58: Lu Chen Return
A month later, a large hand broke through the soil from the spot, and Lu Chen's figure leaped out.
The ruins were already lush and green, the landscape undulating; this was the vitality of the world.
No matter how powerful a Cultivator is, even if they sink a continent, the world will continue to function, ceaselessly.
During this time, Lu Chen had been hiding deep underground, in a state of suspended animation.
He knew very well that the commotion he had caused could not be hidden from the Great Cultivator of Cangyu who was close by; no matter which direction he chose to flee, he would leave traces.
Lu Chen dragged his scab-covered body, floating and fleeing through the ground.
"Go ahead and look for me... Look for a lifetime..."
All the magical energy signatures collected by the Great Cultivator of Cangyu were merely the signatures of others that he had twisted and simulated using the Crimson Sun Profound Yin Treasure Codex.
Unless the opponent reported it to the Cloud Azure Sect and a Golden Core True Person took action to search for his whereabouts on a large scale, Lu Chen would not be exposed.
Cangyu City.
At the summit of the inner city, Elder Cang Yu held the black and white halo, sensing that the aura within had changed again, and his expression became extremely ugly.
"Damn it!"
Qingzhu Mountain.
Family meeting hall.
"Matriarch, Wan Quan Lake has encountered Robber Cultivators again... Attendant Quan is currently severely injured..."
Attendant Liu sat on the left side of the lower seat, his face grave.
Beside him was the remaining Late Stage Qi Refining retainer of the Lu Clan stationed at Qingzhu Mountain, Attendant Cheng.
Bang!
Huang Meier slapped the table, her expression furious, her pretty face frosty.
"A bunch of filthy scum from who knows where; my husband has only been out for a short time, and they are already impatient to make a move against my Lu Clan. They are courting death!"
As Huang Meier spoke, her Late Stage Qi Refining power faintly radiated.
Cui Zhirou, who was now also at Late Stage Qi Refining, had a calm expression. After taking a sip of tea and putting it down, she spoke slowly.
"It is just two Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators; if it really does not work, we can send a few sisters and the two attendants out together to deal with them!"
Her expression was sharp, but her eyes glanced at the two attendants, especially Attendant Cheng, who had been silent.
"Attendant Cheng, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
Attendant Cheng had been lost in thought, but when suddenly called upon by Cui Zhirou, he looked around in a daze, catching sight of the chilling Huang Meier.
"Isn't Young Master Yuyang gone to the Huang Clan to seek help? A few mere Robber Cultivators cannot possibly be a match for the Huang Clan. We should just hold Qingzhu Mountain..."
An awkward smile appeared on his face.
"Attendant Cheng, do not forget, you are taking the Lu Clan's salary, and your life-and-death contract is in my husband's hands..."
Cui Zhirou's expression was indifferent. After a stalemate, they still could not reach a decision, and the meeting ended.
Only Cui Zhirou and Huang Meier were left in the meeting hall.
"What do you think?"
Huang Meier smiled faintly, showing no trace of her previous anger.
"They are hopeless. One is colluding with outsiders, and the other cannot see the situation clearly..."
Cui Zhirou shook her head. Both Attendants Liu and Cheng had already developed ulterior motives, and there was no need to keep them.
"Then..."
Huang Meier made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Let us wait for Yuyang to return."
Late at night, the stars were numerous and the moon was bright.
Qingzhu Mountain was shrouded in white mist, but inside it was brightly lit. Even the Servants could feel the danger of the impending storm.
Some Early or Middle Stage Qi Refining retainers took advantage of the night to quietly leave.
"Brother Cheng, what have you decided?"
In Immortal Cave No. 7, Attendant Liu and Attendant Cheng sat opposite each other, their expressions full of certainty.
"Brother Liu, our life-and-death contracts are in the hands of the Lu Clan; your idea... is a bit too naive..."
Attendant Cheng took a sip of tea, his voice unhurried.
"What are you afraid of? Currently, the Lu Clan only has Lu Chen's few Dao Companions at Late Stage Qi Refining. They are a bunch of flowers in a greenhouse; how could they possibly outmaneuver us?"
Attendant Liu had intense ambition in his eyes.
"Cui Zhirou dare not kill us, and cannot kill us... The rest of the juniors have only just entered the immortal path and can be wiped out with a wave of our hands!
Even if we cannot occupy Qingzhu Mountain, dividing up some resources is enough for us to step into Qi Refining Perfection..."
Regarding Lu Chen's immense wealth, they, as Lu Clan Retainers, knew far more than outsiders.
"Besides..."
Attendant Liu squinted at Attendant Cheng, who was sitting opposite him looking composed.
"You did not refuse either, did you? Otherwise, why would you have played dumb during the day..."
"Heh heh..."
Attendant Cheng smiled faintly and did not say anything. The undercurrents at Qingzhu Mountain tonight seemed particularly turbulent.
The news of Lu Chen meeting with a mishap was long since no secret to these retainers.
Under the night in the bamboo forest, Lu Yucheng stood before a corpse pierced through from front to back by a giant sword.
"You wanted to run, and I would not have stopped you, so why did you have to harbor evil intentions..."
Lu Yucheng sighed softly, took out another spirit talisman and tore it up. A wisp of spirit fire fell onto the corpse, burning it to ashes, leaving no trace behind.
"Chenger, what is this?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in his ears, causing Lu Yucheng's heart to jolt. However, in an instant, a stack of spirit talismans appeared in his hand, and he leaped to the side, his expression guarded.
"Who?!"
It was not until Lu Chen's figure walked out of the shadows that he felt the familiar connection of their Bloodline.
"Father!"
Lu Yucheng threw himself into Lu Chen's arms, the spirit talismans in his hand scattering all over the ground.
"Father, it has been nearly a year. Where have you been? Why did you not send any information back..."
Lu Yucheng's eyes were filled with deep worry.
"Mother, Auntie, and the younger siblings are all very worried about you..."
"What is there to worry about..."
Lu Chen stroked the back of Lu Yucheng's head, a smile appearing on his face.
"Did I not leave a life tablet? As long as the life tablet does not shatter, I am fine..."
"But a month ago, the life tablet was full of cracks. To stabilize the Family, Mother hid the life tablet... We... we did not know what the situation was exactly..."
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, and leading Lu Yucheng, they walked slowly up the mountain stone steps toward the summit.
"The things I left for you ensure that even if all the Qi Refining Immortal Clans in Qinghe were to attack, there would be no danger... Do not worry, Chenger."
"Father, I was not worried about that. I meant your safety!"
Lu Yucheng stubbornly turned his head away and looked his father in the eye.
"It is alright, have I not returned..."
Lu Chen smiled helplessly. In an emergency, one must act accordingly. He could not just give up the chance to advance to Late Foundation Establishment Stage; even if there was a certain risk, he had to fight for it.
And now, he had returned, his Realm had improved, and he had also harvested nine Grade 2 breakthrough pills, all of which were premium quality.
In the future, as long as someone in the Family achieves a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, he only needs to spend a certain cost and time to quickly cultivate nine Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.
In Lu Chen's view, this risk was completely worth taking.
In all of Qinghe, the reason the Cui Clan could become the hegemon was that their Old Ancestor was a Late Foundation Establishment Stage powerhouse, dominating the region.
And under normal circumstances, he would have absolutely no chance of obtaining a treasure like the obstacle-breaking flower.
It would require a very long time, waiting for so-called coincidental Opportunity, but in most cases, once a third party was present...
It could cause waves, or even attract the attention of the Six Great Sects...
Only an auction held by a force like the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce could ignore other major sects and directly put it up for auction for ordinary Cultivators.