Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 92 - 91: Martial Artist Council Gathering

As the Advanced Scholar exam drew to a close, Lu Chang’sheng eagerly awaited his new Root Bone Value.

"Achievement unlocked: 20 years, Root Bone Value +1!"

A faint cool sensation spread through his heart. Glancing again at the light curtain panel, he saw it had increased to 5 points—his martial Root Bone aptitude had reached a genius level.

"Five Treasures True Skill—entry only takes half a year!"

A slight smile appeared on Lu Chang’sheng’s face.

"Five Treasures True Skill: (Law)"

"Entry requirement: 0.6 years (Entry)"

"Minor Achievement requirement: 3.5 years (Minor Achievement)"

"Great Success requirement: 8 years (Great Success)"

"Minor Achievement takes far longer than Entry, but that’s probably because the pile skill I trained isn’t the Divine Power Stake."

"If I supplement with Divine Power Stake, the time to Minor Achievement should shorten a lot."

Lu Chang’sheng stepped out, had someone prepare the carriage, and headed to Jixia Academy.

Along the way, though, he swung by the marketplace and bought a gift for his apprenticeship.

Though someone of Hong Yuan’s status would hardly care for such things, ceremony can’t be neglected. Sometimes, it’s not the value of the gift, but the attitude that matters.

Arriving at Jixia Academy, as expected, when Hong Yuan saw him carrying mountain ginseng, a faint smile touched his lips. He did not refuse, but had someone put it away.

"Earlier, you asked me—are there Immortals in this world? I can tell you now: there are!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Come with me."

Hong Yuan led him into a thatched cottage, which turned out to be quite refined inside. On the left, there was a spacious study.

Lu Chang’sheng understood that if he hadn’t brought the apprenticeship gift today, who knows when he’d get to see this scene.

Though Hong Yuan had accepted him as a disciple, he was still evaluating him.

"Perhaps as far as Root Bone aptitude goes, there’s no problem—but as for one’s character, the test isn’t over yet!"

Lu Chang’sheng mused to himself.

Soon, Hong Yuan took a book down from the shelf.

"You can read this over the next few days. Remember, don’t damage it. It’s even more precious than Five Treasures True Skill!"

Lu Chang’sheng was a bit startled, receiving the book.

Because it was so valuable, he didn’t take it outside but read it in the study.

"Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature?"

Lu Chang’sheng flipped through it carefully, his expression gradually turning stern.

"Preface: What is an Immortal? An immortal is one uniquely favored by Heaven, distinct from ordinary men; he later cultivates the body and the law, rides the sword through Qingming, slays demons and monsters with a mere gesture, and thus attains true freedom... There are Seven Realms of Immortality: the first is Qi Cultivation, second is Foundation Establishment, third is Golden Core, fourth is Nascent Soul, fifth is Divinity Transformation, sixth is the Void Realm, seventh is Immortal. Yet, to become immortal is exceedingly difficult—throughout history, countless brilliant prodigies and beauties, but those who truly ascend are few and far between..."

"Volume 1: Chronicle of Peach Blossom Spring. There was a man in Left Ridge who stumbled into the Peach Blossom Spring and believed he had entered the Immortal Realm... Later, an Immortal perished there; it was not an Immortal Realm, but a Mirage Demon. Its belly was exceedingly vast, containing the aspect of the Sumeru Universe. Its belly pouch can even be refined for Immortals as the Qiankun Bag, capable of holding all things!"

"Volume 2: Travels in Song Kingdom. The Great Song invited Immortals to quell monsters—I went searching along the way, passing through Chizhou, Great Cloud Mountain, Liangyuan Prefecture, until at last to Eight Hundred Li Thunder Marsh, where I confronted a second-rank Mirage Demon. Afterward, with fellow Daoists, we shared the spoils and rejoiced."

"Volume 3..."

...

This book could be read as a tale, or as a xianxia chronicle. At first glance, it didn’t seem extraordinary, but what was truly striking was the protagonist’s journey—the customs, the monsters, the tangled characters, all described with astonishing rigor and logic.

To call it a story would be overstating—it was too scattered for that.

Lu Chang’sheng preferred to see it as a record, a ledger.

"So, Immortals really do exist in this world!" Lu Chang’sheng said, a little excited.

Hong Yuan nodded. He took in students just so he could pass down his own desire to seek immortality; seeing Lu Chang’sheng so concerned about it left him quite comforted.

"Of course—who doesn’t long for immortal cultivation?"

"Master, since there are Immortals, why have we never found one?"

"No one knows. So we keep searching!"

Returning from Jixia Academy, Lu Chang’sheng was about to enter the courtyard when another carriage rolled in from outside.

"Auntie, slow down!" came a voice full of flattery. Zhao Qing hopped off the carriage, not waiting for Yu to help, hurried over and supported Mrs. Lu.

"Ma’am, careful please! Don’t jostle yourself—winter is coming soon, so make sure the blankets in the carriage are laid out well!"

A woman with a cinched-waist dress climbed out the other side, helping the old lady at her waist.

The old lady looked slightly embarrassed, but seemed to enjoy the attention.

Lu Chang’sheng had the coachman wait for a bit, and only after Zhao Qing and Zhao Xinghua went through the rear gate to the Lu Mansion did he head in.

In the main hall, several people were chatting and laughing.

Mrs. Lu and Ma Xiaocao were conspicuously present.

"Chang’sheng, you’re back!"

"Xinghua greets Scholar Lu, sir!"

"Zhao Qing greets Scholar Lu, sir!"

Lu Chang’sheng nodded, exchanged a few words with the old lady, then turned and went into the inner courtyard.

That night, after cultivation, he hugged Nangua and asked, "What’s the story with the old lady and Zhao Qing’s group?"

Lu Chang’sheng asked.

These days, all the Lu Mansion’s businesses were managed by Nangua, and as Lu Chang’sheng’s wife, she had naturally become the mistress of the house.

"Zhao Qing and Zhao Xinghua have kept watch outside each New Year and festival these past years. The old lady is soft-hearted, and seeing how pitiful they are, decided not to dwell on what happened before."

"I’ve tried to talk her out of it, but she insists that harmony is the most important thing. Zhao Qing and Zhao Xinghua put their hearts into it all these years; bygones are bygones. I mentioned this to your brother, and even he didn’t object!"