Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 292 - 185: Red Cloud Daoist Exposed!

Still, these were no ordinary people. Since Lu Chang’sheng was concerned, they could certainly afford to be extra cautious.

Several more days passed, and the trio still couldn’t find another merchant vessel. They had to settle for a Thunder Merchant House ship. Of course, when contacting them, they all used fake names and even disguised their appearances.

To avoid any suspicion over numbers, they deliberately brought along two loose cultivators as companions.

Only then did they board the vessel.

Two days later, the merchant ship set out from Liuyun Immortal City’s docks, headed toward Platinum Immortal City.

At the same time, in a cabin aboard the ship, several cultivators who boarded along with the group sat inside, faces dark with gloom.

One man lifted the curtain, watching the passengers strolling across the deck, feeling a headache coming on.

"I wonder if that Lu character has gotten on board."

This person was none other than the Zhuo Family Ancestor.

"Fellow Daoist Lei, you can’t tell who it is either?" He glanced at the man beside him, who was puffing away on a clay pipe, looking for all appearances like an old mortal—except that, whenever the man pondered, he exuded an unsettling sense of menace.

"You all know how our business works. We never let customers leave too much information."

Cultivators were especially cautious. If information were left behind, they’d never feel safe.

Hearing this, the Zhuo Family folk grew exceedingly frustrated.

They’d thought keeping tabs on Lu Chang’sheng’s residence would let them track his movements. Who could’ve predicted—

"Maybe... they didn’t board at all?"

"Impossible. Only one ship is heading back to Platinum Immortal City right now, unless they flew."

"That Lu fellow hasn’t even reached mid-stage Qi Cultivation. How could he fly?"

"Go out and ask around some more. If anyone seems suspicious, report directly to me," the Zhuo Family Ancestor said in a stern tone.

"That Turtle Shell Map is extremely important to us."

The old Lei man sitting on the threshold took a few deliberate puffs, smoke curling up. "It’s simple, really—just see who’s traveling in a group of three."

As he spoke, a hint of murderous intent glimmered in his eyes.

"But don’t forget what you promised me. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time before we both get burned."

"Relax." The Zhuo Family Ancestor nodded. "You and I have always operated in the shadows—pulling a fast one benefits neither of us."

······

"Fellow Daoist, are you folks from Platinum Immortal City?"

A merchant crewman approached Lu Chang’sheng, striking up a conversation.

He stole a glance at Fang Yuan standing beside Lu Chang’sheng.

"I was born in Platinum Immortal City, but this fellow here isn’t; he hails from Liuyun Immortal City," Lu Chang’sheng replied.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t give it much thought; from the man’s looks, he seemed the sociable type.

Still, having decided to be careful, Lu Chang’sheng wouldn’t make a basic mistake like that—thus claimed Fang Yuan was from Liuyun Immortal City.

"Oh, I see! So you two came here together?"

This made Lu Chang’sheng feel a twinge of vigilance.

"No, there’s a few of us. Why are you asking, fellow Daoist?" He feigned annoyance.

The other laughed dryly to himself—this guy really is on guard, but since his goal was already accomplished, there was no need to probe further. "No reason, just killing time. River travel really is boring."

To prove he meant no harm, he waved his hands and turned to walk away.

But Lu Chang’sheng kept his focus on the man, hiding his suspicion beneath a neutral expression, all the while listening closely.

"If this guy is investigating group numbers, he’ll surely probe others as well."

Sure enough, half an hour later, similar questioning drifted to his ears.

This time, the voice didn’t belong to the earlier crewman, but another cultivator—he was casually asking a different passenger. Yet to Lu Chang’sheng’s ears, it seemed calculated and sly.

"Something’s definitely up."

That night, Lu Chang’sheng sought out the rest of his group, asking if they’d experienced this as well.

Qu Guang said yes, and one more in the group confirmed it too.

To avoid attracting attention, Qu Guang and Fang Yuan slipped back quietly while the other two returned to their cabins.

"Looks like trouble’s found us," Lu Chang’sheng said as he set down a sound insulation spirit array, sighing.

He laid out his suspicions at once.

Fang Yuan and Qu Guang were no ordinary folk—they immediately grasped the situation.

"They may not be targeting us specifically, but any way you slice it, it’s bad news," Qu Guang remarked, frowning.

Everyone was on the same vessel—if a killing ambush broke out, nobody could expect to stay unaffected.

"If Fellow Daoist Lu had mastered Sword Control, all this would be much less troublesome."

Sword Control could let him travel rapidly through the air, and, with two late-stage Qi cultivators for backup, no one would worry about accidents.

Unfortunately, Lu Chang’sheng had just entered mid-stage Qi Cultivation, and hadn’t begun training in Sword Control. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

So, he couldn’t make use of such magic.

As for Sword Talismans, he did have a few, but their power would only last for a handful of hours.

Of course, the two weren’t overly concerned—the smaller merchant ships rarely had more than one late-stage Qi cultivator as guard.

With Fang Yuan—an elite late-stage cultivator—present, things felt secure. If not for worries over Lu Chang’sheng, they’d hardly spare a thought for it.

But that feeling wouldn’t last.

That very night, a sudden, violent tremor rocked the ship, and a furious voice rang out.

"You’ve got nerve!"

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart lurched—he dashed out, meeting Fang Yuan and Qu Guang in the corridor.

Someone was fighting!

The three traded glances before racing out—where, in midair, several figures were clashing in magical combat.

One of them had a shock of red hair atop his head!

"That’s Red Cloud Daoist!"

As soon as they glimpsed the red-haired cultivator trapped in the center, everyone froze.

"Red Cloud Daoist!"

A passenger couldn’t help but shout.

Instantly, a torrent of murderous glares fixed on him, as if they’d rather kill than spare him.

Originally, Red Cloud Daoist’s attention was fixed on those cultivators aloft—but with a shout like that, all eyes dropped to the deck.

Sure enough, the enraged Red Cloud Daoist glanced down, then suddenly let out a sinister chuckle.

"Fine. I’d planned to quietly hitch a ride away from Liuyun Immortal City. Seems you’ve forced my hand. Very well—none of you get to live."

With that, Red Cloud Daoist struck—the mass of shadow enveloped a levitating cultivator.

The cultivator grunted, his body plummeting from the sky. Fortunately, he landed solidly atop the water, bursting forth with spiritual light, barely able to shove back the black shadow.

"Careful! That’s Red Cloud Daoist’s Illusion Technique!"

He shouted.

Any pretense of disguise was out the window by now.

As soon as Lu Chang’sheng heard the voice, his face changed.

That voice was somehow familiar—Zhu Family Patriarch Zhu Zhen!

"This guy’s actually mixed up with Thunder Merchant House—is it for Red Cloud Daoist, or for me?"

Lu Chang’sheng wondered inwardly.

Judging from his tone, a trace of shock was audible. Likely, even he never expected Red Cloud Daoist to show up.

"Chances are, it’s because of me."

"Otherwise, why would they be surprised by Red Cloud Daoist’s appearance?"

Lu Chang’sheng’s guess was spot on.

The airborne cultivators were just as bewildered. They’d run probes all day, trying to pick out Lu Chang’sheng’s group, finally locking onto the three, and, choosing caution over mercy, launched a surprise attack—never expecting Red Cloud Daoist to burst onto the scene.

They knew Lu Chang’sheng had two late-stage cultivators at his side—the Fang Family Ancestor and Qu Family Ancestor—so when they struck, they went all in, deploying every tactic they had to keep Lu Chang’sheng’s group from reacting.

In the process, they actually injured Red Cloud Daoist.

That was also why they hadn’t immediately turned and fled. Otherwise, with Red Cloud Daoist’s reputation, half the crowd would be bolting posthaste.

"If we don’t kill him tonight, we’re the ones who die!"

Zhu Family Ancestor called out in a grim tone.

He’d come at Zhuo Family’s request, aiming to ambush Lu Chang’sheng.

Lu Chang’sheng had repeatedly humiliated the Zhu Family— naturally, the ancestor bore a grudge. But usually, Lu Chang’sheng never gave them an opportunity; now, with so many late-stage cultivators involved, there was no reason to back down.

No one expected to run into Red Cloud Daoist.

But—at this moment, delight flickered in his heart. Red Cloud Daoist had reportedly stolen two rare treasures from the Wang Family auction house. Though he couldn’t say whether it was true, if it was, then taking down Red Cloud Daoist would mean those two treasures would be his for the taking.