Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 176 - 130: Immortal Insect in the Treasure Vault

Chapter 176: Chapter 130: Immortal Insect in the Treasure Vault

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng’s expressionless face, the other True Qi Realm martial artists felt a bit awkward.

"If Scholar Lu isn’t willing, then we’ll just have to abandon it."

Killing it—they wouldn’t dare.

This thing was alive, and crafted by an Immortal. With its half-awake look, if they provoked it and it brought calamity... It’d be a disaster.

"Abandoning it isn’t good either. We don’t even know what it is. If something terrible happened because of it, we’d be held responsible," Lu Chang’sheng sighed.

"In that case, I’ll take it back for now. Hopefully I can figure out what it is."

Lu Chang’sheng carefully stashed it away in a wooden box.

As for the twelve techniques, those would be shared—everyone could make their own copies.

Of course, simply reading through those books was time-consuming, so no one did so immediately. They left first, preparing for the auction in a month.

The auction accepted only spirit medicines and unusual artifacts as currency.

After this incident, they knew ordinary silver coins were nearly useless.

None of them lacked silver coins anyway; since even Immortal Meng was collecting strange objects, it was clear such things must be extremely valuable.

There was, however, one point none of them could figure out.

Immortal Meng had collected so many artifacts and some spirit medicines—so why couldn’t any be found now?

Had he hidden them somewhere else?

That night, someone quietly slipped out from the courtyard and snuck into Shi Mansion. Nobody knew what they did, but by the latter half of the night, they left disappointed.

······

"Those bastards must’ve gone to press Shi Cong for information."

At night, in another courtyard, Hong Yuan’s eyes glinted with desire.

He couldn’t resist temptation, so he went with Xu Zhuqing and the rest to Shi Mansion.

Lu Chang’sheng watched them leave, his gaze a little odd, then glanced at the box placed nearby.

He’d once heard Li Nangua mention this item—it was called the ’Treasure Vault Immortal Insect,’ with a world in its belly able to house things far greater than its size.

No doubt, Immortal Meng’s riches were all stored inside this thing.

"As expected—everyone just can’t resist their greed!"

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

Luckily, he’d come forward and brought order to the chaos. Taking possession of this thing felt only right.

"The pity is, I don’t know how to unlock it. I’ll have to wait till I can talk to Nangua and ask."

Lu Chang’sheng packed the item away.

Everything else was in his hands now—as Immortal artifacts, of course he couldn’t let them go.

Fortunately, he had plenty of unusual objects himself and could buy up everything at the auction.

The thought of robbing them all passed through his mind—but only briefly. Lu Chang’sheng didn’t want to sink so low. Some actions, once taken, are hard to undo.

"Nangua said in the Immortal Sect at Spirit Realm, they test the spiritual light in your heart. Those who’ve committed grave evil or major treachery can never be admitted."

So, he had to keep some boundaries. After all, he wanted to join the Immortal Sect and grow alongside Nangua in the future.

······

Soon, Hong Yuan, Daoist Nun Ruyi, Guan Hongxiu and the rest arrived at Shi Mansion.

They even ran into a few True Qi Realm martial artists.

Everyone pretended not to notice each other, brushing past without a word.

After all, sneaking in meant each was after personal gain—a little dishonorable, truth be told.

It didn’t take long before they found Shi Cong, pale and panicked.

Shi Cong was just an ordinary True Qi Realm martial artist; facing wave after wave of top-tier True Qi Realm experts a guy couldn’t help but feel the pressure.

Some martial artists, desperate for Immortal relics, had gone overboard with their tactics.

"Damn it, don’t these bastards fear the officials will go after them?"

After the others left, Shi Cong slammed the table so hard the rosewood cracked.

"My lord, there are people outside seeking you!"

The junior official trembled in fear.

As an Inner Official in the Lord’s Mansion, normally he had some face—even True Qi Realm martial artists usually treated him with respect.

But today, the True Qi Realm experts were acting brash. At first, he’d replied neither servile nor overbearing, "It’s late; my lord is already resting. If you have business, come back tomorrow?"

Who knew—they snapped right back at him.

"We have urgent business with Lord Shi. Please notify him at once."

When they spoke, their tone and look made the junior official shiver. He knew if he didn’t comply, these martial artists would barge in by force.

It terrified him.

The Lord represented all of Great Yuan’s local authority. If these people were acting this way, something serious might have happened.

Could it be related to today’s events?

Fortunately, what the junior official feared didn’t occur. The True Qi Realm folks who met Shi Cong didn’t start a fight—the Lord’s face just turned very sour.

"Who is it?"

When the junior official reported back, Shi Cong’s face was so dark you could wring water from it.

This was already the third batch.

"It’s—the former dean of the Martial Artist Institute and others," the junior official said.

"Let them in."

Soon, Hong Yuan and the rest met Shi Cong, probing for information about Immortal Meng.

No luck—their questioning led nowhere.

They could tell Shi Cong wasn’t lying, so they had no choice but to leave.

Whether they’d use other means to keep tabs later, that was another matter.

"Ming."

After sending everyone out, Shi Cong returned to his study and sat wordlessly for a long time.

It wasn’t until an hour had passed that he finally called out.

The junior official outside hurried in.

"Draft me a report."

The junior official was just about to step out to write it, when Shi Cong suddenly said, "Never mind, I’ll do it myself."

This was to be sent directly to the Empress—not something he wanted to entrust to a subordinate.

After the junior official brought pen, ink, and paper, Shi Cong sneered.

A bunch of True Qi Realm martial artists dared to challenge him, the local lord—he just needed to embellish his report and could label this incident as ’rebellion.’

The Empress was busy pacifying the realm—these fools dared go against the tide, did they have a death wish?

"By the way, these people are asking around about Immortal Meng—could they be—?"

"No, surely not. With Immortal Meng’s power, who could harm him?"

"Maybe I can use Immortal Meng against these True Qi Realm martial artists. If they’re bold enough to ask about Meng, someone must be backing them."

At once, Shi Cong thought of Lu Chang’sheng.

Across all Black Mountain Prefecture, only Lu Chang’sheng had that much influence.

But since this involved both an Immortal and a seasoned Innate martial artist, Shi Cong decided to prepare for two outcomes.

First, send his finished report to Jinghua Prefecture, hoping the Empress would dispatch some True Qi Realm martial artists to stabilize things. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His own strength was lacking, and the Black Mountain Army wasn’t as powerful as when Xu Yuan was in charge; plus, too many strong players were involved. He’d rather have the Empress assign someone to take command.

Second, use the Immortal Meng angle.

Once the letter was sent, Shi Cong went to visit Immortal Meng in his courtyard, but never received a response.

Even several Martial Artist Institute instructors had no idea where Meng had gone.

A sudden sense of dread welled up in Shi Cong.

"Could it be—that string of explosions at the courtyard earlier today was really—?"

He started to panic inside.

If that was the case, it might explain why the True Qi Realm martial artists were behaving so boldly.

But—

"He’s an Immortal!"

A few days later, Shi Cong still hadn’t heard from Immortal Meng. What he did find out about that courtyard was a complete mess.

Since the place had been rented by dozens of top True Qi Realm martial artists—plus Lu Chang’sheng, an Innate martial artist—no one dared get close without permission.

But now, so much time had passed. Shi Cong couldn’t hold back; he sent someone in to take a look.

When he found out what had happened, he staggered back and collapsed in shock, eyes full of panic.

"Quick, get things ready—I need to see Scholar Lu!"

There’d been no reply to his letter yet, but now he meant to visit Lu Chang’sheng personally, see what stance he’d take. Otherwise, things would get unbearable.

Early next morning, Shi Cong’s carriage rolled from the Inner City out the East Gate, where he met Lu Chang’sheng.

Looking into the warm eyes of the latter, Shi Cong still felt an inexplicable pressure.

"Greetings, Scholar Lu."

As he bowed, the group of officials behind him all followed suit, bowing together.

Afraid for his own safety, Shi Cong had brought all the top grade officials from Black Mountain Prefecture’s government—about as cowardly as one could get.