“Come in.”
An old, hoarse voice of an elder came from inside the main hall.
Lu Chang'an stepped into the main hall.
On the walls surrounding the main hall hung ancient, colorful scrolls depicting the heroic figures of the Lu Family ancestors.
“I hope I can also be painted on the wall someday,” a thought flashed through Lu Chang'an’s mind.
In the main hall, a black-robed elder sat cross-legged on a green jade cushion, his skinny figure like an old pine tree, its roots embedded in the hall.
His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and his eyes were murky, but upon noticing the Qi Refining Stage 4 aura emanating from Lu Chang'an, a glimmer of light flashed in them, like an ancient, deep well.
The elder, Lu Jing, had a Qi Refining Ninth Level Cultivation and was currently the Lu Family’s highest-level Cultivator, already 107 years old this year.
As the Lu Family’s Clan Chief, Lu Jing did not frequently interact with the many Cultivators of the Lu Family on a daily basis, but he was very familiar with every Cultivator in the Lu Family.
As a Five Spiritual Roots Cultivator, Lu Chang'an should have only been able to Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining by consuming a Qi Gathering Pill.
According to Lu Jing's estimation, Lu Chang'an should have needed another year or two to gather the one hundred Spirit Stones required to purchase a Qi Gathering Pill.
He did not expect him to Breakthrough so quickly.
“You’ve put in effort,” Lu Jing’s ancient face revealed a faint smile.
As someone nearing the end of his Lifespan, Lu Jing greatly hoped to see the younger generations of the Lu Family strive harder on their Cultivation path.
Lu Chang'an’s Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining was not a major event, but he was, after all, the tenth Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator in the Lu Family, which also meant that the Lu Family’s Foundation had become a bit more solid.
“Hehe,” Lu Chang'an also laughed.
“Chang'an, you know the rules of our Lu Family, and you are aware of all our Lu Family’s assets. What do you intend to do next?”
Lu Jing asked, his voice ancient and hoarse.
“Second Grandfather, I wish to go to Lingyuan Mountain to oversee the Family Spirit Medicine Garden and, while I’m there, learn Alchemy from Third Uncle,” Lu Chang'an respectfully said.
Lu Jing frowned.
It was already quite difficult for the Lu Family to Cultivate a Medium Grade First-Order Alchemist.
Lu Chang'an wanted to learn Alchemy, but the Lu Family simply did not have the resources to Cultivate him!
Lu Jing hesitated for a moment and said, “You may go to Lingyuan Mountain to assist your Third Uncle in managing the Family Spirit Medicine Garden, but the Family will not Cultivate you in Alchemy. You know the reason well: the Family does not have the resources to Cultivate a second Alchemist.”
This answer was not unexpected by Lu Chang'an.
As far as he knew, Lu Yanping, who ranked third among the Lu Family’s third-generation Cultivators and was Lu Jing’s direct grandson, was still an Alchemy apprentice on Lingyuan Mountain last year, and the Family ultimately did not Cultivate him either.
“Thank you, Second Grandfather,” Lu Chang'an respectfully said, “This junior understands this point. However, even if the Family does not Cultivate me, I will find a way to learn Alchemy on my own.”
“Lu Chang'an. The Spirit Stones rewarded to you by the Family and the stipend given by the Family are, by rights, yours to manage, and no one else has the right to interfere.
However, Second Grandfather must remind you that Alchemy is a bottomless pit! If you throw your meager Spirit Stones into it, you won’t even see a ripple.”
Lu Jing’s expression became serious, and his voice grew a few shades sterner.
He knew this very well; not to mention distant examples, his own grandson, Lu Yanping, who wanted to learn Alchemy, wasted over a hundred Spirit Stones and ultimately gained nothing.
“I understand all the principles,” Lu Chang'an, however, gently shook his head, “But I still want to try.”
“You… if you like to make trouble, then make trouble,” Lu Jing’s voice grew cold, “The fifty Spirit Stones the Family is rewarding you, come collect them tomorrow. You may go.”
Lu Jing issued an order for him to leave.
Lu Chang'an was the first Lu Family member in these years who dared to openly defy him like this, so he naturally would not give Lu Chang'an a good look.
“Second Grandfather, this junior takes his leave.” Lu Chang'an bowed respectfully, then turned and strode out of the Family Grand Hall.
“Young people don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.”
Lu Jing shook his head, watching Lu Chang'an’s retreating figure.
He was actually quite happy to see Lu Chang'an’s sharp edge blunted by reality, but he truly felt distressed about the Spirit Stones that would be wasted.
“Bringing up the matter of Alchemy with the Family this time will allow me to explain it later if my identity as an Alchemist is accidentally exposed.”
Lu Chang'an walked out of the Family Grand Hall, a slight smile playing on his lips.
With the great advantage of his Spirit Pearl Space, as long as he was willing to invest, becoming an Alchemist was a sure thing.
The next day, Lu Chang'an once again went up the mountain to receive the reward of fifty Spirit Stones for Breaking through to Qi Refining Stage 4.
News of Lu Chang'an’s Breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage 4 also began to spread within the Lu Family.
Other Cultivators of the Lu Family sent congratulatory gifts, either a Talisman, a bottle of Medicinal Pill, or some who wanted to avoid trouble directly gave Lu Chang'an a red envelope with two Spirit Stones.
Lu Chang'an found a blank notebook and meticulously recorded the gifts received from the Family Cultivators.
In the future, when others’ Cultivation also had a Breakthrough, he would need to return the favor.
“I received a total of ten Spirit Stones in congratulatory gifts, plus the Family reward, I now have sixty Spirit Stones.
A common Low Grade first-order Magical Artifact costs around twenty Spirit Stones. If I buy a Low Grade first-order Pill Furnace, thirty Spirit Stones will definitely be enough.”
Lu Chang'an was planning his future.
Newly Breakthrough Cultivators in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining in the Lu Family have a month-long vacation before taking over core Family businesses.
Currently, Lu Chang'an still had more than half a month before heading to Lingyuan Mountain to manage the Spirit Medicine Garden, so he had plenty of time to prepare.
“Chang'an, are you home?”
A familiar voice called out from outside the house.
Lu Chang'an put away his thoughts, got up, and opened the door.
In the morning sun, a tall, slender young man stood in the small courtyard, dressed in a brand-new green robe, his black hair loosely tied into a bamboo-joint bun on top of his head, looking unrestrained and dashing.
The person who came was Lu Linchuan, 24 years old this year, and the eldest among the Lu Family’s third-generation Cultivators, whose Cultivation was now Qi Refining Fifth Level.
There were four third-generation Cultivators in the current Lu Family; only the third-ranked Lu Yanping had slightly better Aptitude with Four Spiritual Roots, while the remaining three were Five Spiritual Roots.
Five Spiritual Roots Cultivators refine very impure Spiritual Qi, and their Cultivation speed is very slow. Even though Lu Linchuan was six years older than Lu Chang'an, his Cultivation was only one level higher.
“Big Brother,” Lu Chang'an smiled and called out happily.
As the eldest of the third-generation Cultivators, Lu Linchuan, though not as exaggerated as a big brother being like a father, truly took care of his younger siblings, especially Lu Chang'an.
Although there was a six-year age difference between them, Lu Chang'an and Lu Linchuan had a very close relationship.
It was only last year, under the Family’s arrangement, that Lu Linchuan married a female Cultivator in the early stage of Qi Refining from the Beast Taming Zhou Family and had already started a Family.
Otherwise, when Lu Chang'an was previously worried about not having enough Spirit Stones to buy a Qi Gathering Pill, he would have had to borrow some from Lu Linchuan.
“Second Brother, congratulations on your Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining,” Lu Linchuan said with a smile.
Lu Chang'an ranked second among the Lu Family’s third-generation Cultivators.
“I just returned today and only just learned that you have already Broken through, otherwise I would have come earlier,” Lu Linchuan said with a smile.
“Did you go into the mountains again with the Cultivators from the Beast Taming Zhou Family to capture Yao Beasts?” Lu Chang'an asked curiously.
Lu Linchuan nodded: “Yes, in the past, the main share of the harvest always went to them, but this time it’s different. I discovered a nest of Golden-haired Rats while pursuing a Yao Beast, and I didn’t tell the Zhou Family people.”
“Ah? Big Brother, you’re telling me this?” Lu Chang'an looked at Lu Linchuan with bright eyes.
He had already guessed what Lu Linchuan wanted to convey, but he still wanted to hear Lu Linchuan say it himself.
“Second Brother, you have just Broken through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, and you are in need of Spirit Stones right now. I can’t handle that nest of Golden-haired Rats alone. I originally planned to find someone within the Family to go with me, and it just so happens that you, Second Brother, are lucky.”
Lu Linchuan said with a smile.
“Haha, then thank you, Big Brother,” Lu Chang'an beamed with joy.
As Low Grade first-order Yao Beasts, each Golden-haired Rat was worth ten to twenty Spirit Stones.
Since it was a nest, there must be at least two or three of them. With a fifty-fifty split, he could earn around twenty Spirit Stones, which was a considerable windfall.
“What are you thanking me for? It’s only right for an elder brother to help his younger brother, isn’t it?” Lu Linchuan grinned.
