Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 2013: 529: Homecoming (part 2)

After a considerable duration, Lu Changsheng, looking somewhat weary, summoned Song Yudie to his side.

"Elder Xuanmu."

Upon receiving his summons, Song Yudie arrived without delay, offering a respectful bow.

"Little Song, have you found your role as the steward on Rongyue Island to be settling in well?"

With a gaze marked by gentleness, Lu Changsheng displayed a sincere concern for the woman standing before him.

Hearing these words, Song Yudie contemplated whether this sudden interest from Lu Changsheng stemmed from perceived faults in her work, or if it was merely genuine kindness.

She bowed deeply and replied, "Reporting to the Elder, you entrusted a heavy responsibility to Yudie. Although I felt quite overwhelmed at the start, I have gradually grown accustomed to the tasks..."

"I see."

After exchanging a few supportive remarks, Lu Changsheng asked if she faced any confusion in her Cultivation, a gesture that left Song Yudie feeling deeply honored.

Following his guidance on her specific Cultivation hurdles, Lu Changsheng said softly, "I shall be departing soon, so please ensure that everything on Rongyue Island continues as usual. In your spare time, keep a vigilant watch for any news regarding the Kunpeng egg."

"Should any word of the Kunpeng egg surface from the Starry Sky Sea, you must crush this jade talisman immediately."

He acknowledged that seeking assistance from Shen Yiren regarding the egg might have been the more logical choice.

Yet, given the complications surrounding Lu Quanzhen—the inheritor of the Kunpeng Demon Technique—the Third Palace Master already harbored significant suspicions regarding his true identity.

Directing her attention toward information about the Kunpeng egg at this juncture would likely prove unwise.

Moreover, since Lu Changsheng lacked reliable confidants within the Starry Sky Sea, he concluded that Song Yudie, in her capacity as steward, was his only viable option.

"Please rest assured, Elder Xuanmu."

Song Yudie, who had previously feared something might be amiss, now understood that the Elder was simply preparing to depart and was checking on her affairs as a courtesy.

As for the rumors surrounding the Kunpeng egg, she had indeed heard whispers.

However, such affairs were far above her station, so she viewed it merely as an interesting topic and saw no need to question why Lu Changsheng wanted her to monitor it.

Utilizing his Observation Skill, Lu Changsheng confirmed that Song Yudie was indeed reliable, and thus, he refrained from further discussion.

He gifted her three Second Rank Talismans, signaled for her to resume her duties, and then visited Divine Maiden Peak before finally exiting the Goddess Palace.

...

A thousand miles removed from Penglai Island, Lu Changsheng verified that he was solitary before a colorful radiance rippled across his form, shifting his appearance into that of Yangming True Master.

Moments later, the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng also shed its camouflage, its feathers erupting into a magnificent and brilliant golden display.

"Let us depart, Golden Peng."

Although it had taken Lu Changsheng two months to travel from the Sea Eye of Great Dream Marsh to Penglai Immortal City, the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng had never traveled at its maximum velocity during that trek.

Time was now of the essence, so Lu Changsheng commanded the creature to fly at its absolute top speed, securing a Third Rank Divine Wind Talisman to its neck to hasten the pace.

In a mere month and two days, Lu Changsheng reached the border where the Great Dream Marsh met the Starry Sky Sea.

However, the sustained high-speed flight left even the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng exhausted, prompting Lu Changsheng to summon the Michen Banner for the next leg.

He took this opportunity to evaluate the costs associated with teleporting from the Starry Sky Sea to Great Dream Immortal City and to observe how the endless fog interfered with the process, hoping to eventually establish a reliable teleportation transit node.

"Buzz!"

The Michen Banner erupted with a five-colored luminescence that enveloped Lu Changsheng, shifting into a cloud-like form that rippled and darted toward the direction of Great Dream Immortal City.

A short while later, amidst a disorienting swirl of spatial fluctuations, Lu Changsheng appeared directly within the City Lord Mansion.

"The interference is certainly real..."

Lu Changsheng observed the vast quantity of Spirit Stones he had fed into the Michen Banner, now nearly reduced to ash, and exhaled a long breath of impurities.

Realizing that the thick mist of the Great Dream Marsh significantly hindered teleportation, he knew that any permanent teleportation array would require enhanced specifications to ensure operational stability.

Simultaneously, Ling Zixiao sensed the fluctuations in the array and arrived to investigate the return of her husband.

"My Lord."

She gazed upon the refined and handsome Lu Changsheng, who clutched the Michen Banner while his own magical aura remained jagged and unsettled.

"Zixiao."

Lu Changsheng stepped forward instantly, gripping his wife’s hand as he checked on her well-being over the past two years in the Immortal City.

Though he had previously learned of his son Lu Lingxiao’s successful breakthrough to the Core Formation stage, seeing the radiant joy on Ling Zixiao’s face brought a genuine smile to his own.

"My Lord, have your travels over these past two years been peaceful?"

Ling Zixiao inquired about his expedition into the Starry Sky Sea.

Noticing him arrive via the Michen Banner, she feared he might have encountered grave perils.

"It was neither simple nor entirely filled with obstacles..."

Lu Changsheng relayed the events of his time in the Starry Sky Sea to his wife, noting that while he had gathered significant intel, there were still no concrete breadcrumbs regarding their son Lu Quanzhen or the elusive Nascent Soul remedy.

Divination had left him with a lingering, vague sense of danger surrounding Lu Quanzhen, necessitating careful preparation before he dared to venture back.

"These matters cannot be forced, my love; do not trouble yourself with anxiety."

Ling Zixiao comforted her husband.

A Qi Refinement cultivator might dedicate decades, even an entire lifetime, just hunting for a glimmer of a chance at Foundation Establishment.

Lu Changsheng had ventured into the Starry Sky Sea for only two years; to have expected a miracle regarding the Nascent Soul path would have been unreasonable.

Though her husband’s fortune was legendary, two years were merely a blink in the eyes of cultivators.

"Indeed."

Lu Changsheng smiled, his heart settling as the pressure lifted.

The pair arrived at the secluded cave mansion of Lu Lingxiao, waiting briefly before the young man emerged, bowing deeply: "Father, Mother!"

"Xiao’er, I offer my congratulations on reaching the Core Formation stage."

Lu Changsheng studied his son, placing a hand upon his shoulder to inspect the integrity of his newly formed Golden Core.

He noted with satisfaction that his son’s foundation was incredibly deep and robust.

However, Lu Changsheng knew that if his son wished to pursue a Great Dao Golden Core like his own, he would require Third Rank Body Refining during his Foundation Establishment stage and completion of the Dragon Roar Physique soon.

Without these, no matter how much accumulation his son achieved, improvement would hit an impenetrable ceiling!

After detailing his advice on Core Formation, Lu Changsheng instructed his son to remain home to stabilize his cultivation and master new Techniques and Divine Abilities.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of the formation path, urging his son to advance his skill to the Third Rank as quickly as possible.

"Zixiao, please provide Xiao’er with more guidance on formation theory in your free time as well."

Though Lu Lingxiao's inherent talent for formations was merely above average, he possessed the Son of Heaven Qi Observation gift, which acted like a Seed of Law; Dao patterns and the flow of Qi were etched clearly into his consciousness, allowing him to grasp complex concepts with minimal effort.

The same logic applied to his cultivation of the Dragon Seeking Art.

However, because the utility of the Dragon Seeking Art was relatively narrow, Lu Changsheng did not demand his son sacrifice all his energy to it, only enough to aid in his future path.

"Understood."

As an adept Third Rank Array Master, Ling Zixiao fully grasped the vital nature of formations.

Whether venturing into the unknown or fortifying their ancestral lands, such skills were indispensable and would serve her son well.

It helped, of course, that her son showed a genuine aptitude for the craft.

Unlike their daughter, Lu Linghe, whom she never pressured to study alchemy, formations, or talismans.

...

With his priorities set, and eager to move toward the Myriad Demon Abyss to elevate his Soul-calling Beast to the Fourth Rank, Lu Changsheng did not dally. He passed several days reconnecting with Ling Zixiao, Hong Lian, Meng Xiaochan, and his other wives, before making his return to Bi Lake Mountain.

Back at the mountain, he imparted the first transformation technique of the "True Spirit Nine Transformations" to Lu Ping’an, offering advice to reflect upon it diligently when time permitted, before spending quality time with his wife Lu Miaoge and the rest of the household.

It is worth noting that Bai Ling had recently succeeded in her own Core Formation.

Despite possessing a faint True Spirit Bloodline, and having the aid of a Coagulation Crystal Elixir, Five Elements Spirit Fruit, and other premium support relics, Bai Ling had only managed to condense a Second Grade Golden Core.

Yet, this was quite expected.

For any cultivator, the transition from foundation to core to Nascent Soul depends heavily on personal fortitude and the state of one’s Dao heart.

While Bai Ling flourished in many areas, her mental fortitude and Dao heart were significantly less tempered than those of Lu Changsheng.

Her reaching a Second Grade Golden Core was a testament to the immense preparations Lu Changsheng had made.

Without such help, achieving any form of core would have been a monumental struggle, and a Superior Grade Golden Core would have been entirely out of reach.

In addition to her Music Mastery, Lu Changsheng suggested that Bai Ling dedicate time to learning the formation path from Ling Zixiao.

After all, given her temperament, she might prove ineffective in raw combat, but she could still prove invaluable in defending their home.

And now that she had reached the Core Formation stage, her overall capabilities would be vastly augmented regardless of what path she chose to refine.