I’m Not Pretending Anymore, I Am Actually a Spirit Body!

Lu Changsheng naturally didn’t know that the Second Elder went to the Fourth Elder to talk about his affairs in Jiulong Market.

He was still playing with a group of little ones in the courtyard.

Nowadays, the yard has been transformed by him into something like a kindergarten playground.

At this time, Miaoyun said it was getting late and she should go to White Deer Manor to pick up the children.

A few months ago, Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, Lu Wuyu, and Lu Xile were sent to Qingzhu Mountain’s White Deer Manor to study.

So Miaoyun and others usually went to pick them up.

Upon hearing that they were going to pick up the children, Lu Changsheng immediately said he would go too.

He, as the father, hadn’t yet gone to pick up his children from school.

Soon, Lu Changsheng and Miaoyun set off, heading to White Deer Manor.

Walking on the road, Lu Changsheng also told Miaoyun about his life in Jiulong Market.

He bought lots of maidservants and had many children.

One thing was, there’s really nothing to hide about this.

Eventually, the family would find out.

Another is that he figured the Second Elder would spread the news to the Fourth Elder.

Eventually, it would reach Miaoyun and the other women.

Under these circumstances, it was better to bring it up with Miaoyun, his main wife, sooner.

Additionally, the Second Elder has an airship that can carry more people. He plans to bring Miaoyun and the others to Jiulong Market with him this time.

Otherwise, returning home only once every six months is quite a long separation.

By the time they get to Jiulong Market, Miaoyun and others would see, so it’s better to mention it in advance for mental preparation.

When Miaoyun heard that Lu Changsheng had got so many maidservants, she too fell silent for a moment.

However, she didn’t say much, just sweetly remarked that Lu Changsheng should spend more quality time with them next.

“With a wife like this, what more could a husband seek?”

Lu Changsheng thought with emotion.

Even if he truly wanted to purchase a bunch of maidservants and concubines, Miaoyun had nothing to say, and there’s no use arguing.

But he still hoped his wives and concubines could understand and accept it, making the harem more peaceful.

Otherwise, if there were everyday disputes and palace intrigues, it would become exhausting.

And such qualities in Miaoyun, he greatly appreciated.

“Husband, next year’s Spirit Measurement Ceremony, Ping’an and the others will also have to participate.”

Miaoyun, holding onto Lu Changsheng’s arm, spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng fell into contemplation.

Every year on the second day of the second lunar month, Qingzhu Mountain holds a Spirit Measurement Ceremony.

It’s for all the children aged five to six to detect their Spirit Roots.

Lu Ping’an, Lu Wuyou, Lu Wuyu, and Lu Xile are all about of age to participate next year.

However, Lu Changsheng knew very well that none of these four children had Spirit Roots.

“Yes, we don’t know if any of them have Spirit Roots.”

Lu Changsheng sighed slightly as he said this.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but feel some sorrow.

He indeed held quite a bit of affection for Lu Ping’an and the other children.

“Husband, perhaps Ping’an and the others might have Spirit Roots.”

Miaoyun softly said while holding his hand.

She also knew that such matters are quite cruel to parents.

Once there’s no Spirit Root, the future cuts them off from the immortal world.

She couldn’t help but think of her son Lu Yun.

If he, too, had no Spirit Root, he’d have to be sent to the mundane world in the future.

“It’s okay. These things should follow the natural course.”

“If they have Spirit Roots, they can learn Talisman Making with me; without, they can live well in the mundane world.”

Lu Changsheng said, squeezing his wife’s hand with a smile.

He had thought about such things many times before, preparing himself mentally.

Just now, when Miaoyun suddenly brought it up, he couldn’t help but feel some emotions as the day approached.

Thus, they walked and talked, arriving at White Deer Manor.

This manor is not large, similar in size to Lu Changsheng’s own estate.

Inside, there were many men and women, young and old, coming to pick up children, all Lu Family members.

“Changsheng, Miaoyun, you’ve come to pick up the kids?”

“Brother Changsheng, Sister Miaoyun.”

“Changsheng, Sister Miaoyun.”

Some people who recognized Lu Changsheng and Miaoyun called out to greet them.

Lu Changsheng didn’t know many.

He had seen some of them but didn’t know their names.

Miaoyun, however, knew most of them and greeted them familiarly.

Not long after, a bell sounded in the manor and many children came out.

The children weren’t very old, most were five or six, and the older ones were just seven or eight.

Because children without Spirit Roots would be sent away from Qingzhu Mountain by the latest at eight or nine years old.

After all, being born on Qingzhu Mountain and witnessing the world of immortal cultivation but unable to cultivate would be harsh.

“Dad x4, Mother Yun x4!”

At this time, two boys and two girls saw Lu Changsheng and Miaoyun and called out.

Then, trotted over with their little legs.

Seeing his children, Lu Changsheng also grinned and went to greet them, then lifted Lu Wuyou and Lu Xile into his arms.

“Did you miss Daddy?”

Lu Changsheng said, taking out prepared candied hawthorns from his Storage Bag and handing them over.

“Yes!”

The two little girls replied brightly.

Then Lu Changsheng saw Lu Ping’an and Lu Wuyu standing dumbfounded at the side, looking at him blankly, and also gave each one a candied hawthorn.

He took out another to give to Miaoyun.

Since he had many children, Lu Changsheng always bought these spiritual fruit-made candied hawthorns in bulk.

Miaoyun, seeing she had one too, couldn’t help but smile sweetly, her eyes crescent moon-shaped.

She took a candied hawthorn, ate one herself, and then offered Lu Changsheng a taste.

Thus, a family of four, Lu Changsheng carrying two children and Miaoyun holding onto two, headed home.

“What do your teachers teach you in school now?”

Lu Changsheng asked.

He was quite curious about what the tutors hired by the Lu Family taught the children.

He was worried that in this family of cultivators, they might indoctrinate the children from an early age to be loyal to the family or something.

Soon, the children, munching on their candied hawthorns, talked to Lu Changsheng about what they were taught.

It was mostly some children’s enlightening books, teaching them to read and write, without any brainwashing education.

Hearing the children, Lu Changsheng felt much more at ease.

That night.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

The last time Lu Changsheng was home, Miaoyun and Qu Zhenzhen were pregnant and couldn’t share a bed.

This time, Lu Changsheng naturally had to make up for it.

He also let the two women experience his now perfected Body Tempering achievements.

The next day, as the sun rose high in the sky.

Lu Changsheng heard a knock on the door, announcing the Fourth Elder’s visit, so he got dressed under Miaoyun and Qu Zhenzhen’s assistance and headed to the hall.

“Grandmother.”

“Grandmother.”

Lu Changsheng and Miaoyun arrived in the hall, seeing the Fourth Elder in a blue dress with black hair and silver bangs, holding an infant affectionately.

No need to guess, it was Lu Yun she was carrying.

Though the Fourth Elder loved Lu Changsheng, she couldn’t love all his children equally.

She especially adored this great-grandson born of her granddaughter.

“Haha, looks like Grandma came at the wrong time.”

The Fourth Elder looked up at the two and immediately realized that her granddaughter and grandson-in-law must have just gotten up, she teased.

Miaoyun blushed immediately upon hearing this.

“Changsheng came back yesterday, got caught up with the wives and children, and forgot to visit Grandma, please forgive us.”

Lu Changsheng, with a composed demeanor, cupped his hands and said.

He suspected that the Fourth Elder’s visit wasn’t purely for checking on the great-grandson.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let someone inform him and Miaoyun to come over.

“Haha, Grandma just missed her cute great-grandson and wanted to see him, thinking you’re back as well, so she came to have a look.”

The Fourth Elder chuckled.

Then she chatted with Lu Changsheng and Miaoyun about some family matters for a while.

After some time, the Fourth Elder looked at Lu Changsheng and said, “Changsheng, you haven’t been back for a while; let Grandma see your Talisman Making skills and if you’ve kept up.”

The Fourth Elder said this.

This was her main purpose for visiting this time.

After all, the previous day, the Second Elder’s words made her have to come and see Lu Changsheng’s situation.

But she wouldn’t directly mention Lu Changsheng’s indulgence in women and childbearing.

Instead, she’d use the guise of checking his Talisman Making skills to see if Lu Changsheng had delayed his cultivation or Talisman Making.

If there was no delay, it would naturally be best.

But if there was, it would serve as a reason to reprimand, reminding Lu Changsheng not to indulge in women.

“I also wanted to ask Grandma for guidance, please instruct me.”

Lu Changsheng thought her purpose might be as expected, and responded seriously.

Then he stood up, approached the table and took out Talisman Making tools from his Storage Bag.

Miaoyun saw this and carried little Lu Yun from the Fourth Elder’s arms and left the hall.

To avoid the child making noise and disturbing her husband’s Talisman drawing.

Drawing middle-rank talismans, Lu Changsheng certainly wasn’t afraid of a child’s noise.

He could even draw talismans while holding the child.

But in this situation, he couldn’t act like that.

After Miaoyun left with the child, Lu Changsheng, under the Fourth Elder’s gaze, started to draw the talisman witfully, using the talisman pen.

He was drawing a middle-rank talisman, the Earth Escape Talisman.

It was also the talisman taught by the Fourth Elder before.

Soon, Lu Changsheng perfectly drew the Earth Escape Talisman.

“Changsheng, you’ve become so proficient with the Earth Escape Talisman?”

The Fourth Elder was immediately surprised after watching Lu Changsheng fluently draw the Earth Escape Talisman.

Just over four months ago, she had instructed him on the Earth Escape Talisman.

Now, Lu Changsheng not only completed it, but drew it so proficiently, with a completion rate of seventy to eighty percent.

This surprised and delighted her greatly.

She immediately understood that Lu Changsheng hadn’t been slacking or squandering his Talisman Making time at Jiulong Market.

“This is all thanks to Grandma’s guidance.”

Lu Changsheng shyly chuckled, continuing, “In these recent days of practice, I’ve not only mastered the Earth Escape Talisman, but also began with the Frost Talisman, though it’s not yet proficient. I sought guidance from Grandma.”

Since he had anticipated the Fourth Elder’s intentions, he naturally had to act skillfully and present results.

Previously, he’d been pondering the matter of accumulating concubines and purchasing maidservants.

No matter how the Lu Family might have some opinions.

So, he thought about it and found himself an excuse.

“What, you’ve begun with the Frost Talisman!?”

The Fourth Elder was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Her serene and graceful demeanor shifted, eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Lu Changsheng.

This gaze resembled that of Duan Yanqing upon discovering Duan Yu was his biological son.

“Yes, Grandma, just not proficient yet.”

Lu Changsheng silently thought if he’d overdone his act, while maintaining a calm expression.

“Alright, let’s see you draw the Frost Talisman.”

The Fourth Elder took a deep breath and said.

The Frost Talisman is a middle-rank talisman similar in difficulty to the Earth Escape Talisman.

The problem was she hadn’t taught the Frost Talisman to him.

Over four months ago, she only instructed him on the Earth Escape Talisman.

In just four months, his proficiency in the Earth Escape Talisman was already remarkable.

Yet now, Lu Changsheng told her, not only had he mastered it, he also managed to start on the Frost Talisman by himself.

How could she not be shocked by this?

This left her in awe of his talent and diligence.

Immediately, under the watchful eye of the Fourth Elder, Lu Changsheng began the painstaking process of drawing the Frost Talisman.

Naturally, his first attempt failed as part of the performance.

“In your drawing process, your energy wasn’t flowing smoothly, causing it to scatter slightly.”

Seeing this, the Fourth Elder pointed out the problem kindly.

“Yes, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng nodded, starting another attempt.

But again, he failed.

The Fourth Elder kept pointing out issues.

However, the way she looked at Lu Changsheng had changed.

She could see that his understanding of the Frost Talisman was decent.

Then Lu Changsheng took out the White Jade Hundred Flowers Wine, drank a sip, and began drawing for the third time.

Finally, under the Fourth Elder’s gaze, Lu Changsheng ‘luckily’ completed the Frost Talisman.

“Though not yet proficient, it’s clear you’ve grasped the basics of the Frost Talisman.”

The Fourth Elder was both surprised and impressed seeing the Frost Talisman, though a bit skeptical.

If she hadn’t witnessed it herself, she couldn’t have believed he’d achieved such proficiency in four months.

Not only mastering the Earth Escape Talisman but also starting the Frost Talisman.

His Talisman Making talent was simply.

It far surpassed his previous talent in Talisman Making.

“Changsheng, how did you achieve this?”

“I heard from the Second Elder that you’ve recently taken many concubines and seem indulged in it.”

The Fourth Elder began, slightly at a loss for words.

She initially thought of using the guise of checking Talisman skills as a reason to subtly admonish Lu Changsheng.

However, she found his Talisman skills not only hadn’t degraded.

Instead, they far exceeded expectations compared to before.

Leaving her momentarily bewildered.

Even doubting if the Second Elder might have lied to her.

Otherwise, how could one indulge in women and child-rearing, yet have so much energy for Talisman Making?

Hearing the Fourth Elder’s words, Lu Changsheng realized the Second Elder had indeed informed her.

He paused, without responding.

“It’s fine, as long as your cultivation and Talisman path aren’t delayed.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng silent, the Fourth Elder didn’t probe further.

After all, with such excellent performance in Talisman Making, what more could she say?

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng gritted his teeth and said, “I won’t hide from Grandma; though this might sound unbelievable.”

“I found that after being intimate, the following Talisman drawing feels much smoother.”

“Even those puzzling areas in Talisman Making seem to gradually become clearer after more intimacy, making drawing easier.”

Lu Changsheng explained.

This was the excuse he’d come up with after much contemplation.

To explain his extraordinary talent in Talisman Making, as well as his indulgence in taking concubines and maidservants and having children.

As for this reason, it sounds far-fetched.

But in the world of immortal cultivation, it’s not that outlandish.

Not to mention, there’s a reason explaining Lu Changsheng’s statement well.

Spirit Body!

In the world of cultivation, spirit bodies vary widely in type.

There are those that enhance cultivation like the ‘Five Elements Body’.

Those beneficial to dual cultivation like the ‘Maiden Body’.

Poison cultivators’ ‘Calamity Poison Body’, sword cultivators’ ‘Supreme Sword Bone’, and so on.

Among these, there are also Talisman-related constitutions.

That make one innately attuned to the Talisman path, advancing rapidly.

Whether there’s a constitution that boosts Talisman skills through intimacy, Lu Changsheng wasn’t sure.

But the world is vast, who can say?

Moreover, Spirit Bodies can be dominant or recessive.

The Lu Family, being just a Foundation Establishment family, wouldn’t have much knowledge or research about Spirit Bodies.

This was why Lu Changsheng dared to push his case as a Spirit Body.

As for whether this guise of a Spirit Body would cause him trouble, Lu Changsheng wasn’t worried.

After all, his case wasn’t particularly extreme.

It only showed that his talent in the Talisman path was relatively exceptional.

The Lu Family couldn’t possibly do anything drastic because of this.

Perhaps, because of this, his talent and potential would further solidify his status, bonding him tighter with the family.