Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 80 - 81: Flood Stake—Great Success!

There’s also some news about the surrounding prefecture cities.

The Martial Artist Council, with several dozen at its core, keeps expanding downward, building a network gradually stretching over Black Mountain Prefecture, and is starting to spread out to other prefectures as well.

Every so often, crucial information would drift in from all directions, passed from hand to hand, until it finally reached Lu Chang’sheng.

Of these, the most were reports of unrest in Chishui County and other regions.

"The rebel armies of counties like Chishui and Guangnan in Black Mountain Prefecture are edging toward collapse, pretty much just ragtag groups on the run!"

"Nanming, Luozhe, and Guyuan prefectures remain in chaos. The Martial Artists from the Honghu Thirty-Six Villages are using the waters of Honghu Lake to inflict heavy losses on Nanming’s government troops!"

"In Chishui’s Black Tiger Mountain, the Honghu Thirty-Six Villages of Nanming Prefecture, the Lotus Monks at Black Temple—lots of gang factions are starting to show themselves!"

Lu Chang’sheng read this section, his expression growing solemn.

"Most of these gangs used to live in the shadows of the bureaucracy and nobility. Now that they’re showing themselves, it won’t be long before the two camps fight for real, blades drawn!"

At last, he saw a letter. When he made out the contents, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow sharply.

"The Gao Family of Liyang, facing the army led by Second Rank General Ma Du in Wei Mountain, Liyang Prefecture!"

After burning the letter, Lu Chang’sheng went out to the courtyard to cultivate.

Several days later, there he stood, staking like a statue, skin flushed red, wisps of heat curling out between his hair, giving off the feeling of a roaring furnace.

Flood Stake—Great Success!

Among all the pile skills, Flood Stake’s difficulty is among the lowest. When I had inferior talent, reaching Great Success took around ten years; but after my talent improved to average, the time shortened quite a bit.

Just as he neared the nine-year mark, he finally entered the Great Success Realm.

He walked over to the stone lock for a test—his single arm could lift close to five hundred pounds. If he focused all his power in a burst, he could probably double that, and more.

Lu Chang’sheng wielded the spear and performed the Hundred Battles Spear Technique; his strength increased dramatically, and the power of his spear skills also improved much.

"No wonder so many people chase after the Divine Power Stake—it’s got that explosive strength!"

"Still, the Flood Stake does have its advantages. Sure, it’s not as powerful, but the stamina drain isn’t remotely as much as Divine Power Stake!"

Lu Chang’sheng watched the nobility cultivating the Divine Power Stake. There were battle formation exercises too—the two teams would form up and fight it out. That’s how he learned the pros and cons.

He put away the spear and headed outside, accepting a cup of warm water from Li Nangua.

"Tomorrow is the examination day. Stay home these few days, wait until my exam results are out, and we’ll talk then!"

"I’ll do as you say!" Li Nangua replied gently.

She’d been a married woman for four years now, long since used to tying up her hair; she looked dignified, and her body had grown more full.

Seeing her so obedient and sweet, warmth crept into Lu Chang’sheng’s heart; he took her hand and blew some warm air into it.

"Leave the businesses alone for now—a few days won’t change anything!"

Li Nangua had been managing their businesses diligently these past years. If not for Lu Chang’sheng’s supervision, she might have let her own cultivation lag behind.

When she nodded, only then did Lu Chang’sheng head back inside with her.

Early the next morning, Lu Chang’sheng woke with Li Nangua’s help, practiced pile skills for half an hour in the courtyard until his blood surged, essence, qi and spirit brimmed, then freshened up and ate before heading out.

Two carriages were already waiting outside the yard. Driving them were none other than Niu Dazhuang and Lu Haozi.

"Big Bro, you guys are coming too?"

Lu Chang’sheng asked.

Today was Lu Chang’sheng’s examination day at the Martial Artist Institute; everyone else knew about it too.

Originally, Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t wanted them to come along, but in the end, it couldn’t be helped.

"We’re just dropping you off, then heading back. When you took the court exam twice, none of us walked you to it. This time, we’re not missing it!"

Niu Dazhuang said.

"Yeah, Chang’sheng! Let us go, just this once!" Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu stepped out from the back carriage, hopeful looks on their faces.

"Alright!" Lu Chang’sheng could only agree, repeatedly instructing that once he entered Jixia Academy, they should head back home.

The two carriages rolled down the stone-bricked roads.

Along the way, plenty of townsfolk stopped and stared—most assumed it was some local lord on the move.

Anyone who could ride in a carriage in town had to be a big family. Even if others had enough silver coins, they wouldn’t dare be so ostentatious; usually only the nobility dared.

After an hour, the group reached the gates of Jixia Academy and had to dismount.

Today was the three-year court examination. Jixia Academy’s exam hall was packed, a sea of people.

Lu Chang’sheng stepped down from the carriage, immediately drawing many eyes. But after three attempts at the exams and failing to make Top Scholar, his fame had faded.

Even many scholars just shook their heads, saying Lu Chang’sheng’s talents had run dry—everything he had had been wasted along the Ruilong River or on the Advanced Scholar exam.

Others claimed he was addicted to beauty and riches, his Literary Qi all spent.

Everyone had something to say.

Only a handful knew the truth.

But those few would never reveal it, so Lu Chang’sheng’s reputation was split—half brilliance, half infamy. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Even so, plenty of scholars still saw him as a symbol of good fortune—after all, his heroic feat by Ruilong River was legendary, enough to fuel Black Mountain Prefecture’s lore for a century.

"Chang’sheng!"

As soon as Lu Chang’sheng stepped from the carriage, a crowd surged toward him.

Du Meng hurried up, out of breath, and when he saw Lu Chang’sheng’s chiseled features, he was taken aback.

"Your face—if I didn’t look closely, I’d almost not recognize you!"

Lu Chang’sheng had always been delicate-looking, with soft features, nothing like the sharp, blade-sculpted look he had now.

"The way you are now, you’re no different from a real noble!" Du Meng sighed.

He wanted to join the Martial Artist Institute too, but with the court exams still uncertain, he couldn’t split his focus; even if his family agreed, the big Lin Family would never allow it.

Training in martial arts takes years and plenty of resources; practicing pile skills casually is fine, but if you put too much time into it, big families wouldn’t just watch it happen.

Du Meng was close to Lu Chang’sheng; otherwise, he wouldn’t even be allowed to mention such things.

"Scholar Lu!"

Trailing Du Meng were a few Child Scholars, along with Lin Xiaowen and those big families.

"Patriarch Lin!"

After greeting the group, Lu Chang’sheng said, "I’ve got things to do inside, so I’ll head in!"

"Of course! Scholar Lu, please go right ahead!"

The group watched Lu Chang’sheng leave, quietly relieved. Their old grudges had faded long ago; now, facing Lu Chang’sheng was more like feeling the pressure of someone above.

Once Lu Chang’sheng walked off, everyone felt much more at ease.

"That must be Scholar Lu’s father!"

Soon, everyone’s eyes shifted to Mr. and Mrs. Lu and their group.

The conversation was mostly flattery, leaving the rarely outgoing couple a bit unsettled.

"And this is—"

At that moment, Mr. Chen glanced at the plain-faced Ma Xiaocao.

Ever since his family’s assets were given away, his health had worsened; these days, he was gradually handing the rest of the school business over to Chen Lin, and mostly convalescing at home, his sense of outside news getting dull.

Any other families would’ve sussed things out about Ma Xiaocao not long after she arrived in the city.

"She’s my wife!" Lu Haozi said.

Mr. Chen’s face showed a hint of complex emotion, but he didn’t comment further.

Meanwhile, among the wives of the major families, Zhao Xinghua watched the burly Lu Haozi and the village wife Ma Xiaocao by his side, envy written all over her face.