Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 190 - 137: Great Yuan’s Foundations

Under Zhao Xing’s revelation, his identity was quickly settled—he was someone from the Immortal Sect, here specifically to hunt down a group of evil cultivators.

Not long after, Zhao Xing learned from Shi Cong the specific details of the ambush against the Mo-named evil cultivator and Evil Cultivator Zhang.

It was even more detailed than what Evil Cultivator Zhang had described.

After all, Shi Cong had been directly involved in the ambush plan.

Listening to Shi Cong narrate, Zhao Xing, surprised as he was, grew even more intent on leading Lu Chang’sheng down the path of evil cultivation.

As soon as Shi Cong finished recounting, he added, "Excellent! Those evil cultivators have done all sorts of wicked deeds in the Spirit Realm; meeting such an end, they deserved it. I wonder, where is Scholar Lu now?"

Zhao Xing finally exposed his true purpose for this visit: to make contact with Lu Chang’sheng, and then wait patiently for the right moment.

Shi Cong suspected nothing.

Zhao Xing’s claim of being a disciple of an Immortal Sect was simply too shocking. Besides, if he were truly an evil cultivator, he wouldn’t bother with all this—he’d simply kill Shi Cong on the spot.

So, he took Zhao Xing at his word.

Meanwhile, a group of distinguished guests arrived at Lu Family Manor.

Looking at the leisurely small town before them—even though they’d already heard about Scholar Lu gathering hunters to surround and kill an Immortal—the sight still managed to leave them quietly awestruck.

"Scholar Lu’s martial talent is truly extraordinary,"

Yan Yun remarked with feeling.

Just over ten days prior, upon arriving at Black Mountain Prefecture, their first act was to have Prefect Stone Shi Cong mobilize the soldiers, in preparation for a life-or-death battle with the evil cultivators hot on their heels.

Shi Cong received the order and acted at once. But before many days had passed, news arrived—the evil cultivators had fallen.

Jin Ke found it hard to believe and immediately rebutted Shi Cong’s claim. If Shi Cong hadn’t called in many of the soldiers from that day as witnesses, it would have been nearly impossible to convince the Empress’s delegation.

Jin Ke and the others were well aware of the evil cultivators’ terrifying might.

That kind of power was simply beyond human resistance.

Seeing he did not seem to be lying, the Empress’s party made no aggressive moves. Instead, they accelerated the mobilization of soldiers and laid down a tight net in the military camp.

After a few days, they seemed to have gotten confirmation from other sources about Shi Cong’s claims, and only then did they bring their people to Lu Family Manor.

"Looking at their expressions here, the people don’t seem the least bit worried."

In the past month or two, the group had rotated through various prefecture cities. Due to the tremendous impact of the previous battle at Gao Hufu, almost everyone in those cities was living in fear—even the market was noticeably emptier.

A small town like this, next to Lu Family Manor, was exceptionally rare.

The Empress stopped an elderly man to ask the reason why, and whether he knew anything about evil cultivators causing havoc in the realm.

The old man harrumphed, "How could I not know? Just recently, some evil cultivator controlled the Black Mountain Prefecture’s city, trying to collect rare artifacts. Absolutely brazen."

The group finally understood what it means to "see only a corner of the world."

Jin Ke cracked a smile.

"See? Clearly those in charge have deliberately played down the threat of evil cultivators here."

"Jin, even if Scholar Lu is weaker than those evil cultivators, he’s got enough strength of his own. Once we get to the manor, keep your attitude straight."

Yan Yun said pointedly.

The other Innate Martial Artists looked at Jin Ke with thinly veiled disapproval.

In theory, Jin Ke had no real grudge with Scholar Lu—it was only because Zhou Dingguo and Scholar Lu had clashed last time.

But even then, that wasn’t anything serious. Not to mention, Scholar Lu now was far from who he used to be—even as an Innate Limit Martial Artist, he could handle things just fine.

"I know," Jin Ke’s face darkened briefly. Seeing the others’ expressions, he felt stifled, but chose not to say anything more.

"Chang’sheng, the Empress is here to see you."

Soon enough, Lu Chang’sheng received word as he was busy in the alchemy room studying how to refine Body Strengthening Pills, and his face flickered with a hint of surprise.

Unlike their last meeting, Zhu Qing now looked utterly exhausted—her expression was worn, though her eyes still burned with unwavering resolve.

After some brief formalities, Zhu Qing didn’t linger; after leading her people away, she found a courtyard in the small town outside and settled there.

Jin Ke was perplexed.

But the Empress said, "Scholar Lu’s strength makes it far better for us to stay here than remain in Black Mountain Prefecture’s city."

"Even an Innate Limit Martial Artist can’t match tens of thousands of troops. Besides, we’ve figured out how the Immortal was surrounded and killed. With the Black Mountain Army, we’re not afraid of those evil cultivators anymore!"

The Empress smiled, "Instructor Jin Ke may be right, but Scholar Lu is far more than just an Innate Martial Artist now."

"Qing’er—are you talking about those Martial Arts Techniques?"

The old matron asked.

Back at Lu Mansion, Zhu Qing had chatted with Lu Chang’sheng, and had used precious items to buy all twelve Martial Arts Root Source Techniques.

Lu Chang’sheng naturally had no reason to refuse.

Other True Qi Realm cultivators owned such martial arts techniques, and even if he declined, the Empress’s group could have bought them from someone else.

"Exactly! Lin Ming and others said Scholar Lu understood the martial skills faster than anyone among them—he finished studying the Elephant Armor Skill in a few days. I just tried reading it myself, and found it incredibly difficult. At this rate, it’d take two or three months to finish the whole skill manual."

"What—" The whole group was taken aback.

Lin Ming was one of the True Qi Realm martial artists who had studied the twelve techniques alongside Lu Chang’sheng.

Clearly, the Empress and her people hadn’t come unprepared.

"How could it be that big a difference!"

The old matron muttered under her breath.

After all, Empress Zhu Qing was now an Innate Martial Artist and possessed a Spirit Root—which by logic, shouldn’t make someone like Lu Chang’sheng, an ordinary Innate, so much stronger.

"Indeed, while martial talent and spiritual roots aren’t directly linked, for him to be so much ahead proves Scholar Lu’s martial potential is truly outstanding."

"Many already say he’s stepped into the Immortal Dao; so even if he’s not Immortal yet, he’s probably reached the pinnacle of martial arts."

In the Great Yuan’s library, this stage was known as Earth Immortal.

But a more common title was Martial Saint.

One step further, and he’d be a true Immortal.

"Hmph, so what? Great Yuan isn’t without its own Immortals!" Jin Ke snorted.

The Empress frowned slightly, but since Jin Ke was her instructor and an experienced Innate Martial Artist, she held her tongue.

"There’s something else—the Guiding Talisman left by our ancestor has shown some activity lately. I suspect there’s news from the Spirit Realm."

This time, the old matron spoke up.

She was close to the Empress and possessed some Scattered Spirit Roots herself, so she was caretaker of the royal treasury where some Immortal Objects from the time of Great Yuan’s founding ancestor were stored.

But those Immortal Objects are rarely usable; with ages passing and no magical power to nourish them, they lost much of their spiritual essence—only one or two could barely function.

One such item was the Guiding Talisman.

On hearing this, everyone showed excitement.

The royal family was able to attract Innate Martial Artists as Tributors—the news about Immortals is always the core.

So, most of them knew at least a little.

"Really?" Jin Ke was especially agitated.

The others’ favorable attitude towards Lu Chang’sheng grated on him, yet he wasn’t foolish—he knew Lu Chang’sheng’s current power and standing meant an ill attitude would only cause trouble, so he did his best to restrain himself.

Unexpectedly, the situation suddenly changed, and he was overjoyed inside.

"It’s true, though the specifics aren’t known yet, but I’d estimate it’s almost certain."

So much time had passed—if the imperial house hadn’t kept meticulous records and passed them down, this would have vanished into history by now.

"The two realms merging, connecting Great Yuan’s world and the Spirit Realm—this guess is probably correct."

With the old matron’s account, everyone’s mood brightened considerably.

"So about Scholar Lu—" Yan Yun hesitated, asking softly.

Zhu Qing looked at the old matron. "Teacher, are you sure Lu Chang’sheng doesn’t have a Spirit Root?"

"My Spiritual Eye Technique isn’t fully mastered, but the Dharma Eye always works far beyond my own cultivation level. As an Innate Martial Artist, unless he’s an Immortal, he can’t affect my verdict." the old matron replied.

Zhu Qing nodded.

Nowadays, even Scholar Lu wouldn’t claim to be Immortal, much less a few years ago.

Most likely, he indeed had no spirit root.

Still—

"It’s best to leave some room for doubt. I think it’d be worth a try."

She smiled.

"If there’s news from the Spirit Realm, we’re probably dealing with an Immortal. By then, we’ll recommend Scholar Lu to them—under the Dharma Eye of an Immortal, whether one has a Spirit Root will be plain as day."

The old matron didn’t like this suggestion, but she knew Zhu Qing’s character—domineering and proud—so she said no more.

The rest had their own opinions, but seeing Zhu Qing’s resolute attitude, they kept silent, turning their attention instead to the Guiding Talisman.

One day later, Lu Family Manor welcomed yet another remarkable guest.

In an instant, Lu Chang’sheng was stirred.

"An Immortal visiting?" Lu Chang’sheng’s heart filled with caution. He immediately left the alchemy room, carefully pocketing all the poison pouches he’d prepared in advance, hiding them on his body—so, whatever happened, he wouldn’t be caught off guard.