Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 269 - 175: Tying the Red String, Lin Yan’s Return!

Chapter 269: Chapter 175: Tying the Red String, Lin Yan’s Return!

Xu Zhuqing was lost in thought as well.

She knew that she was different from Lu Chang’sheng.

Lu Chang’sheng had apprenticed at White Cloud Pharmacy, gaining broad experience, but she had spent almost all her time in the Spirit Realm trapped within Elegant Bamboo Garden.

"This is just my suspicion—you’d do well to stay alert."

Xu Zhuqing nodded, indicating she’d keep it in mind.

On the way back, Qin Wan asked Xu Zhuqing what she had questioned Lu Chang’sheng about just now. Xu Zhuqing subconsciously wanted to answer honestly, but recalling Lu Chang’sheng’s embarrassed expression, she immediately made up something else to cover it up.

And told her about Lu Chang’sheng’s reminder.

Qin Wan didn’t hesitate, saying, "Then we should stay extra vigilant—maybe try probing a little."

"You really don’t doubt it at all."

Xu Zhuqing said with some annoyance.

"Chang’sheng’s intuition is never wrong."

"So how should we test it, then?" Xu Zhuqing chuckled. Her best friend had spent her life tucked away in the boudoir and lacked much scheming, so she figured Qin Wan wouldn’t come up with anything clever.

Unexpectedly, Qin Wan thought it over briefly and said, "Madam Ruan has always restricted our freedom. Doesn’t that mean she doesn’t want us to learn too much about the Spirit Realm?"

"If we appear to spend time reading and learning about the customs and landscape of the Spirit Realm, and Madam Ruan is hiding something, she’s bound to try restricting us again."

Xu Zhuqing froze and gave Qin Wan a long, deep look. "When did your brain get so sharp?"

Qin Wan pretended to strike her. Xu Zhuqing rolled her eyes, darted forward a few steps, and got out of the way.

······

Early February, the frigid spiritual wind gradually faded away.

Lu Chang’sheng stood in front of the courtyard, gazing up at streaks of flowing light passing overhead.

Those were cultivators headed to investigate the Purple Ice Lake wilderness. Having heeded the lessons of those before, naturally they wouldn’t recklessly venture deep into Purple Ice Lake, mostly opting for cautious methods to investigate.

Such as puppetry technique, beast-driving techniques, and the like.

"The Spirit Realm is full of crises—I really need more means of protection."

Previously, he’d been focused solely on alchemy and paid little attention to protective methods. As of now, all he had was a single Cyan Wood Fire Technique and a first-grade inferior magical artifact for self-defense.

Thinking of this, he spent the spirit stones he had left to buy a protective magical artifact called the Golden Light Ring, which, when used, could form a shield of golden light.

He also bought a few sheets of protective talisman paper.

"For now, I still need to focus on the Alchemy Dao. Any protective measures will have to come from external objects."

For now, these protective methods would suffice.

Before he knew it, a month had passed. On this day, Lu Chang’sheng was cultivating the Cyan Wood Fire Technique when he suddenly saw streaks of light flying in from outside the city.

Right after, the sound of the Joyful Bell rang out.

He assumed someone had just advanced to Grade B Alchemist, but unexpectedly Steward Mo brought word that the cultivators who’d gone to Purple Ice Lake had returned.

"All returned?"

"Looks like it. Even Master Baiyun is back."

Lu Chang’sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Purple Ice Lake affair hadn’t escalated into disaster. That was a huge relief—he wouldn’t have to worry about Immortal City suffering or have to think about fleeing the place.

The Joyful Bell was ringing to welcome Master Baiyun back.

To the whole White Cloud Cave Mansion, Master Baiyun was like the sky itself. If the sky falls, everything falls with it—there wouldn’t be a single survivor under the ruined nest.

Still, this had little to do with Lu Chang’sheng.

Not until the next night did he get a message from Lin Yan, asking him to come by Guilan Institute.

Soon, Lu Chang’sheng met Lin Yan.

The latter looked pale and exhausted, clearly having had a rough stretch.

"If not for Supreme Profound Sect’s intervention, I might never have made it back."

Upon seeing Lu Chang’sheng, Lin Yan sighed heavily.

After talking for a while, Lu Chang’sheng finally understood what had happened.

As soon as they entered Purple Ice Lake, they were hit by a spirit explosion. Everyone’s magical power was suddenly drained by a large chunk, and before long, they encountered hordes of demons.

Fortunately, everyone there was a high-rank Qi Cultivation cultivator, so nobody panicked. Led by those in the Foundation Establishment Realm, they maneuvered and battled with the demon beasts.

But the demon beasts kept increasing, turning into a demon calamity, and each group had to display their own abilities to survive.

"In counting the losses, White Cloud Cave Mansion lost at least ten Qi Cultivation cultivators."

Yesterday’s Joyful Bell wasn’t only to welcome, but also for Master Baiyun to assemble late-stage qi cultivators and tally the casualties.

"That serious!"

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart tightened.

He knew a late-stage Qi Cultivator could support a mid-sized family in Platinum Immortal City.

Families like the Qu, Zhao, and Chen—at their peak had late-stage Qi Cultivators.

"Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator was killed."

Lin Yan’s next sentence hit Lu Chang’sheng like a thunderbolt. He reflected on how fragile life truly was.

As for the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s death, Lin Yan couldn’t say for sure—he’d merely heard some rumors after returning.

"I called you over to tell you something: From now on, you need to cultivate diligently. There’s a huge shortage of alchemists in the sect now, and if you seize the opportunity, you might attain the Grade B Alchemist position in a few decades."

"From now on, I’ll examine you every year. If you slack off, I won’t forgive you!" Lin Yan suddenly spoke sternly.

Stern masters yield the best disciples.

Lin Yan intended to rigorously train this disciple, so he could pass down his mantle someday.

"Understood, teacher."

Lu Chang’sheng replied solemnly.

Leaving Guilan Institute, Lu Chang’sheng suddenly felt a jolt—his teacher’s actions felt disturbingly like making arrangements for his own passing.

At that moment, Lin Yan watched Lu Chang’sheng leave and sighed softly.

"Pity he isn’t truly of the Lin Family."

Outsiders could never be as close as those with one’s own blood, but this generation of the Lin Family had few descendants, and none with any talent for alchemy—they were utterly hopeless.

Otherwise, he would never have given the direct lineage position to Lu Chang’sheng.

"Best to add another layer of connection."

Lin Yan coughed, his face turning a bit paler. He pulled out a pill, swallowed it, and slowly recovered.

He went to the back yard, where some family members lived. Seeing him, they greeted him as master.

Lin Yan asked one family member, "Where’s Lin Yu? Have him come see me."

Lin Yu was Lin Yan’s eldest grandson and managed family affairs. Upon receiving word, he hurried over to pay respects.

"Tomorrow, have Lin Ruo dress up nicely and come meet me in the front yard."

"Lin Ruo? She’s cultivating with Master Huo in the sect. If you call her over in such a rush, Master Huo may not be pleased."

"Then wait until she’s done cultivating and call her home." Lin Yan furrowed his brow, realizing he still had some time, and decided there was no need to hurry.

"Grandfather, you want Lin Ruo to come home—is it for arranging her marriage?"

Lin Yu asked.

Otherwise, there’d be no reason for Lin Ruo to dress up.

Lin Yan sighed, "The Lin Family’s younger generation have no ambition. If one day I’m gone and you all lose your support, you’ll end up as just another small clan."

"Give it a few decades or a hundred years, and you might not even qualify as a minor clan."

As an alchemist who’d lived more than a century, Lin Yan had seen countless families slide from decent standing to having to scrape out a living as loose cultivators in wild bazaars.

He certainly didn’t want his descendants to end up like that.

"But there’s still Master Huo?"

Master Huo was a late-stage qi cultivator in the sect, who hadn’t gone to Purple Ice Lake but guarded the mountain gate.

"Master Huo is already old—at most another ten years and he’ll reach his natural end. How could he protect you all forever? Besides, Master Huo only accepted Lin Ruo as a favor to me. If I’m gone, how long will that goodwill last?"

Lin Yu fell silent immediately.

Though not exceptionally bright, he wasn’t stupid. He only asked, "Do you know who Grandfather intends Lin Ruo to marry?"

"I’ve taken on a direct-lineage disciple, as you know."

Lin Yu’s face stiffened, and he couldn’t help but say, "Grandfather, isn’t this a little inappropriate?"

"And why not?"

Lin Yan fixed Lin Yu with a displeased look. "You don’t trust me—do you doubt my judgment, too?"

"No, that’s not it... just, Chang’sheng is already of old age, and Lin Ruo’s much younger. You know Lin Ruo’s temperament—she probably won’t accept this."

Lin Yu hurriedly explained.

He had always objected to Lin Yan passing direct succession to Lu Chang’sheng, but Lin Yan’s authority in the Lin Family was immense, so he never voiced it openly.

"We cultivators have abundant lifespan. Sixty is merely entering middle age—why shouldn’t he take a young wife? This concerns the Lin Family’s destiny; she can’t afford to be willful."

Lin Yan waved dismissively, settling the matter then and there.