Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 210 - 147: Dingyuan’s Scheme

That year, Lu Chang’sheng was twenty-six, and Zhou Dingyuan was thirty-six or thirty-seven. Now, Lu Chang’sheng is fifty-five, and Zhou Dingyuan is already sixty-six or sixty-seven.

Moreover, because of the years spent at war, as he aged, the injuries he’d accumulated over time flared up, making him appear even more worn and haggard.

"Please, have a seat, Scholar Lu."

Zhou Dingyuan stood up as he spoke.

With age, the sharp aura that once lingered between his brows had faded considerably, or perhaps it was now concealed deep in his heart.

At this moment, his demeanor was more like that of an official well-versed in the nuances of officialdom.

Seeming to have noticed Lu Chang’sheng’s mood, Zhou Dingyuan gave a wry smile and said, "A decade ago, I retired from the army."

Lu Chang’sheng understood immediately.

For a famed general like Zhou Dingyuan, retirement usually meant entering court, serving as a bridge between the military and the Emperor, and taking part in state affairs.

As they say, ’When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Navigating politics isn’t the same as commanding on the battlefield.

If Zhou Dingyuan wished to make his mark in the court, he had to master its intricate rules.

"This is my son."

Just then, Zhou Dingyuan brought someone standing beside him to the front.

"Come now, greet our guest."

"Greetings, Scholar Lu." There was no discernible expression on Zhou Cauldron’s face.

A trace of gloom flashed across Zhou Dingyuan’s face, but this was not the right moment to address it.

"The world has changed so much. I wonder, Scholar Lu, do you have any plans for the future?" After some formalities, Zhou Dingyuan finally asked.

"I’m not sure yet. I’ll decide after I reach the Spirit Realm," Lu Chang’sheng replied vaguely.

Never speak too deeply with mere acquaintances.

There wasn’t any real friendship between him and Zhou Dingyuan—in fact, they barely counted as having small past grievances. But neither man was petty enough to harbor grudges over such trivial things.

Zhou Dingyuan detected the faint sense of distance in Lu Chang’sheng’s words, but wasn’t surprised. He ordered the others to leave, keeping only his son in the room.

He then produced two chests.

One was filled to the brim with rare objects, the other packed with Spirit Medicine.

"Over the years, I’ve had people collect all sorts of rare items and Spirit Medicine. The value shouldn’t be trivial. Today, they’re for you, Scholar Lu—a way to settle those old disputes once and for all."

Lu Chang’sheng was silent for a moment, mixed emotions welling in his heart.

He’d thought he alone could monopolize most of the rare objects in Great Yuan, but clearly, others weren’t fools. Even if they didn’t know exactly what these items were for, they understood that rarity endowed value.

Upon reflection, it made sense.

Great Yuan had ruled this world for ages, and still maintained connections with the Spirit Realm. It was almost impossible that they’d remain ignorant of the secrets of these rare objects.

For someone like Zhou Dingyuan—who could sit side by side with Zhu Qing—it was only natural to know these secrets.

Yet, Lu Chang’sheng shook his head.

These things were valuable—worth at least several dozen Spirit Stones—almost as much as all his current assets combined.

But gifts undeserved create obligations. If he accepted, he’d be indebted to Zhou Dingyuan—any future request would be difficult to refuse.

So he shook his head and said, "General Zhou, you give me too much credit. What happened back then was trifling; if you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have long forgotten. Please, take these things back."

Zhou Dingyuan’s face stiffened for a moment, then he let out a laugh. "Truly, Scholar Lu, you are broad-minded. In that case, I won’t insist."

The two of them chatted as if nothing had happened, and before long Lu Chang’sheng stood up to take his leave.

As soon as he walked away, an unhappy expression crossed Zhou Cauldron’s face.

"Father, why are you so set on me apprenticing to that man? He might have some skills, but compared to Immortal Zhu Er, he’s far inferior."

"Of course I know that. But Immortal Zhu Er has seen the world, and your Spirit Root Talent is poor. Even with my backing, it’s hard to get him to accept you as a disciple."

"Still, we won’t know unless we try," Zhou Cauldron replied.

That was exactly his issue with his father’s arrangements.

If his father had already approached Zhu Er first and been rejected, then sought out Lu Chang’sheng afterward, he wouldn’t be nearly so resistant.

Zhou Dingyuan’s face darkened.

He certainly knew Zhu Er was stronger. The original plan was to prove himself during the campaign against the Evil Cultivator, then seize the chance to ask Zhu Er to accept Zhou Cauldron as a disciple. But after seeing Lu Chang’sheng’s performance, he changed his mind.

"You don’t understand. Scholar Lu is not as simple as he appears. Right now, Immortal Zhu Er may look far more impressive, but I have a gut feeling that, once in the Spirit Realm, Scholar Lu will go much further."

"And there’s something else—I’ve heard that Scholar Lu also has connections with the Immortal Sect in the Spirit Realm."

He’d just learned this from Huang Feng, which finally tipped his decision in favor of Lu Chang’sheng.

Hearing his son’s words, Zhou Dingyuan was filled with emotion.

"Both Immortal Zhu Er and Scholar Lu are people of exceptional ability. But if either learns you attempted to apprentice to the other and failed, neither will take you in."

"If you approach Immortal Zhu Er first, Scholar Lu will be wary. No matter what you accomplish in the future, it could provoke Immortal Zhu Er’s displeasure. That wouldn’t be good for you, or for Scholar Lu. Besides, as I know him, Scholar Lu doesn’t like trouble. By then, that road will be completely closed to you."

"If you go to Scholar Lu first, then even if Immortal Zhu Er wanted to, he wouldn’t take you in. After all, if you couldn’t get Scholar Lu to accept you, for him to do so would seem like picking up leftovers."

Zhou Dingyuan patiently advised his son.

He thought Zhou Cauldron would understand and reflect, but instead, the young man complained unhappily, "So going to this Scholar Lu will just make me miss out on a better opportunity, won’t it?"