Yellow Court Daoist-Chapter 229 - 215: Gains and Losses

The vast Xuanyuan Sect, where the Combined Pill Hall, which almost housed all the Alchemists of the sect, didn't have even a single Fourth-rank Alchemist, and Third-rank Alchemists were few as well.

If Gu Bu Yan passed away, the Combined Pill Hall would immediately be removed from the ranks of the other halls and merged into the Spirit Mechanism Hall, becoming insignificant.

No wonder Gu Bu Yan was anxious.

"Master has exceptional talent in Alchemy but is not skilled in teaching. Since taking charge of the Combined Pill Hall, the disciples have dwindled, most blending indistinguishably into the crowd. Seeing the decline of the Combined Pill Hall, he feels guilty and in these years, he has quietly instructed the slightly talented Alchemists of the hall on one hand, and on the other, has had the Jiying Hall Master Civil Zhong search for Alchemy talents everywhere."

"Unfortunately."

"Alchemy heavily relies on innate talent, and given the Master's poor teaching methods, no matter how much time he spends, the results are practically negligible."

Lu Qingfeng discerned several reasons for the decline of the Combined Pill Hall from the words of Gu Bu Yan.

Aside from Gu Bu Yan himself, whether there were other reasons, it was hard to say.

Still—

"This situation benefits me."

"There is no one in the Combined Pill Hall strong enough to oppose me, and with my talent in Alchemy, I might even have a chance to take charge of the Combined Pill Hall in the future."

Lu Qingfeng collected his thoughts.

If he could take charge of the Combined Pill Hall and become the master of Xuanyuan Sect, with the protection of Xuanyuan Sect from then on, he could cultivate in peace. Even before and after reaching the Core Formation Stage, he could remain secure.

Even if he couldn't become the master of a hall, with his soon to be achieved Fifth-Order Alchemy Accomplishment, he was certain to be protected by Xuanyuan Sect.

It wasn't about entrusting his life and property to Xuanyuan Sect.

But cultivating under the protection of Xuanyuan Sect would save a lot of trouble.

"This is very good."

With this thought, he felt joy in his heart.

The more stable the reality, the better.

This time, Lu Qingfeng intended to showcase his Alchemy and Artifact Refining talents at the Gathering Immortal Square, aiming to befriend Spirit Void Practitioners from all places, but unexpectedly, this led Xuanyuan Sect to him.

Transforming in a flash, he became a True Inheritor of Xuanyuan Sect.

And he was assigned to the Combined Pill Hall, a position almost akin to 'logistics'—

As long as he avoided needless trouble, it was almost impossible to die.

This suited Lu Qingfeng's purposes perfectly.

"Disciple bids farewell."

Leaving from Gu Bu Yan, Lu Qingfeng directly headed to his own True Inheritor Mansion. Being unfamiliar with his surroundings, Lu Qingyu must have been anxious all day in the mansion.

The location of Lu Qingfeng's mansion was on a Spirit Eye on the Peak Rain Mountain, which greatly aided cultivation.

It was one of the benefits of being a True Inheritor.

Entering the mansion, Lu Qingfeng saw Lu Qingyu sitting quietly inside, her eyes looking outside the mansion, appearing somewhat lonely.

...

The sun sets in the west.

Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu sat on the peak, gazing towards the horizon, overlooking the water mirror.

"Big brother, aren't we going back to Luoxia Sect?"

Lu Qingyu looked up at Lu Qingfeng.

"I am now a True Inheritor of Xuanyuan Sect, and I will be spending most of my time in the Xuanyuan Water Realm."

The Xuanyuan Water Realm is much safer than the Juyun Mountain Range.

Xuanyuan Sect is also much more suited for cultivation than Luoxia Sect.

For Lu Qingfeng, there really was no choice.

But Lu Qingyu—

"But our second brother is still at Luoxia Sect."

Lu Qingyu said, frowning, without responding to Lu Qingfeng.

Although she often made light of her second brother, she felt close to him at heart.

While in the Juyun Mountain Range, Lu Qingfeng often went into seclusion, mainly Lu Qingshan would visit them at Silver Horn Mountain or Peak Rain Mountain periodically.

However, Lu Qingyu often rode a white crane to find her second brother, completing sect missions together or chatting.

She spent even more time with him than with Lu Qingfeng.

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If they settled in the Xuanyuan Water Realm, tens of thousands of miles away, they wouldn't be able to see each other often.

Lu Qingyu hesitated.

"Your second brother has grown up, he's independent."

"At this stage, Luoxia Sect and the Juyun Mountain Range are much more suitable for him than Xuanyuan Water Realm," Lu Qingfeng said calmly.

Qingshan and Qingyu have never been the same.

The former, in his youth, was rather weak, seeming timid. But the half a year spent at the Returning to Truth Sect had a great impact on his character. After entering cultivation, he always stayed by Lu Qingfeng's side, with everything planned by Lu Qingfeng.

Over time, he felt he was living in Lu Qingfeng's shadow.

Thus, he sought independence.

A cultivator should be like this, Lu Qingfeng didn't stop him; instead, he supported it. Although the brothers saw each other less often, they talked more than before.

Lu Qingshan gradually appeared spirited, and every time he went to Silver Horn Mountain or Peak Rain Mountain to see his older brother and younger sister, he had endless things to say.

He was spirited.

Even his progress in cultivation was much faster than just following Lu Qingfeng.

This was a good thing.

Now, Lu Qingshan had firmly established himself in Luoxia Sect and was making waves in the Juyun Mountain Range, there was absolutely no need to call him to the Xuanyuan Water Realm.

This was different from initially taking him from Fujiang Cliff in Yang Country and leading him out of Crying Swamp.

Yang Country was a dead end for cultivation. Staying there, Lu Qingfeng had become immersed in an invincible state, focusing on the various mundane affairs of Qing Yuan Sword Sect, which delayed his cultivation.

When the time of a hundred-year limit approached, he would inevitably feel regret.

After coming to Luoxia Sect, having seen many cultivators, he was in pursuit of longevity.

To force Lu Qingshan to come to the Xuanyuan Water Realm with a choice between 'choosing Luoxia Sect or staying with me and big brother' was completely unnecessary.

Moreover.

The current Lu Qingshan certainly wouldn't be easily swayed by Lu Qingyu's words as before, blocking his path.

Lu Qingshan's situation needs no worry.

But the one troubled at this moment is Lu Qingyu.

"If big brother agrees to call second brother over, he will definitely not refuse," Lu Qingyu said with a stubborn look and pursed lips, her eyes fixated on Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, "You want the second brother to leave the Luoxia Sect and come to the Xuanyuan Water Realm. Why not let the big brother give up the Xuanyuan Sect and return to the Juyun Mountain Range?"

"It's not the same."

"The Xuanyuan Sect is safer."

Lu Qingyu insisted.

"For me and your second brother, it's all the same."

"I am not willing to leave the Xuanyuan Sect and return to the Juyun Mountain Range, thus I have no right to ask your second brother to do so."

Lu Qingfeng sat Lu Qingyu down and slowly explained, "Your second brother has never been dependent on me. He is highly valued in the Luoxia Sect and has many good friends; his connections are all in the Juyun Mountain Range. Forcing him to come to the Xuanyuan Water Realm would be unfair to him."

Lu Qingyu lowered her head.

She understood all these reasons.

But being made to choose between her big brother and her second brother was heart-wrenching, "Big brother, can't we continue to be together like when we were in the Upper Sun Country?"

"Sigh!"

Lu Qingfeng sighed internally.

Lu Qingyu moved closer, leaning against her big brother. She rested in his arms, silent.

The evening sun gradually sunk beneath the water surface.

The world darkened.

"Cultivation is just like this."

"With gain, there comes loss. If we continue as before, the three of us siblings would have only decades to live, perhaps not even decades. But now, big brother has advanced to Foundation Establishment, and can live three hundred years. You and Qingshan will soon also reach Foundation Establishment, each having three hundred years to live."

"In the future, advancing to Spirit Void, advancing to Core Formation, we will have even longer life spans. Though we are apart for now, this is the loss. But the time we can spend together in the future will be longer, this is the gain."

Lu Qingfeng's words were meant for both Qingyu and himself.

He now spends all day engrossed in games, experiencing many splendid sights, with half a day in games translating to two or three months. Upon returning to reality, aside from cultivating, refining alchemy, and refining artifacts, the time he could spend with Lu Qingyu was minimal.

Sometimes he would wonder if it was worth it.

In the games, a thousand years pass in a blink; some memories in reality even become a bit blurry. Thankfully, in reality, he could see Lu Qingyu every day, and in the games every month or two, rekindling Lu Qingfeng's earliest memories.

At Black Wood Village.

Under the mountain forest wooden house.

In the middle of Fujiang Cliff.

At Crying Swamp.

...

Seeing Qingyu brought a flood of memories, dispelling the trance from the games and pulling Lu Qingfeng back to reality.

Games, Primordial!

Though realistic, they were indeed illusory to Lu Qingfeng.

Only the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, with Lu Qingyu and Lu Qingshan, entwined by blood and affection, were the reality.

Yet in a vague instance.

His relationship with Qingshan and Qingyu had inevitably grown distant.

Like Lu Qingyu.

Before leaving the Upper Sun Country, Lu Qingyu would not have hesitated between her big brother and second brother.

But now—

"Big brother is always secluded in cultivation; once into the Xuanyuan Sect, he will be even busier."

"Your cultivation progress is too slow. In a while, big brother will send you back to the Luoxia Sect, to have a tough training with your second brother, lest you fall too far behind in cultivation and lose face."

"How about that?"

Lu Qingfeng sat up straight, trying to push Lu Qingyu from his side to sit properly.

Lu Qingyu looked up at her big brother and felt, for a moment, as if he had sunk with the sunset into the horizon.

Becoming extremely distant, untouchable, slowly fading.

"Big brother."

Lu Qingyu clung to Lu Qingfeng's arm, burying her head with a bit of fear, her eyes filled with timidity.

"What's wrong?"

Lu Qingfeng looked down at Qingyu, unable to see her expression or the timidity in her eyes.

Only hearing Lu Qingyu huff, saying, "I don't want to be with second brother; he is now all chummy with a bunch of bad influences, he hardly has time for me."

While talking.

Lu Qingyu lifted her head from Lu Qingfeng's, her eyes widened, "Is big brother trying to welch? You said you were going to help me open a shop in the Gathering Immortal Square, and now you're sending me to suffer with second brother."

"Haha!"

"Men are all pigs!"

"..."

Lu Qingfeng pressed his lips together, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

Regretting, he had told Qingyu too many stories and internet catchphrases when she was young.

With a slight smirk of triumph, Lu Qingyu sat up straight, "Bull Head Mountain is too far, now that you are a True Inheritor of Xuanyuan Sect, pull some strings and rent me a shop in the Gathering Immortal Square."

"I want to make a fortune in the Gathering Immortal Square! Strike it rich!"

Bold and spirited.

Full of ambition.

Suddenly, a cloud of sorrow was swept away.

"..."

"Alright."

Lu Qingfeng nodded incessantly.

A warm sunshine in his heart, shining from within all the way to his face, blossoming into a spring-like smile.

...