Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 181 - 133: Haozi’s Heart Demon, White Ape Achieves Innate!

Chapter 181: Chapter 133: Haozi’s Heart Demon, White Ape Achieves Innate!

As soon as the New Year passed, Lu Chang’an completely gave up any thoughts of being an official and devoted himself to cultivation.

Originally, he was dedicated to advancing along the path of officialdom, hoping to rise to the very top and lay a strong foundation for the Lu Family. Unexpectedly, with the coming of the evil cultivators, he was forced to resign his official status and return to Lu Family Manor.

He still held some resentment in his heart, but after learning of the incident in Jinghua Prefecture, he understood that now was not the right time to be an official in Great Yuan.

Though he did not fear death, he knew that acting alone and irresponsibly would implicate his family, which was never what he wanted.

So, he put aside the path of officialdom, and began honing himself together with his younger brother, Lu Ziyou. If one day the situation in Great Yuan stabilizes, with their martial arts skills, they could still make their mark in the bureaucracy.

Lu Chang’sheng’s perspective had grown yet another level, so when it came to his two sons’ cultivation, he laid out a sound plan—doing his best to help them avoid detours.

Fortunately, the family ethos was still decent, and both boys were well-behaved, saving him much worry.

The problem was Lu Haozi—he really didn’t know what to do about him.

Just as they were preparing to move back into the deep mountains, Hu Xiu’Er came trotting over to pay her respects, grumbling to Lu Chang’sheng.

"Big brother’s trying to take another concubine?"

"That’s right. I don’t know what to say about him—his health is so lousy and he’s still thinking about that."

Hu Xiu’Er was now the housekeeper managing all affairs of Lu Mansion. Fortunately, she was born into nobility and knew how to conduct herself, also aware of Lu Chang’sheng and the rest’s expectations of her. So when it came to Lu Haozi’s concubinage, she monitored the matter strictly.

Moreover, with Hu Xiu’Er managing Lu Haozi’s finances, he too had reined himself in quite a bit.

At this rate, the number of concubines in the eldest branch could give a military platoon a run for its money.

"Big brother hasn’t taken a new concubine for years, so why think of it now?"

"I have no idea either," Hu Xiu’Er replied, totally at a loss.

Yesterday, Lu Haozi had gone to the nearby Lu Family Market, and when he came back, he told her he wanted a concubine and asked her to make arrangements.

He didn’t give any reason for it.

"You figured out the woman’s background?"

"Checked it out. She’s just from an ordinary household in Black Mountain Prefecture, only recently moved to the Lu Family Market area."

Hu Xiu’Er answered.

She never made a fuss—always handled things with facts and logic. Otherwise, Lu Chang’sheng wouldn’t have entrusted her with the business of the mansion.

"Let’s hear it."

"The girl’s name is Huang Ying. Her father is an old Child Scholar..."

At first, hearing Hu Xiu’Er talk, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t pay much attention. As she went on, something clicked in his mind and his expression turned a little strange.

"Hmmm, let him marry her then—as long as the woman doesn’t object."

Hu Xiu’Er paused, then could only mutter to herself as she walked off.

Object?

Who would ever object to entering Lu Mansion as a concubine?

Even she, a fine lady born into a seventh-rank official family, had felt no resistance when she learned she’d become a Lu concubine, hadn’t she?

The Lu Family’s bloodline was so impressive—if she bore a few children, even if they didn’t all become top scholars like Scholar Lu, just two or three in the family would be fantastic.

If Lu Chang’sheng had been willing to take a concubine sooner, she’d probably have been the first in line.

Of course, thinking of Lu Chang’sheng’s reputation in Black Mountain Prefecture, if he really wanted concubines, the women of the entire Black Mountain and neighboring prefectures would be lining up at the gate.

"Too bad, I just never got pregnant." Hu Xiu’Er grumbled as she rubbed her belly, walking away.

She’d been in the Lu Family for years now, always trying her best with Lu Haozi, but he’d been so thoroughly drained that at his age, getting her pregnant was no simple matter.

"That Huang girl must have something special, to get Scholar Lu himself to sign off on this."

Hu Xiu’Er was genuinely curious.

Over the years, Lu Haozi’s indulgence had wrecked his foundations—even with Lu Chang’sheng’s medicines, he never really recovered.

So in the mansion, concubine affairs were strictly controlled, which is why Lu Haozi hadn’t taken a new one in half a year.

But now he’d made an exception.

She couldn’t help being curious.

A few days later, a shy, full-figured young woman was escorted through the doors of Lu Mansion by a crowd of people.

Watching through the screen from the courtyard, Lu Chang’sheng saw that familiar face and couldn’t help but smile wryly. "Big brother, you still can’t let go of the past, can you?"

If before he’d been eighty percent sure, now he was certain—Huang Ying was the sole reason Lu Haozi insisted on the new concubine.

Because she was none other than Zhao Xinghua’s daughter!

Lu Haozi’s face was bloodless. He shook his head. "You’re underestimating me, little brother."

Lu Chang’sheng turned to look, a bit surprised.

Because the older man showed no particular fondness in his eyes; if anything, there was a hint of indifference.

"If it’d just been me back then, it wouldn’t have mattered. But she shouldn’t have made Father lose so much face."

"Don’t worry. I’m not about to do anything wild—the debt belongs to her mother anyway."

"Ahem." Lu Chang’sheng felt like this big brother was oddly unfamiliar—not at all the honest, good-natured man he’d known before.

Still, it was no big deal.

Concubinage, especially with someone from a plain background, didn’t call for a scene. A simple ceremony would do, and the woman would be part of the family.

That night, Lu Haozi put on quite the show—like he’d just chugged a bottle of tonic, determined to reclaim their family’s honor for Father.

Mother’s debt, paid by the daughter!

On the bride escort, Lu Chang’sheng also saw the aged Zhao Xinghua. Her face was full of joy, telling anyone who’d listen that this was her child. It left a bit of a sour feeling, so he sent some gifts for her to take home.

Consider it returning a favor for big brother.

Some people grow more open-minded with age, while others just get more narrow-minded.

Lu Haozi, it seemed, was the latter.

Lu Chang’sheng wasn’t thrilled but didn’t stop him. As long as he behaved, it was fine.

As far as he was concerned, this all ended more than twenty years ago, though he hadn’t expected big brother to still be carrying it.

He didn’t know—even their parents had long forgotten, barely even remembered Zhao Xinghua anymore.

Soon, Lu Chang’sheng forgot about it too.

No telling when the evil cultivators would show up; he had to stay vigilant.

And even if the evil cultivators didn’t come, he’d plan to seek them out in four years, to discover the route to the Spirit Realm.

Back at his secluded mountain residence, Lu Chang’sheng spotted a white shape perched on a boulder.

White Ape was now ancient—its long white fur nearly covered its entire body, just a wrinkled face peeking out from the fur.

"Brother Ape, are you sure you want to try this medicine?"

White Ape nodded.

Exotic beasts have a huge edge in boosting their strength—even without cultivation, once they reach a certain age, they can match even peak True Qi Realm experts, or surpass them.

But every spirit beast is different.

Take snakes—serpent-type beasts can live far longer than apes or monkeys.

White Ape had been around longer than even Hong Yuan and the rest; it was only natural that it was getting old.

If things kept up, and it didn’t make another breakthrough, it would simply die of old age.

So when it heard Lu Chang’sheng wanted to test the Immortal Pill, it stepped up without hesitation, eager to serve as the test subject.

"With our relationship, even if I tested it on someone else, you’d eventually get a pill for your own cultivation anyway." Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but feel bad.

Though from the smell, the medicine seemed normal enough, his cautious nature made him want to test it on a living creature first.

White Ape pointed to itself, eyes full of resolve. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Don’t waste a precious Immortal Pill—let me try it directly.

With no other choice, Lu Chang’sheng took out the powdered medicine he’d prepared and let White Ape swallow it.

Half a month later, he finally breathed easy.

The pill was fine, and he’d also learned a bit about its quality.

This particular pill was especially effective at refining the body, boosting both physique and vital energy.

He divided a single pill dozens of ways for research. Once he finished, he let White Ape take the rest, and its fur changed from dingy yellow to glossy white.

Its aura started fluctuating more intensely.

It’d already been right at the threshold of the Innate Realm, and now, with an Immortal Pill, it finally crossed over.

A small smile crept onto Lu Chang’sheng’s face as he personally guarded White Ape while it advanced.

Days later, a mighty ape’s roar rolled through the forest, shaking down a shower of leaves.

Now an Innate White Ape, its presence was palpable—it looked at Lu Chang’sheng, eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"Ha! You wanna spar?"

Lu Chang’sheng laughed heartily, not hesitating to step forward and start trading blows with the ape.

He knew White Ape had just broken through, its power unstable, so he held himself back, meeting it with just enough force.

Even so, with his near-celestial insight, the ape’s moves looked a bit clumsy.

After half an hour, he upped his strength—and with only twenty percent effort, sent White Ape flying a dozen yards away.

Seeing the gestures White Ape made, Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but laugh.

White Ape was saying: You’re way too strong; forget sparring with you.

Still, Lu Chang’sheng was impressed.

He’d been through the Innate Realm himself and knew how strong a normal Innate Martial Artist could be. Compared to White Ape’s raw power, an average Innate was maybe only sixty percent as strong.

"Exotic beasts really do have freakish bodies—it’s just in techniques and methods they fall short."

All White Ape had to rely on was brute strength.

Lu Chang’sheng had tried teaching it Martial Dao over the years, but beyond the basics, it just couldn’t grasp the more advanced stuff.

With the pills safe, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t hesitate. That night, he swallowed the remainder of the medicine.

"These pills really do boost the body and vital energy!"

As soon as the pill hit his stomach, blood and energy surged and boiled, flooding his bones and meridians—almost like a total internal cleanse.

Lu Chang’sheng wasted no time, immediately practicing the Five Elements True Body Skill. Instantly, mist enveloped him, leaving White Ape, who was guarding nearby, dumbstruck.

A single pill lasted an entire half month before its effects ran out.

While it lasted, he was able to double his daily cultivation time—reaching four hours a day.

As a result, the time needed to master the Five Elements True Body Skill dropped to just 120 days.

"The Spirit Realm really is a paradise for cultivators!"

Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but sigh.