Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1266 - 826: Unpredictable Ghost Sect

In the Ancient County City, within the Lu family premises.

Clutching the letter from Yang Zhenshan, Li Chang made his way to Lu Fusheng's courtyard.

The conflict involving the Spiritual Three Sects against the Nether Prison Sect had come to a temporary halt, allowing Lu Fusheng to come back. He played a major role in this conflict, joining from the massive clash near the Ancient Relic Array all the way to the fierce confrontations east of Yu Mountain Town, where he took part as well. Because of that, he suffered heavy wounds that required a full year to recover from.

With the conflict on hold now, the Lu family finally enjoyed a short period of rest.

Within a chamber infused with a timeless fragrant atmosphere, Li Chang positioned himself deferentially before Lu Fusheng and presented the letter to him.

Lu Fusheng unfolded the letter and glanced over its contents, a spark of sharpness gleaming in his gaze.

"Has Brother Yang managed to achieve Foundation Establishment successfully?"

Lowering his head, Li Chang replied, "The Family Head accomplished Foundation Establishment one year prior!"

"Haha, excellent, excellent, excellent!" Lu Fusheng slapped his palms together and burst into booming laughter.

The achievement of Foundation Establishment by Yang Zhenshan genuinely filled Lu Fusheng with sincere delight.

To him, Yang Zhenshan stood as the vital pillar of support for the Lu family. Earlier, he had felt that Yang Zhenshan's cultivation base fell a tad short, yet with the completion of Foundation Establishment, Yang Zhenshan now emerged as the steadiest partner for the Lu family.

This held even greater weight than ties with the Illusion Moon Sect, since the Illusion Moon Sect viewed the Lu family simply as a lesser branch, but alongside Yang Zhenshan, they shared a bond of mutual trust unto death as true partners.

Indeed, Lu Fusheng regarded Yang Zhenshan as a precious comrade forged in the fires of desperate struggles side by side.

Gazing down at the missive he held, he caressed his impressive three-foot beard of striking elegance and remarked, "Assisting in reaching out to the elders of the Illusion Moon Sect poses no issue, yet securing the Illusion Moon Sect's backing for the Yang family could prove somewhat difficult!"

"Please, Senior Lu, share your thoughts freely!" Li Chang responded.

Lu Fusheng explained, "The Lian family once served as a branch under the Wuxiang Sect, so the Illusion Moon Sect might hesitate to clash with the Wuxiang Sect right now!"

The concerns he raised echoed those Yang Zhenshan had already pondered.

"The Family Head mentioned that success would be wonderful, but failure isn't a catastrophe. All in all, this represents a chance worth seizing, and the Family Head believes we must strive for it!" Li Chang conveyed.

Lu Fusheng gave a subtle nod, "Brother Yang's readiness is commendable. Then, without further delay, I'll proceed to the Illusion Moon Sect immediately, while you remain here awaiting my update!"

Of course, he backed the Yang family's bid to claim official family status. Should the Yang family attain that rank, the bond between their houses would solidify further.

In such a scenario, their words would carry far more authority when addressing the Illusion Moon Sect.

Frankly speaking, he harbored little fondness for the Illusion Moon Sect, given how the Lu family lingered as their underling, forcing him to constantly bow in submission.

Can a real hero bow forever to another's rule?

Lu Fusheng refused to swallow such indignities. Were it not for the Lu family's reliance on the Illusion Moon Sect's aid, he would never stoop to acting as their lackey.

That's correct—acting as a lackey.

The twelve families might strut arrogantly before inferior Martial Arts Families, but before the Three Major Sects, they must grovel and fawn.

...

As dusk descended and the luminous moon ascended, Illusion Moon Lake gleamed like scattered silver shards. Encircling nine jade platforms, moon soul lamps dangled with flickering fires, azure streams flowing, while the rippling waters sparkled with frosty allure.

Across the lake's expanse, a few youthful Illusion Moon Foxes frequently skipped over the waves in frolic, their extended tails glowing with silvery chill, eyes of illusion harboring eerie blazes. Each gentle touch of their paws upon the water sparked blooming azure lotuses, and fragmented lunar reflections morphed into drifting fireflies, swirling gracefully around the nine jade platforms.

Guided by an Illusion Moon Sect disciple, Lu Fusheng strolled beside the lake toward the Mirror Abyss Pavilion. Observing the lively Illusion Moon Foxes at play, he found himself unable to hide an expression of longing.

The Illusion Moon Fox ranks as a First-order Mutant Beast, attaining late First-order power upon maturity—equivalent to a Heavenly Gang Stage Martial Artist—and with proper care, it boasts a strong potential to evolve into a Second-Order Mutant Beast.

The Illusion Moon Sect drew its name from the Illusion Moon Fox, just as Illusion Moon Lake derived its moniker from the sect.

Illusion Moon Lake serves not as the Illusion Moon Sect's dwelling, but as the cherished domain of the Illusion Moon Foxes.

The Lu family possesses Golden Feathered Eagles too, though they pale in comparison to the Illusion Moon Foxes.

Full-grown Golden Feathered Eagles likewise hold late First-order might, yet breaking through to Second-Order eludes them since the Golden Feathered Eagle lacks the necessary bloodline for such growth.

Bloodline isn't essential for a Mutant Beast to progress, but it counts among the prime gifts aiding that ascent.

Take the Green Wolf King, for instance—far from a mere common Mutant Beast. Its lineage traces back to demon beasts once tended by the Sun True Sect, and though that era lies ten thousand years in the past, the Green Wolf King retains the heritage of Ancient Demon Beasts.

Furthermore, the Ancient Relic Arrays foster abundant heavenly resources, enabling the Green Wolf King—through devouring countless spirit herbs and spiritual fruits—to accomplish its breakthrough.

The Lu family's Golden Feathered Eagles surpass only marginally the Flying Slave Eagles and Red Cloud Horses of the Spirit Source Land; they likewise face immense hurdles in evolving.

Following the disciple's guidance, Lu Fusheng entered the Mirror Abyss Pavilion and climbed the staircase. The Han Baiyu stairs radiated a serene lunar sheen, as the bronze lanterns flanking them twisted with moon-devouring chi dragons.

Half-ajar on the pavilion's second level, cloud-motif windows allowed the soft flip of bamboo slips to drift out, while now and then, attendants parted the drapes with delicate fingers, their silver hair ornaments catching fleeting glints that plunged into the lake alongside osmanthus petals wafting from the roofline.

Beyond the translucent veil, an elegant lady lounged partially upright upon a couch, gripping a bamboo scroll as she perused it in silence.

The pavilion brimmed with drifting sandalwood scent, blended with a subtle hint of cosmetic allure. Positioning himself beyond the drape, Lu Fusheng formed fists in respect and announced, "Lu Fusheng from the Lu family pays respects to the Sect Master!"

The figure ahead was none other than the Illusion Moon Sect's leader, Yue Qing, revered as Fairy Yue Qing.

Yue Qing isn't her birth name, but rather her Daoist moniker. Every elder in the Illusion Moon Sect bears such a Daoist title, and reaching Martial God realm means abandoning one's former identity to embrace solely the Daoist title.