This year, the Alchemy Institute has already produced nearly its quota of pills, so for the coming year, Lu Chang’sheng has quite a bit of free time.

So, Lu Chang’sheng decided to make a trip back to Great Yuan.

A few days later, Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou rushed back from the Immortal City. Once everyone had packed up, they set off toward Platinum Immortal City, riding their swords.

With Lu Chang’sheng’s combat power rivaling early Foundation Establishment, and both Nangua and Gu Chan at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, their whole journey went surprisingly smoothly, with thrills but no real danger.

There were some evil cultivators and beasts in the wild, but sensing that powerful magical energy, who would dare make a move?

Lu Chang’sheng bought a flying ship magical artifact from the sect. It cost quite a bit, but it barely consumed any fuel and could carry passengers.

Lu Chang’an and Lu Ziyou took full advantage of the ship, easily keeping pace with Lu Chang’sheng.

Platinum Immortal City was livelier than ever. Along the way, they saw a number of cultivators arriving from other regions, though it wasn’t clear which Immortal City they were from.

The group didn’t attract much attention and soon found themselves inside Platinum Immortal City.

Nangua planned to check out the old site of the Lu Mansion first. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

That place had been sold more than ten years ago. When they arrived, they saw cultivators guarding the entrance. They could only take a few glances before heading for the Gu Family.

"Once we see Master Gu Long, we can finally settle the marriage arrangement," Nangua teased Gu Chan.

Ever since Gu Chan started following Lu Chang’sheng, Nangua had enjoyed teasing the girl—almost thirty years her junior—every now and then.

Gu Chan was a bit on the shy side. Nangua’s jokes always left her cheeks burning red. Though she was getting used to it, she couldn’t fight off that homesick nervousness.

Twenty years wasn’t exactly a short time for a late-stage Qi Cultivator like Gu Chan.

Of course, these people were anything but ordinary. They didn’t come through the front gate; instead, they’d let the Gu Family know in advance and slipped in through the back.

But it wasn’t Gu Long who came out to welcome them—it was Gu Yuan and Gu Feng.

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, Gu Feng couldn’t help but show a trace of awe on his face.

Even though Lu Chang’sheng had kept a low profile over the past twenty years, Gu Yuan was around, so Gu Feng had heard a thing or two.

The Lu Alchemist standing in front of him had already gone from seventh-level to ninth-level Qi Cultivation.

The power of a puppet beast depends on both magical mastery and cultivation rank. Back then, Lu Chang’sheng could already tangle with early Foundation demon beasts. Now, he might truly be able to fight them head-on.

In some ways, he could be called a True Man of Foundation.

"Fellow Daoist Gu Feng, you’re too polite."

Lu Chang’sheng smiled and handed over a bottle of pills.

"Oh, I can’t possibly accept this!" Gu Feng protested, waving his hands.

Only when Lu Chang’sheng pretended to be annoyed did he carefully accept it, unable to hide the small smile at his brow.

"Well, it is only proper for a son-in-law’s return gift!" Gu Feng said gleefully.

There’s something most people didn’t know: back when it came to guarding the city gate, Gu Long had three choices for the South Gate post. Nobody else was motivated. To save the patriarch’s face, Gu Feng volunteered.

The other two even mocked him for it at the time. But now—

"Let’s see what we got, eh?"

After Lu Chang’sheng and the rest followed Gu Yuan into the courtyard, Gu Feng opened the jade bottle and took a look. Immediately, his whole body shuddered.

Inside were several Cyan Spirit Pills.

"That’s a bit much..."

Gu Feng muttered and hurried to store them in the treasure vault immortal insect.

Clearly, after these twenty years, Lu the Alchemist had become quite adept at making Cyan Spirit Pills. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to casually hand out so many.

You know, back at the Gu Family, he was only allotted two Cyan Spirit Pills a year.

"Miss really picked the right man!" Gu Feng suddenly thought of Gu Shuang, unable to keep from sighing.

From what Gu Yuan said, Gu Long was away for the moment. Now Platinum Immortal City was a chaotic mix, so Gu Long and the Gu Family members sometimes had to leave to maintain basic order.

Soon, Gu Yuan brought up another topic: Zhu Qing from Supreme Profound Sect.

This was something Lu Chang’sheng had specifically asked her to keep an eye on.

"Zhu Qing’s really gained the favor of Supreme Profound Sect over these years. Now her status isn’t below Xiao Yan’s anymore."

Gu Yuan sighed.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded. He’d already half expected as much. Zhu Qing had a C-grade Spirit Root. With enough resources, Foundation Establishment was all but guaranteed.

And for Supreme Profound Sect, Foundation Establishment made you upper management.

Thankfully, she still hadn’t crossed that threshold yet.

Gu Yuan told him she was now Qi Cultivation ninth-level, really making waves in Supreme Profound Sect.

"Much obliged for keeping tabs." When it came to Supreme Profound Sect, the old Lu Mansion’s contacts and spies were basically useless—only the Gu Family could get such inside info.

Gu Yuan smiled, "Come on, you don’t need to thank me—you’re my brother-in-law, after all."

Lu Chang’sheng had no reaction, but Gu Chan next to him turned beet red. Even at her age, she could get just as shy as any mundane girl.

That night, Lu Chang’sheng learned from Gu Yuan that Gu Long was back, so he brought Nangua to pay their respects.

Gu Long was clearly delighted to see Lu Chang’sheng and drew him into an all-night chat. They didn’t part until midnight.

But when it came to setting a wedding date, Gu Long seemed hesitant.

"You must understand, times are tense. In any other circumstance, it wouldn’t be a problem. The main issue is Purple Ice Lake—competition there is sure to heat up, and if Supreme Profound Sect comes out on top, good. If not, my Gu Family could be first in the line of fire."

Gu Long sighed.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded to show he understood.

Originally, Lu Chang’sheng thought, since Supreme Profound Sect now had doubts and even fears of Gu Family, the Gu Family could just cut ties and settle in another Immortal City altogether.

But after thinking it over, he didn’t mention it.

The Gu Family was too entangled with Supreme Profound Sect. It wasn’t easy to sever those ties. Not to mention, there were still clansmen with Immortal Contracts tied to Supreme Profound Sect—dividing them wouldn’t be easy.

When he left Gu Long’s place and returned to his quarters, he found several women in the courtyard chatting and laughing together.

Lu Chang’sheng greeted them briefly and went back to rest.

The women kept gossiping, and the talk naturally drifted to Gu Chan’s love life. When they found out Gu Chan and Lu Chang’sheng had gotten together, Gu Shuang froze for a moment, then put on a composed face.

"Congratulations, Chan, you finally got your wish," Gu Shuang said with a smile.

"I owe it all to Nangua. Without her, Alchemist Lu would probably have dodged me for life..."

Gu Chan chuckled softly.

Gu Shuang and Gu Yuan quickly pressed for the details, and the courtyard filled with laughter again.

"Say, where’s Big Sis? And you—are things with Senior Brother Xiao Yan...?"

As the laughter peaked, Gu Chan suddenly asked.

Gu Shuang’s expression stiffened for a second, then she squeezed out a smile. "It’s fine, I suppose."

Everyone noticed Gu Shuang’s mood dim and hurried to change the subject, not asking further.

The next day, the group bade farewell to the Gu Family, left Platinum Immortal City, and as Gu Shuang watched them depart by flying ship magical artifact, a complicated look washed over her face.

"Miss, Alchemist Lu brought you this gift on his visit," Gu Feng bustled over with a big grin, oblivious to her mood.

Gu Shuang snapped out of it, accepted the jade bottle, and smiled. "It’s not like Gu Family lacks pills, you know."

She opened it, then a complex expression flickered across her face.

Inside weren’t ordinary top-grade pills as she’d thought, but several Cyan Spirit Pills.

Even she couldn’t help but take this seriously.

"Haha, surprised? That Lu the Alchemist is no ordinary guy. He can refine Cyan Spirit Pills now. Pretty soon, Guangnan Domain will have a new celebrity," Gu Feng marveled. Then he noticed Gu Shuang’s odd expression.

"Miss...?"

Gu Shuang let out a quiet sigh. "Elder Gu Feng, tell me—if I’d chosen Alchemist Lu back then, do you think—"

She didn’t finish, just nodded to herself and walked inside.

Gu Feng sighed as well. He understood Gu Shuang’s feelings, but some things, once gone, can never be retrieved.

······

Half a day later, Lu Chang’sheng, following the info the Gu Family provided, arrived at a secluded valley out in the wilds. In the distance, he saw land shrouded in mist, seemingly fusing gradually with the earth below.

Scattered cultivators of modest cultivation waited outside the mist’s edge here and there.

The merging of a new world almost always means undiscovered resources. Even if it’s just a Mayfly World, for many low-level loose cultivators, it’s an irresistible draw.

After more than ten days, the mist slowly dissipated, and a familiar energy washed over Lu Chang’sheng, stirring waves of emotion within him.

He turned to look at Nangua, Chang’an, and the others, unable to contain his excitement.

"Let’s go—we’re... going home!" Lu Chang’sheng said softly.