Qin Ming said indifferently.
"Can we discuss this amongst ourselves?" Xiao Feng gave a bitter smile.
This was an important matter; he didn’t dare agree so quickly.
"Of course you should. Still, I hope you make your decision soon, or you might miss the perfect opportunity."
Qin Ming didn’t mind, just politely reminded them.
After eating and drinking their fill, Qin Ming and Gao Shan left together, while Lu Chang’sheng and Xiao Feng walked out of Qingfeng Building.
"What are your thoughts?" Xiao Feng set up a Sound Insulation Spirit Array, then asked Lu Chang’sheng.
"My cultivation is shallow—I probably won’t get involved," Lu Chang’sheng replied.
"If you do plan to join in, you’d best prepare more thoroughly."
Hearing Lu Chang’sheng’s answer, the look on Xiao Feng’s face grew heavy. "Mind sharing your opinion?" he asked.
"Have you ever considered that there were lots of people involved when we besieged him back then, but so far, only Qin Ming and Gao Shan seem to know about this matter?"
Lu Chang’sheng gave a faint chuckle.
Qin Ming and Gao Shan weren’t on our team, so, logically, there’s no way they’d know what Red Cloud Daoist said that day.
Which ans there’s only one possibility—they learned about it through other channels.
In other words, to so extent, they’re connected to Red Cloud Daoist.
"Plus, the Gu Family knows, and if they know, the Supre Profound Sect probably does too. Who knows, maybe other Immortal Sects are aware as well."
Lu Chang’sheng watched Xiao Feng’s increasingly grim expression and said, "This thing is seriously dangerous. You should stay careful, my friend."
At this point, Lu Chang’sheng figured he’d given enough fair warning. As for what Xiao Feng would do in the end, that was up to him.
Still, Lu Chang’sheng guessed Xiao Feng would probably go. For ordinary cultivators, this kind of thing was seriously tempting. Even he himself, if he felt less secure, might take the risk.
Sure enough, later that night, Xiao Feng, Elder Li, and Elder Guo showed up together, hoping to persuade Lu Chang’sheng to co along.
Xiao Feng couldn’t trust Gao Shan and Qin Ming, those two unknowns, so after returning, he talked it through with Elder Li and Elder Guo.
In the end, they judged that the reason Gao Shan and Qin Ming first hid the whole thing from Xiao Feng and Lu Chang’sheng, but then backtracked, was probably because a pill alchemist like Lu Chang’sheng would be a real asset in exploring Red Cloud Daoist’s cave estate.
So, the three decided to co invite him, but Lu Chang’sheng refused.
"My cultivation’s shallow. I don’t dare get involved in this matter. Please understand, Elders."
Seeing this, Xiao Feng and the rest didn’t push him. They still needed Lu Chang’sheng’s help for the Heaven-Burning Valley business.
Two days later, they quietly slipped away into the night.
As for how they’d profit under the watchful eyes of the Gu Family and the Supre Profound Sect, well, that depended on their own skills.
So thought Lu Chang’sheng.
In the blink of an eye, two months went by; just as late sumr turned to early autumn, a chilly edge crept into the air.
Lu Chang’sheng stood in the courtyard, tempering his body—under the pounding of the Black Water Profound Snake, his Barbarian Armor Technique step by step was nearing Great Success.
His powerful physique made him sensitive to even that subtle chill in the air.
"Sothing feels off about this weather. Don’t tell there’s trouble at Purple Ice Lake again?"
After a while, Lu Chang’sheng dressed and called for Lu Ziyou, having him order a batch of cold-weather gear for the household.
"Father, is the Cold Spirit Wind coming?"
"Not sure. Still, no harm in preparing early."
Clothes for resisting the Cold Spirit Wind couldn’t be stored indefinitely, so most families didn’t keep large stocks.
And since it’d been nearly twenty years since the last Cold Spirit Wind ca through, most cultivators had simply stopped buying new clothes every year.
Lu Chang’sheng didn’t fuss about these routine matters; Lu Chang’an and the others could take care of that. For him, this kind of thing was a passing order.
Turns out family has its perks too.
"Now, we just wait for the folks from Heaven-Burning Valley to show up."
Lu Chang’sheng’s eyes glimred with anticipation.
As ti went on, Lu Chang’sheng stopped hanging around the estate, instead cultivating at White Cloud Pavilion—just in case the Heaven-Burning Valley people showed up and he missed out on any news.
Finally, in the fourth month after Xiao Feng and the rest left, he got word that the Heaven-Burning Valley delegates had arrived.
The Immortal from Heaven-Burning Valley had co to Platinum Immortal City, and settled in the White Cloud Pharmacy.
"I bet the Immortal hasn’t heard about the split at the White Cloud Mountain Range, or else they’d never have chosen to stay there."
The one bringing Lu Chang’sheng the news was Xiao Feng’s disciple, Duan Ming—a trusted follower.
Talking to Lu Chang’sheng about it, he was clearly sore about the situation at the White Cloud Mountain Range.
Lu Chang’sheng just shook his head and smiled, dropping it.
Sure, people from White Cloud Pavilion were technically descendants of the Baiyun lineage, but most folks felt they just didn’t have the sa heritage as the ones from White Cloud Mountain Range.
Still, now wasn’t the ti to say that sort of thing and dampen Duan Ming’s spirits.
"Relax. After this, White Cloud Pavilion will be nothing like White Cloud Mountain Range," Lu Chang’sheng joked.
······
The morning sun carried a hint of warmth. Early in the day, Lu Chang’sheng headed out, with Duan Ming tagging along like an assistant.
Honestly, Lu Chang’sheng would’ve preferred to bring Lu Ziyou, but as soon as he heard the destination was White Cloud Mountain Range, Ziyou refused flat out.
"No point stirring up obvious trouble," Lu Ziyou muttered after Lu Chang’sheng left.
Those cautious types never let themselves get into sses.
······
Lu Chang’sheng and Duan Ming left White Cloud Pavilion, hopped into a carriage carved with arrays, and rode toward White Cloud Pharmacy.
In the Immortal City, flight was restricted—though honestly, with Lu Chang’sheng’s status and skill, he could just fly in by sword if he wanted. Still, that’d be a bit too flashy.
He didn’t know what kind of temperant the Heaven-Burning Valley delegates had, so it made sense not to draw too much attention.
Soon, they arrived out front of White Cloud Pharmacy; with Duan Ming having tipped them off earlier, the other side arranged soone to handle the reception.
Only thing was, the greeter was just so steward from the C and D wings.
"Is it just you guys?" Duan Ming, in charge of communications, obviously understood how this worked.
From his perspective, Alchemist Lu represented the face of White Cloud Pavilion; sending out so low-level functionary from White Cloud Mountain Range was a clear sign they ant to insult them.
But Lu Chang’sheng didn’t seem to care.
"No worries." Then he called out to the slightly nervous steward, "Our colleagues from the White Cloud Mountain Range aren’t likely to stop us from eting the Immortals, right?"
"Of course not! Alchemist Lu, please follow ."
The steward hurriedly responded.
No matter what others thought of Lu Chang’sheng, this steward knew well—if he really pissed off Alchemist Lu, he’d be living in fear from then on.
Inside the pharmacy, the steward deliberately led them through a secluded corridor. Making use of a mont when others weren’t watching, he apologized quietly, "Alchemist Lu, please forgive . I honestly didn’t an it. Had no choice."
Lu Chang’sheng patted his shoulder, saying nothing; that set the steward at ease.
The fact that people from Heaven-Burning Valley headed right for White Cloud Mountain Range was actually pretty predictable.
So, when Xiao Feng and the others were working out agreents, they’d already brought this possibility up.
But with rivals, if you’re not pulling tricks, that’s just not realistic.
"Trying to ss with my nerves, eh?"
Lu Chang’sheng mused in his mind.
"Alchemist Lu, there’s a long walk ahead. Please take your ti—is that alright?" the steward asked carefully.
Lu Chang’sheng instantly saw through what they were trying to do.
They were hoping he’d be late and annoy the Heaven-Burning Valley Immortal—maybe even get himself kicked out of the screening altogether.
"I’m familiar with White Cloud Pharmacy. Just tell where to go,"
Lu Chang’sheng replied.
He could tell imdiately that the steward was being upfront; odds were, this maneuver wasn’t actually compulsory.
Obviously, this move was ruthless—if it actually worked, White Cloud Pavilion would lose out, and they’d absolutely refuse to accept it, causing fierce conflict between the two sides.
The White Cloud Mountain Range folks weren’t worried, but neither did they want to push Xiao Feng and the rest to desperation.
Of course, if Lu Chang’sheng failed to catch it and played along, that’d be another story.
"Life is full of danger."
He let out a soft sigh, eyes growing colder.
Sure enough, never trust appearances; for all the steward’s prior nervousness, who knows—he could’ve just been trying to get to let my guard down.
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