Chapter 896: Qu Changge’s Lavish Generosity: Another Dao Seed Gifted!

As dusk settled, Lu Caizhen returned to Bihu Mountain from the Hongye Valley Marketplace with her husband, Hong Xuanji, and their children.

“Mom, why did you call me back? What’s the matter?”

Although Lu Caizhen managed affairs at the Hongye Valley Marketplace, the job wasn’t demanding and she often made time to visit Qu Zhenzhen.

To make her trips easier, the Lu Family even provided her with a top-tier second-rank flying boat.

Right now, Qu Zhenzhen was preparing a spirit meal with several younger family members, her face lit up with joy as she told her daughter, “Your dad and uncle are back.”

“Uncle?” Lu Caizhen was puzzled.

Thanks to Lu Changsheng, she had quite a few uncles in name only.

But she knew her mom wouldn’t be this happy if it were an uncle from Qingzhu Mountain or somewhere else.

“Come give me a hand, you’ll find out soon enough.”

Qu Zhenzhen waved her daughter over so she could show off her cooking skills to her uncle.

Bihu Mountain did have a treasure—the Five Qi Pot—which could whip up second-rank spiritual meals on its own.

But those meals were only exceptional for nutrition; the taste, aroma, and appearance were just so-so.

So Qu Zhenzhen still liked to cook herself, always experimenting and refining new dishes.

Her daughter Lu Caizhen, naturally influenced, also became a second-rank spirit chef and learned plenty about spirit culinary arts.

“Mom, this uncle of yours—don’t tell me it’s the one I’ve never met?”

Lu Caizhen was never the most talented, but she wasn’t foolish. As a well-off Lu family daughter, she lacked nothing in life.

She figured only her mom’s own brother could make her this happy.

But hadn’t this uncle died long ago while away from home?

Even if he didn’t, after all these years, he’d be long gone by now—wouldn’t he?

“That’s right. He’s your real uncle.”

Qu Zhenzhen explained that back then, her brother had accidentally fallen off a cliff, was saved by a powerful cultivator, and taken to cultivate immortality. Now, having succeeded in cultivation, he’d finally come to Bihu Mountain to see her.

Hearing such a fantastical story, Lu Caizhen couldn’t help but wonder—was this really like one of those old tales, or was someone faking as her uncle to scam them?

After all, ever since Bihu Mountain started thriving, situations like that weren’t unheard of.

Some would claim they were distant relatives of the Lu Ancestor’s concubine, or carry a child and insist it was the bloodline of some Lu Family disciple.

Even female cultivators in tight spots would impersonate Changsheng True Lord’s consort, declaring they had a brief romantic encounter to take advantage of the Talisman Lu Family’s name.

Given how many wives and consorts Changsheng True Lord had, no one knew just how many real or fake trysts he’d had in the world.

So, some beautiful women really managed to benefit just by saying so, banking on the Lu Family’s reputation.

But with her dad home, and her mom being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, no impostor could fool their bloodline senses. Lu Caizhen congratulated her mom, secretly intrigued by the mysterious uncle she’d never met.

Mother and daughter chatted casually as they prepared the spirit meal.

When everything was nearly done, they called Lu Changsheng and Qu Changge to join them for dinner.

This was essentially a private Qu family banquet, so it wasn’t crowded.

Just Lu Changsheng, Qu Changge, Qu Zhenzhen, and Lu Caizhen’s family.

“Dad, greetings to Father-in-law.”

“Grandpa! Grandpa!”

Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji led their children to greet Lu Changsheng, then glanced with curiosity at Qu Changge in his dark robe embroidered with cloud patterns.

Now, Qu Changge’s hair was no longer all white—it was jet black, tied up with a wooden hairpin. There was a scholarly, refined look to him.

Yet his handsome face still looked cold and stiff, warning strangers to stay away.

“Caizhen, Xuanji, this is your uncle.” Qu Zhenzhen quickly introduced him to her daughter and son-in-law.

Although Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji had been married for over ninety years, their marriage felt more like him marrying into her family. They lived on Bihu Mountain, working for the Lu Family.

Hong Xuanji always showed deep respect to his mother-in-law, and she practically treated him as her own son.

“Caizhen greets Uncle. Xuanji pays respect to Uncle-in-law.” The couple both bowed with cupped fists.

“Caizhen.”

Qu Changge looked at his niece, whose features resembled his sister’s, and a sense of kinship rose within him.

He couldn’t sense any blood ties from the third or fourth generation Lu juniors.

But with Lu Caizhen, he felt it immediately.

This was the power of blood bonds!

Ordinary mortals could hardly sense those deep-rooted ties of kinship.

But once a cultivator reached a certain level, those connections became crystal clear.

Still, when Qu Changge realized his niece was only at Foundation Establishment stage six, his brows drew tight.

He remembered seeing Lu Caizhen the last time he visited his sister years ago.

She was already a grown woman back then.

By now, she should be at least one hundred and twenty.

Yet with this cultivation, she likely had little hope of reaching Core Formation.

“What has Lu Changsheng been doing all these years?”

Qu Changge’s frustration with Lu Changsheng instantly deepened.

He suspected his niece had been neglected.

Otherwise, how could she have reached this age and still be stuck at Foundation stage six?

Then, seeing Hong Xuanji—his hair already gray and looking twenty years older than his niece—he frowned even more.

Only Foundation Establishment stage one?

And his magical energy felt weak and unstable.

Obviously, he’d made his breakthrough with secret arts and external help, at the cost of his potential.

Why had Lu Changsheng found his niece such a husband?

Qu Changge’s displeasure with Lu Changsheng hit its peak.

But with his sister right there, and the family seeming happy enough, he chose not to make a scene.

Smiling, he handed a storage pouch to his niece, “Caizhen, a little gift from your uncle.”

“Xuanji, here, take this too. Just a token from your uncle.”

Even though Hong Xuanji wasn’t remotely to his liking, he still offered him a welcome gift.

“Thank you, Uncle.” Hong Xuanji responded with respectful gratitude.

Soon, the Qu family’s little banquet began.

Qu Zhenzhen kept the conversation lively, but among the guests, only Hong Xuanji really knew how to keep things upbeat.

He brought up how his mother-in-law had always hoped her brother would return, how in his youth he’d even tried to find news of Qu Changge alongside Lu Quanzhen.

Qu Changge didn’t exactly smile brightly, but he could tell this niece’s husband was genuinely good-natured and had earned the affection of both his sister and niece.

After the meal and wine, Qu Changge suggested that Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji show him around Bihu Mountain.

Both agreed at once, happily introducing all the wonders of the mountain.

“Xuanji, did you reach Foundation Establishment with external help?”

Qu Changge finally asked about his niece’s husband’s cultivation.

“That’s right, Uncle. I failed at Foundation Establishment initially, but with a little help from Brother Quanzhen, I somehow scraped by.”

Hong Xuanji replied, a trace of regret in his eyes.

Back then, with his wife’s support, he got a Foundation Pill.

His father, Hong Yi, spent everything he had to secure the needed spiritual items for his breakthrough.

But even then, he fell short, failing to make the breakthrough.

Afterward, he lost heart, but it was with Lu Quanzhen’s help that he finally succeeded.

Although his Dao foundation was shattered and his cultivation prospects dim, at least he’d joined the ranks of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“That won’t do. As a man, you need the strength to protect your family.”

Qu Changge spoke mildly but firmly.

“You’re absolutely right, Uncle.” Hong Xuanji nodded, not bothering to explain the limits of his own path.

“In that case, let me give you a hand.”

Qu Changge believed Lu Changsheng hadn’t been attentive enough as father or father-in-law, so as uncle, he couldn’t just sit by.

He lifted his palm, and suddenly, a massive hand covered in inky-black patterns—its nails as sharp as blades—appeared, swirling with dense demonic energy.

At that moment, both Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji shuddered as an indescribable, overwhelming aura pressed down on them.

“Demonic cultivator…” Hong Xuanji immediately realized his wife’s uncle very likely walked the devil’s path.

The next instant, he seemed to hear a piercing, agonized shriek as Qu Changge poured enormous torrents of pure, vast, and mysterious power into his body.

The force was so immense, it could have burst him apart.

Yet under an irresistible power, it surged into his flesh, meridians, and dantian, even into the shattered Dao foundation, changing everything.

“Uncle?” Lu Caizhen looked anxiously at the scene, unsure what her uncle intended, only sensing that terrifying aura from him.

“Don’t worry, he’s just helping connect his path.” Qu Changge spoke softly.

Hong Xuanji could feel new life blooming in his body, his meridians and dantian being reforged, even his shattered Dao foundation repairing and solidifying.

At the same time, his body subconsciously started running his cultivation technique, as if ready to break through to Foundation Establishment stage two.

As his body grew stronger and his Dao foundation healed, his cultivation rose to stage two.

“What…” Lu Caizhen was stunned.

She knew her husband’s breakthrough was only possible with her brother’s help, and his potential was supposedly drained.

Even after decades, he’d made no progress past the first stage.

Yet now, her uncle’s help had taken him not only to stage two, but he showed no sign of stopping.

“This boost won’t cause Xuanji any harm.” Qu Changge assured Lu Caizhen.

The resource he used to rejuvenate Hong Xuanji was none other than the Nascent Soul essence of True Lord Shi Hai.

Nascent Soul cultivator essence was among the rarest and most precious treasures—a supreme tonic.

Previously, Lu Changsheng had used a sliver of Tianyuan True Lord’s essence to help Chu Qingyi reform her Golden Core.

Using this kind of source energy to help a spent Foundation cultivator like Hong Xuanji was downright extravagant.

“Caizhen, let me help you too.”

Qu Changge looked at his niece, planning to boost her realm as well.

Nascent Soul might be out of reach,

but clearing the path to Core Formation was no problem.

Lu Caizhen felt a little nervous—such means were simply unbelievable.

At that moment, her father’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Caizhen, don’t worry. Your uncle means you no harm.”

The commotion from Hong Xuanji’s breakthrough could not escape Lu Changsheng’s notice atop Biyun Peak.

To be honest, he never fully trusted this brother-in-law.

His Taiyi Spirit was always monitoring the situation.

Seeing Qu Changge so generous, spending Nascent Soul essence to help his daughter and son-in-law advance, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help being surprised.

Even though it was someone else’s Nascent Soul essence, not his own, using it on two Foundation cultivators was still incredibly wasteful.

Still, this purified essence was the absolute best spiritual treasure for cultivators.

“But is this showing off, or is he trying to make me look bad?”

Lu Changsheng suspected Qu Changge was venting his discontent at how he treated his niece.

But the only reason Lu Caizhen had reached Foundation Establishment stage six was because of both his and Lu Quanzhen’s support.

Without that help, juggling pregnancy, motherhood, and family duties, even with her spirit root upgraded by the Heaven Mending Pill, she might’ve never reached her current level.

Truthfully, he hadn’t paid as much attention to this daughter as he might.

Had he used all resources on her, she would have broken through much sooner.

But he’d been too busy all these years.

Only recently had he started accumulating real wealth.

Before reaching Nascent Soul, his holdings couldn’t support unlimited investments in every child.

As for Qu Changge’s over-the-top displays, Lu Changsheng couldn’t be bothered—he even hoped he’d keep going.

With his uncle’s help, Hong Xuanji reached Foundation Establishment stage three while Lu Caizhen rose to stage seven.

They could’ve advanced further…

But too much, too fast can backfire.

Sudden jumps require time to adjust and stabilize.

“Alright, go get some rest and stabilize your cultivation. In a few days, I’ll help you again.”

Qu Changge smiled at his niece and nephew-in-law, who were both still utterly dazed.

“Thank you, Uncle! There’s no way I can ever repay you. I promise to take good care of Caizhen and honor you and Mother-in-law!”

Hong Xuanji snapped back to his senses. Blessed by his wife’s fortune, he dropped to his knees in gratitude.

He’d already given up on making any progress in this life.

Yet now, he’d reached stage three and even had his Dao foundation rebuilt. He could see a path to mid or even later Foundation Establishment.

And his uncle-in-law promised to help them again soon.

Hong Xuanji felt like he was dreaming.

“Thank you so much, Uncle!” Lu Caizhen finally came to her senses and bowed in thanks.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle, isn’t all this a huge drain on you?”

Wasn’t the usual method for making breakthroughs to take pills or medicinal baths? Her uncle had just smacked her and suddenly all this power poured in—it was like something out of a folktale.

“It’s fine. This won’t affect me at all. You both go rest early.” Qu Changge said with a warm smile.

If his sister Qu Zhenzhen hadn’t cultivated the Heaven and Earth Everlasting Method, he might even use the Nascent Soul essence from Wu Gu Old Demon and Shi Hai True Lord to nurture her Life-Bound Spirit Plant.

“Thank you, Uncle. You should get some rest too.” Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji bowed again, still in a daze.

“Caizhen, your uncle… just who is he?” Hong Xuanji asked in awe. He realized now that both Lu Quanzhen and Qu Changge might have cultivated devilish arts.

Each had methods to help others make miraculous advances.

He’d even seen Lu Quanzhen reveal a ruthlessly cold side once.

He figured his uncle-in-law was usually just as fierce, only trying to appear gentle now—but the little expressions on his face showed he wasn’t comfortable smiling.

“I have no idea myself.” Lu Caizhen shook her head, even more stunned than her husband. She rushed off to ask her mother for answers.

But Qu Zhenzhen only knew her brother’s cultivation was high—possibly on par with her husband.

“What’s wrong?” Qu Zhenzhen asked.

Lu Caizhen immediately explained how her uncle had boosted both their cultivations.

“Brother is amazing!” Qu Zhenzhen’s lips parted in shock. Her brother’s means had truly startled her.

She went right away to ask her husband more.

Lu Caizhen and Hong Xuanji returned home and opened the gifts from Qu Changge.

Looking at the piles of treasures and spirit stones, the couple were stunned all over again.

Could their uncle really be a Nascent Soul True Lord?

Otherwise, these gifts would be far too lavish—enough to rival the entire fortune of a Core Formation cultivator.

Even Hong Xuanji was floored, marveling at his wife’s mysterious luck.

Her father, Changsheng True Lord, was already famed throughout the Jiang Kingdom as a Core cultivator who founded the mighty Talisman Lu Family.

Her brother, Lu Quanzhen, though little-known, had already surpassed Core Formation as well.

Now a new uncle appeared from nowhere, offering gifts worth a million spirit stones and helping her reach the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Even he had gone from stage one to stage three.

Five days later, with Qu Changge’s support, Lu Caizhen advanced to Foundation Establishment stage nine.

As streams of magical energy poured into her dantian, a familiar system prompt sounded in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

[Congratulations! Fifteen of your descendants have reached Foundation Establishment stage nine. You’ve earned one Advanced Lottery Draw!]

Lu Changsheng was chatting with his wife when his eyebrows lifted—this brother-in-law was really efficient.

But he noticed Qu Changge only cared about his sister Qu Zhenzhen and niece Lu Caizhen.

The other Lu Family juniors—including Caizhen and Hong Xuanji’s own kids—never got the same treatment.

Otherwise, Lu Changsheng would’ve loved for his brother-in-law to upgrade everyone overnight.

Still, he wondered if he should use the Nascent Soul essence from True Lord Tiancang or True Lord Qianren to force another round of breakthroughs himself.

Extravagant as it might be, nothing beat the effectiveness.

But since what he needed most now was combat strength, he decided he’d rather use that essence to refine the True Saint Skill of Brahma and Demons.

Besides, with all the resources from the Liang-Yue War, he had more than enough to nurture his family—no need for such blatant waste.

“System, draw!”

Lu Changsheng was in high spirits these days, feeling his luck running high, so he triggered the draw with a thought.

[Ding! Congratulations! You’ve obtained a Dao Seed: Blossoming Peach Radiance!]

[Reward delivered to the system space. Check at any time.]

A pale pink halo, shaped like an unopened peach blossom, accompanied the system alert in his mind.