153: Chapter 153 Dimensional Reduction Attack! My Wife from My Past Life Bowed Down, and I Take Her as My Disciple with a Mutant Ice Spirit Root!

Ji Mengxue took the calling card.

Her fingertips brushed over the gold-stamped characters.

"Rest assured, Immortal Master Shen. The Lu family will surely have an answer by noon tomorrow."

You turned and left.

Thirty-eight years old, the fifth day of the tenth month.

The main gate of the Lu family swung wide open.

Eight servants stood on either side of the vermilion door pillars.

All possessed Foundation Establishment Level 2 cultivation.

Spiritual jade hung from their waists, and their clothing was neat and orderly.

A three-zhang-long bluestone path was laid out before the gate.

Newly replaced spiritual plant penjing were arranged on both sides.

The head of the Lu family, Lu Tingyan, stood outside the threshold.

He was over sixty years old, at Foundation Establishment Level 8.

His frame was thin, and he sported a three-inch short beard.

Behind him stood his second son, Lu Yuanming.

He had a handsome face and wore a water-blue robe.

You descended from your flight light, restrained your aura, and walked toward the main gate.

Lu Tingyan advanced three steps, cupped his hands, and bowed.

"Protector Shen of the Tianxuan Sect graces us with his presence; the Lu family is truly honored! This old man is Lu Tingyan, and I welcome you along with my son!"

Lu Yuanming followed suit and bowed, his posture respectful.

You raised your hand in a dismissive gesture.

"No need for formalities, Family Head Lu. I was passing through Yunzhou and decided to pay a visit."

Lu Tingyan stepped aside to lead the way.

"Protector, please! My humble abode has prepared tea; let us move to the main hall."

You stepped through the Lu family's main gate.

The courtyard was spacious and meticulously laid out.

The corridors wound about, spiritual plants were everywhere, and the air was filled with water Spiritual Qi.

Inside the main hall, six types of spiritual tea and snacks were laid out on a red sandalwood long table.

The tea set was made of spiritual jade, its surfaces shimmering with light.

Lu Tingyan invited you to take the seat of honor.

You did not refuse.

Golden Core Late Stage, slaying a Nascent Soul with six sword strikes.

You could sit in this position with confidence.

Lu Tingyan sat in a side seat and poured the tea himself.

"This old man deeply admires Protector Shen's deeds in the battle of Ningbian City."

"Slaying a fifth-rank Yao King while in the Golden Core Realm is something the Eastern Region hasn't seen in a thousand years."

You picked up the teacup and took a light sip.

"Family Head Lu overpraises me. When the Yao Race invades, it is one's duty to defend the land."

Lu Tingyan waved his hand. "The Protector is too modest! Having spent half my life in vain, I know well the difficulty of cultivation."

"For the Protector to have such combat power before the age of forty, you are truly a heaven-sent talent."

He paused, his voice turning probing.

"I wonder if there is anything the Lu family can do to assist the Protector during this visit?"

You set down the teacup.

"I have heard of something."

Lu Tingyan leaned forward, listening intently.

"Your grandson, Lu Bingyun, possesses a Mutated Ice Spirit Root, and a celestial phenomenon occurred on the day of his birth."

Lu Tingyan did not respond but looked at Lu Yuanming behind him.

Lu Yuanming stepped forward and cupped his hands in reply.

"Reporting to Protector Shen, that is indeed the case."

"The day my son Bingyun was born was in the height of summer. When he arrived, heavy snow fell upon the estate, and the plants were covered in frost."

"Afterward, we asked an expert to examine him, and it was confirmed to be a Mutated Ice Spirit Root."

You nodded. "A talent found in one in ten thousand."

Lu Tingyan took over the conversation. "Bingyun is the most outstanding Bloodline of the Lu family in a hundred years; we have already hired three famous masters to teach him."

"Three famous masters," you repeated without comment.

Lu Tingyan asked tentatively, "Is the Protector interested in Bingyun?"

You did not answer directly but looked at Lu Yuanming.

"How old is your son this year?"

"In reply to the Protector, Bingyun is seven years old."

"Seven years old." Your fingertips tapped lightly on the table. "Take me to see the child."

Lu Tingyan stood up, his hands trembling.

"I will have someone bring Bingyun—"

"No need," you raised your hand to stop him.

"Wherever the child is, that is where I will go."

Lu Tingyan said no more; he would simply comply with the request of a Tianxuan Sect Protector.

Lu Yuanming cupped his hands. "Protector, follow me. Bingyun is in the backyard."

You stood up and followed Lu Yuanming through the corridors.

Lu Yuanming walked ahead with a respectful posture.

"Protector, Bingyun has a lively personality. If he offends you, I hope you can be magnanimous."

"A seven-year-old child can hardly be said to cause offense."

Passing through the moon gate, the backyard opened up before you.

It was a bluestone clearing surrounded by emerald bamboo.

In the center of the clearing, a woman was squatting on the ground, drawing a diagram with a willow branch.

Two children were gathered around her.

The woman was twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a pale green skirt.

Her dark hair was pulled into a simple bun, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears.

Her features were bright and beautiful, with a sharp jawline.

Liu Qingqing.

Your footsteps did not falter, and your expression remained normal.

The boy was around seven years old, fair-skinned, with a faint red mole between his eyebrows.

He stared at the pattern on the ground.

"Mother, what is this? How many tails does it have?"

Liu Qingqing added two more strokes. "A Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. An ice-attribute Yao Beast, found only in the Far North Snowfield."

The boy counted the tails. "Nine! Is it powerful?"

"Powerful." Liu Qingqing tapped the tip of his nose. "More powerful than your father."

The boy laughed.

Beside them was a three or four-year-old girl with her hair in small buns, scribbling on the ground.

Lu Yuanming stopped outside the gate and lowered his voice.

"Protector, that is my son Bingyun, and beside him is my young daughter Wushuang."

Standing under the bamboo shadows, you watched Lu Bingyun.

Spirit Eyes of Truth-Breaking activated.

Your vision shifted.

Lu Bingyun's body became translucent.

The embryonic form of an Innate Spiritual Vein had already appeared.

The Twelve Principal Meridians showed a blue luster, and a ball of ice-blue light rotated at his Dantian.

The purity of the Spiritual Qi was extremely high, possessing mutated characteristics.

The edges were tinged with silver-white frost patterns.

Mutated Ice Spirit Root, confirmed.

You withdrew your Divine Ability and looked at Lu Yuanming.

"A fine constitution."

Lu Yuanming straightened his back. "Protector, may I have my son pay his respects?"

You nodded.

Lu Yuanming walked into the backyard.

"Qingqing."

Liu Qingqing looked up and saw a black-robed man standing behind her husband.

His figure was tall and slender, his aura restrained.

She stood up, tucked the willow branch into her waist, and took her daughter's hand.

Lu Yuanming whispered a few words of explanation.

Liu Qingqing's eyes widened.

The Tianxuan Sect Protector, Shen Ji.

Leading her daughter forward, she curtsied.

"Liu of the Lu family greets Protector Shen."

Her voice was clear and crisp.

You raised your hand. "No need for formalities. I have come to see your son."

Liu Qingqing stepped aside.

The little fellow looked up, staring at the Qiankun Yin-Yang Sword at your waist.

"Are you a Cultivator?" he asked, his child's voice clear.

Liu Qingqing's face turned pale, and she pulled him back. "Bingyun! Don't be rude! Address him as Senior!"

Lu Bingyun poked half his head out, his eyes never leaving the sword.

"Senior Shen, your sword is very beautiful. Are you very powerful?"

Just as Lu Yuanming was about to scold him, you raised your hand to stop him.

"I'm alright."

Lu Bingyun tilted his head. "My mother says that powerful people don't say they are powerful."

"Your mother is right."

Lu Bingyun grinned, showing a missing front tooth.

He pointed at the sword. "Can I touch it?"

Liu Qingqing's hand tightened.

You unfastened the long sword and held it across your palm.

"Go ahead."

Lu Bingyun's small hand touched the scabbard.

A faint hum vibrated from the sword's body.

The spiritual sword had sensed the ice-attribute Spiritual Qi.

Lu Bingyun pulled his hand back. "It moved!"

"It's greeting you."

"Swords can greet people too?"

"Good swords can." You hung the sword back at your waist. "Do you want to cultivate?"

Lu Bingyun nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I want to be as powerful as my father!"

You looked at him again. "Just being like your father isn't enough."

Lu Bingyun clenched his small fists. "I want to be more powerful than everyone!"

Liu Qingqing chided him softly from the side. "Bingyun, watch your words."

You looked at Liu Qingqing.

Her chin was slightly raised, revealing a hint of stubbornness.

"It is a good thing for a seven-year-old child to have ambition."

You turned your gaze back.

"If you want to become powerful, you must endure hardship. Are you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid!"

"I get up every day at the hour of Mao to do horse stances! Mother says I have to do them for a full hour before I can eat! I've never been lazy!"

You nodded. "Good."

Lu Bingyun's eyes crinkled in a smile.

"Senior Shen, what else can the sword do?"

You took two steps back and stood in the center of the clearing.

You raised your right hand and joined your fingers like a sword.

The Qiankun Yin-Yang Sword flew out and hovered before you.

The blade rotated, its cold light sharp and biting.

You flicked your finger.

The spiritual sword drew a silver trail, circling the emerald bamboo.

Its path was precise; the bamboo leaves were brushed by the sword wind, trembling incessantly, yet not a single leaf fell.

The Flying Sword circled the area three times before returning to your palm.

Lu Bingyun's mouth hung open.

Lu Wushuang clapped her small hands and cheered.

Liu Qingqing saw the skill behind this display of Sword Kinesis.

Not a single bit of power had leaked out.

Lu Yuanming's hands were clenched tight.

Lu Bingyun ran up to you and looked up.

"Senior! Can I be like you too?"

"Whether you can or not depends on your own destiny."

You sheathed the sword.

You reached out and snapped off a piece of emerald bamboo beside you.

Spiritual power flowed from your fingertips, carving the bamboo branch into a three-inch-long small sword.

You sealed a strand of Sword Intent into the bamboo sword.

You handed it to the boy before you.

Lu Bingyun took the bamboo sword with both hands, holding it tightly in his palms.

"Ten years," you looked at him.

"In ten years, if you can trigger the Sword Intent within this bamboo sword and make it hum..."

"Then bring it and come find me at the Tianxuan Sect."

"At that time, I will accept you as my Personal Disciple."

Lu Yuanming was overjoyed and pulled Lu Bingyun to kneel and kowtow.

Without waiting for them to hit the ground, you turned and walked toward the moon gate.

Your robes brushed over the bluestone path.

Leaving the family of three standing where they were.