Soon, the alchemists at White Cloud Pharmacy received a ssage from the Inner Sect and hurried over for deliberations.
For a force like White Cloud Cave Mansion, it was impossible to summon all the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators—so were deliberately kept behind.
Lu Chang’sheng’s level wasn’t sufficient, so he couldn’t participate in this matter. He could only wait quietly.
But after several days, there was still no news. He only heard that a team composed of several late-stage and more than a dozen mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators planned to wait until the cold, frigid winds subsided before venturing to the wilderness where Purple Ice Lake was located to investigate.
This year’s New Year felt a bit lonely; there were far fewer people on the streets.
Lu Chang’sheng sat in his room, several braziers burning beside him. Even though the warmth was limited, it always gave so comfort to the heart.
Xu Zhuqing and Qin Wan entered, then sat down by the stove.
"Master Lu hasn’t returned yet—just happened to dodge this disaster."
Xu Zhuqing said.
Everyone showed a flicker of intrigue on their faces.
"Do you think maybe Master Lu foresaw this, so he used the excuse of wintering elsewhere to avoid the calamity?"
"The Supre Profound Sect isn’t stupid; if that’s really the case, they won’t let it go. Unless Master Lu never cos back at all."
"What if this calamity is really severe? After all, even the Supre Profound Sect still hasn’t co up with a solution."
"Or maybe it’s just that our level isn’t high enough and we haven’t been inford yet."
In the room, Xu Zhuqing, Qin Wan, Yu Hai, and a few old friends were talking together.
"Matters like this involve cultivators at least at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, we’re not of much weight here."
Yu Hai idly fiddled with the fire in the stove, an anxious look on his face.
"Next year, I won’t be able to co here anymore."
"Why’s that?"
"Just recently, I stepped into the first level of Qi Cultivation."
Yu Hai said.
At once, Lu Chang’sheng realized what he ant.
Yu Hai’s Celestial Spirit Body was starting to reveal its wonders. The Zhu Family would definitely want to keep him attached to them, and given Lu Chang’sheng’s rough relations with the Zhu Family, letting Yu Hai co over would only complicate things for them.
"Haven’t you thought of joining another force?" Qin Wan asked.
Yu Hai shook his head. "It’s not that easy. Besides the rules, just being at the first level of Qi Cultivation, I couldn’t leave even if I tried."
"At the very least, I should wait until I have so ability to protect myself before leaving," Yu Hai said.
Qin Wan and Xu Zhuqing didn’t try to persuade him further.
"Enough about . By contrast, Chang’sheng, you’re on the rise—barely in the Spirit Realm and already Alchemist Lin’s disciple. I heard Zhu Fang and Zhu Ding both wore long faces for days after finding out."
ntioning this, Yu Hai couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
The others also smiled. They didn’t really have much enmity towards the Zhu Family, but it was still satisfying to poke fun at them without any guilt.
"What about you two? You both look a lot younger."
Yu Hai looked at Qin Wan and Xu Zhuqing.
"Lady Ruan has treated us well. We’ve never lacked for cultivation pills, so before long, I should be able to break through to the first stage of Qi Cultivation."
Xu Zhuqing said.
anwhile, Qin Wan had already reached the True Qi Realm in Martial Dao.
The two won had achieved greatly, which made Lu Chang’sheng genuinely happy for them.
"It’s a sha about Master—" Xu Zhuqing glanced out the window.
Daoist Ruyi hadn’t co. She was getting on in years, and perhaps after Hong Yuan’s death her spirit had faded; even in the Spirit Realm, she still hadn’t reached the Innate Realm.
Still, her foundation remained, so she wouldn’t just be knocked down by a gust of cold wind.
But everyone knew that without a Longevity Pill, Daoist Ruyi wouldn’t last much longer.
"Teacher’s wife doesn’t have a Spirit Root, and now her spirit’s gone too. She has no drive for cultivation anymore."
Lu Chang’sheng sighed.
Since talking about Daoist Ruyi, the elder, the group felt awkward staying, so they went together to pay her a visit.
Afterward, that night, Lu Chang’sheng saw the guests out.
Xu Zhuqing looked at Lu Chang’sheng and suddenly said, "Do you think what Yu Hai said was true?"
"About what?"
"About staying with the Zhu Family."
Lu Chang’sheng was silent for a mont, then said, "Yu Hai’s a pretty determined person."
Xu Zhuqing shook her head. "You’ve known him longer than , but people’s hearts change easily. I heard Elder Guan married a direct daughter of the Zhu Family recently. Sure, she’s just a mortal woman, but it ans a lot. And Yu Hai, he never ntioned it to us."
Lu Chang’sheng sighed, "Let the matter rest. Everyone has their own choices—he’s no different."
Xu Zhuqing smiled, glanced over at Qin Wan not far away, then changed the subject and asked, "What about you?"
Lu Chang’sheng looked confused, not knowing what she ant by that.
"If even old trees like Elder Guan can blossom, and you, Great Alchemist Lu, just get more and more popular—who knows if you’ll bloom a few more tis yourself?"
Lu Chang’sheng genuinely hadn’t expected Xu Zhuqing, who always scoffed at romance, to bring that up so openly. He couldn’t help but look stunned.
Xu Zhuqing seed to catch herself, a bit flustered and embarrassed. "What? Is there sothing wrong with that question?"
"No, not at all." Lu Chang’sheng chuckled awkwardly.
After that, the atmosphere felt a bit strange. They chatted for a while longer before parting ways.
"There’s sothing I’m not sure I should ntion..." Lu Chang’sheng hesitated.
"Go ahead," she said.
"It’s about Master Lu. I just feel like sothing’s off."
"What do you an?"
"It just seems too good to be true. I an, Master Lu started as a loose cultivator—even his wives and concubines never had such good cultivation resources." Lu Chang’sheng took a mont to organize his thoughts, then shared his suspicion.
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