Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 130 - 110: Hei Wutian Pays Homage to the Immortals

Chapter 130: Chapter 110: Hei Wutian Pays Homage to the Immortals

"The world is in turmoil right now. With your strength, Scholar Lu, this is the best time for you to earn military merit. I swear on my life, as long as you’re willing to act, within a year you’ll rise to First Rank. What’s more, we’ll support you with a chance to be enfeoffed as a Marquis!"

This promise was nothing if not powerful.

However, Lu Chang’sheng also saw the limitations of Xu Yuan and his allies—their actions were bound by officialdom’s rules, more constrained than those of the old aristocratic clans.

"I appreciate your concern, Lord Xu, but Chang’sheng doesn’t enjoy struggle. I just want a peaceful life. I hope you’ll understand!"

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t wish to become entangled in the war. If not for the affair involving his teacher, Hong Yuan, he wouldn’t have come here at all.

It could only be said: in the jianghu, one’s fate isn’t their own.

Now, when it came to wealth and power, he no longer had much desire—gone was the need to toil as he had when he started out.

Xu Yuan left, his face filled with disappointment.

That evening, Xu Yuan hosted a banquet for Lu Chang’sheng at his mansion in the Inner City, to both honor his guest and organize plans for what was to come.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t refuse.

Not getting involved in the war didn’t mean he wanted to sever all ties with the outside world. For Lord Xu Yuan, he was willing to show a bit of respect.

Sure enough, when Xu Yuan heard he was coming, his mood lightened, and during the banquet he often spoke of Lu Chang’sheng and the people connected to him.

Names like Niu Dazhuang, Wang Heihou, and Wei Feng came up again and again.

"I never thought you’d already become an Innate Martial Artist, Chang’sheng. I have to say, I’m envious."

Lu Chang’sheng disliked the raucousness of the feast. He chatted with Niu Dazhuang and the others in a quiet courtyard.

Wang Heihou gazed at Lu Chang’sheng, sighing with emotion.

He’d become much more steady, the sharpness of his youth now tempered and restrained.

"You’re no slouch either. I hear Lord Xu Yuan wants to promote you to a Seventh Rank Official!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Lu Chang’sheng said with a smile.

A trace of pride flashed across Wang Heihou’s face.

That Seventh Rank official status had been promised by Xu Yuan half a year ago.

At the time, Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t been heard from, so Wang Heihou’s promotion wasn’t connected to him at all.

This was something Wang Heihou had fought for by himself.

"From now on, you could say I’ve left the Wang Family with a valuable legacy!"

Wang Heihou smiled as he spoke.

"But compared to Dazhuang and Wei, I’m still not much!"

Niu Dazhuang was now a True Qi Realm martial artist—though not as clever as Wang Heihou, his martial skills were unmatched. For Xu Yuan, who desperately needed experts, his value was far greater than Wang Heihou’s.

Wei Feng was the same. He battled constantly at the front, and not long ago he’d made his breakthrough into the True Qi Realm.

"It’s just a shame about Brother Zhao Hu—"

As soon as those words fell, everyone went quiet.

On the battlefield, blades and spears don’t care who they strike.

No one dared claim they’d survive in such chaos.

And Zhao Hu was just such a casualty.

"Hu was so close... If only he’d lasted a few more months, he could’ve been here with us tonight!"

Wang Heihou’s eyes reddened.

Zhao Hu had been killed in a siege months earlier, shot by a crossbow arrow and thrown hundreds of feet with his armor—he didn’t even get to leave final words.

Luckily, before Lu Chang’sheng left, Zhao Hu asked him to take his family away. Otherwise, who knows what would’ve become of the Zhao Family.

"When the fighting settles down, I’ll bring back Aunt Yun and the others."

The feast ran late, and as it did, it became a matter of dividing spoils.

Xu Yuan couldn’t have gotten so many to guard the Inner City for him without making promises.

Everyone who survived had essentially earned a promotion in status.

Especially those who’d shown merit—Wang Heihou, Niu Dazhuang, Wei Feng, and others.

One became a Seventh Rank Captain, another a full Seventh Rank Captain of Zhi Guo, and another a Seventh Rank Vice Captain.

But because of Zhao Hu’s death, no one felt much joy—there was clearly a heaviness among them.

Afterward, Xu Yuan began restructuring his military, hunting down the fleeing traitors.

As newly-promoted officers, Wang Heihou and the rest quickly became busy—recruiting troops, raising funds.

Lu Chang’sheng, meanwhile, went back to his quarters and began sorting through his spoils from this campaign.

Xu Yuan sent over plenty of silver coins—over a thousand taels, which wasn’t something Lu paid much attention to. What truly interested him was a book he’d taken from the Black Temple, regarding the Immortal Worship Formula.

This formula was similar to the book Hong Yuan had given him, but the content differed greatly.

Especially in the specifics of the Immortal Worship Formula.

"I’d better see what Teacher thinks about this."

Lu Chang’sheng went to visit Hong Yuan, who was recuperating in the next courtyard.

After seeing the book, Hong Yuan’s expression grew serious, and he shook his head: "This formula—you’d best stay away from it!"

"Hei Wutian was called the Undying Monk. The one you killed may not have been the real Hei Wutian. Most likely, he’s left behind this bait for you on purpose."

Not the real one?

Lu Chang’sheng frowned slightly, thinking back to the battle with Hei Wutian. He couldn’t help but agree a little.

Though the gulf between Innate Martial Artists and those of the True Qi Realm was vast, killing someone at Hei Wutian’s level shouldn’t have been so easy.

Still, he didn’t dwell on it. Hei Wutian was doomed to be suppressed by him; if he showed himself, Lu knew he could kill him again.

In the end, Hong Yuan burned the book.

Whether or not Lu Chang’sheng and Hong Yuan themselves memorized that now-complete Immortal Worship Formula—only they would know.

Just as Luo Yi once said, this formula went against Heaven, the last two missing items both replaced with evil things—one of which was truly terrifying.