Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

Chapter 399 - 250: Disciples of the Burning Heaven

But the next moment, someone helped him ask, "Fellow Daoist, is there some mystery to the pill you just refined? I feel like that scent is different from ordinary top-grade pills."

"It should be a Perfect Pill," Lu Chang’sheng replied.

No one knew if Wang Futian was telling the truth, but at least it had some basis.

He’d thought Zhong Ming didn’t know about the Perfect Pill, but as soon as he heard it, Zhong Ming exclaimed, "It really is the Perfect Pill!"

"That’s it, what else but a Perfect Pill could satisfy an Immortal from Heaven-Burning Valley so much?"

He glanced at Lu Chang’sheng, full of frustration.

This is just a little improvement?

Zhong Ming felt a twinge of defeat in his heart, doubting himself for the first time.

Mo Ran was confused. He didn’t know what this so-called Perfect Pill was, but by observing Zhong Ming, he saw that upon hearing those words, the alchemist’s face was full of shock. Clearly, this Perfect Pill was extraordinary, at least far superior to top-grade pills.

"No wonder Elder Xiao and the others gave up on us and chose Alchemist Lu instead."

Mo Ran was convinced.

Everyone waited outside the courtyard for a moment, until an old man walked out and publicly announced the final results of the assessment.

As expected, Lu Chang’sheng secured a spot to join Heaven-Burning Valley.

Under everyone’s complicated gazes, Lu Chang’sheng followed the old man into the main hall.

After a brief conversation, Lu Chang’sheng learned the man’s name. He was a disciple of the Red Cloud Lineage in Heaven-Burning Valley, and his name was Cao Wei.

"Just wait patiently. When the time comes, we’ll notify you to head to Heaven-Burning Valley,"

After asking Lu Chang’sheng about his background, Cao Wei explained.

Once Lu Chang’sheng walked away, Cao Wei’s brows furrowed in thought. "His alchemy talent is excellent, but his Root Bone is far too poor. Still, with this kind of talent, he’s definitely a promising seedling—he’ll be a great asset in the future."

······

Strolling through the corridors of Qingshui Pavilion, a waterwheel spun not far away, its rushing sound blending with the mist wafting through the air, refreshing and invigorating.

He walked down the wooden corridor, pushed open the door, and a dozen eyes immediately looked his way.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded and beckoned Duan Ming to head out together. Just as they were about to disappear in front of the pavilion, a voice called out.

"Alchemist Lu, do you have time to visit Zhiyuan Institute?"

An alchemist with white hair and beard smiled broadly.

"No, thank you. It’s getting late, and my wife and kids are waiting at home," Lu Chang’sheng replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

The other was an old alchemist from White Cloud Pharmacy, someone who usually kept a low profile and had no obvious grudges with him.

But Lu Chang’sheng knew people like that were far more cunning than someone like Thunder Cauldron, so he turned him down without a second thought.

Lu Chang’sheng and Duan Ming’s figures vanished along the corridor.

The old alchemist sighed deeply, and cast a cold glance at Thunder Cauldron. "You, ah, you always go too far!"

"Elder Tong, I just—"

The old alchemist swept away his sleeve and left, leaving Thunder Cauldron standing there, his face shifting from green to white. He muttered internally, "What are you pretending for? If you thought I was in the wrong, why didn’t you speak up earlier?"

Thunder Cauldron remembered clearly: whenever people discussed how to deal with those alchemists who refused to leave Lu Chang’sheng alone, this particular elder never voiced any dissent.

"Who could have known Lu Chang’sheng had such skill?" Thunder Cauldron sighed inwardly, with more than a little regret.

He glanced at Zhou Lin in the distance, whose face showed powerless annoyance and revulsion.

······

Lu Mansion was brightly lit.

As soon as Lu Chang’sheng arrived at the courtyard, he saw several people waiting at the gate, and his heart warmed.

Li Nangua’s delicate figure looked enchanting under the lamplight. Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, she smiled gently.

"You’ve been out all day, haven’t eaten yet, have you?"

The family had cooked up some fine Spirit Soup, stewed from spirit beast meat—something they didn’t eat often. Spirit beast meat was expensive, and with the household’s income tightening as more clan members advanced in cultivation, it was becoming harder to afford luxuries.

Li Nangua had been cutting down on some extravagant expenses because of this.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded, pulled Li Nangua inside the mansion.

During dinner, Lu Chang’sheng said, "Soon I may be heading to Heaven-Burning Valley. You all should start preparing."

"Heaven-Burning Valley?" Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou both looked stunned.

Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t told them in advance, because he worried that either Lu Chang’an or Ziyou might leak the news—not to mention, their cultivations were still too weak and easily targeted by evil cultivators.

Seeing their confusion, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t hide it anymore and explained the examination he’d just passed at Heaven-Burning Valley.

Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou instantly broke into big smiles.

"Father just needs a Spirit Body Cultivation Technique now. Once you get to Heaven-Burning Valley, that shouldn’t be in short supply."

"With Father’s talent in alchemy, it won’t be long before he becomes a second-grade alchemist."

Both of them knew about some of Lu Chang’sheng’s cultivation issues and couldn’t help but feel happy for him. But when Lu Chang’sheng said he wanted to bring them along, their eyes turned a little awkward.

After dinner, the two found Lu Chang’sheng and declined his offer to go to Heaven-Burning Valley together.

"You two—" Lu Chang’sheng sighed quietly, sensing the bad feeling he’d been dreading.

"Father, we’ve been thinking about this for a while. People always say your Immortal Dao Root Bone isn’t good, and your future will be capped at late-stage Qi Cultivation. But I know that’ll never stop you." Lu Chang’an said.

Lu Chang’sheng was touched. He hadn’t expected his eldest son to believe in him so much, especially since he had no idea about his Golden Finger.

"In Great Yuan, it’s hard to be born Innate, but you still made it all this way, didn’t you?"

Lu Chang’an’s face was filled with nostalgia. When he first left Lu Family Manor, all he thought about was earning honors—wasn’t that inspired by Lu Chang’sheng?

It was only by retracing those steps that he realized how truly outstanding his father was.

A mountain too high for him to reach.

"Father, you know I hate trouble. Over there, we don’t know anyone—this place is way more comfortable!" Lu Ziyou joked.

Lu Chang’sheng reflected silently; he knew that wasn’t Ziyou’s real reason, so he just laughed and sighed.

"If those two aren’t going, of course I’ll stay too. Someone has to watch over the house,"

When Lu Chang’sheng found Li Nangua, she said the same thing.

"That works. Once I’m established over there, you all can join me. Heaven-Burning Valley is a Golden Core sect—maybe it’ll be your chance to break through to Foundation Establishment," Lu Chang’sheng said, gently stroking Li Nangua’s back.

······

The visitors from Heaven-Burning Valley didn’t stay hidden for long. As soon as the assessment ended, word reached some well-connected families, and one after another they sent people to pay their respects.

The Immortal Sects already commanded respect, and Heaven-Burning Valley, a Golden Core-level sect especially famed for its mastery of alchemy, was naturally even more prestigious than Supreme Profound Sect.

Once word got out that Lu Chang’sheng had passed Heaven-Burning Valley’s test, most families were dumbstruck on the spot.

Immediately, all the patriarchs leaving White Cloud Pharmacy headed straight for the Lu Family’s doorstep.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t put on any airs and greeted everyone politely, and just like that, several days went by.

The gifts piled up—estimating, he’d received nearly two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"Counting the spirit stones I’ve saved before, right now I’ve got about a million low-grade spirit stones worth of resources at my disposal."

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

A million spirit stones was an absolute fortune in Platinum Immortal City, and even among Qi Cultivation families, it was astonishing. Of course, that’s not counting real estate.

But after hearing about conditions in the wider region from Qin Ming, he knew: it might be a lot for a Qi Cultivator, but if you want to reach Foundation Establishment, it’s not enough.

"Foundation magic, foundation alchemy, foundation magical artifacts—all huge expenses!"

"Especially the Foundation Pill!"

That’s the real money sink.

The next day, Lu Chang’sheng received another letter from Fang Yuan, and after reading it, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"As expected, journeys across the grand region are never easy."

According to the letter, they’d been caught in sect strife and affected by battles between Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Chen Family patriarch had died.

Huang Family’s old patriarch, Huang Feng, was badly wounded, forced to spend more than half of his savings on healing pills.