Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

From a distance, he saw Gu Feng accompanying a beautiful woman in front of the residence where he lived, with Li Nangua by their side.

When she saw Lu Chang’sheng, a flash of sharpness appeared in the beautiful woman’s eyes.

"This must be Alchemist Lu? Truly a man of striking talent."

The beautiful woman stepped forward ahead of Gu Feng.

"Madam, you flatter me." Lu Chang’sheng glanced at Li Nangua, who had a faint trace of amusement in her brow.

Apparently, she was quite tickled by the words "striking talent".

Lu Chang’sheng blushed, hastily saying he didn’t deserve it; after all, a man knows his own business best—he could claim to have "a certain aura," but "striking talent" was definitely out of reach.

The beautiful woman laughed heartily, using a change of subject to gloss over the compliment.

At this moment, Gu Feng came forward to introduce them, and only then did Lu Chang’sheng learn that the beautiful woman before him was actually Gu Chan’s second sister, Gu Yuan.

It was just that, on ordinary days, few in the Gu Family ever mentioned her, though why was unclear.

Soon, his question was answered; once they went inside, Gu Yuan said a few words to make her intentions clear.

"I’ve just come back from the Good Beast Sect, where I heard of Alchemist Lu’s reputation. So, I wished to invite you as a guest to Good Beast Sect—would you honor us with your presence?"

"Madam, you’re a member of Good Beast Sect?" Lu Chang’sheng immediately understood why Gu Yuan was not well-known in Platinum Immortal City.

The Gu Family relied on Supreme Profound Sect, and now with someone marrying into the Good Beast Sect, if the news got out, it would surely make Supreme Profound Sect suspicious and affect the Gu Family’s standing there.

"My husband is a direct disciple of the main branch, so naturally I consider myself part of Good Beast Sect as well." Seeing the change in Lu Chang’sheng’s gaze, Gu Yuan said with a hint of resignation, "If a family wants to endure, it can’t put all its hope in a single tree."

"This is how the Gu Family survives."

Lu Chang’sheng nodded; by the looks of things, the weakening position of the Gu Family within Supreme Profound Sect played a part too.

Still, it was ultimately none of his business; what pleased him was that, since Gu Yuan belonged to Good Beast Sect, it meant he could enter the Sect easily and naturally.

"I’m fine with joining Good Beast Sect, but I’d like to know—what’s in it for me?"

"Our Good Beast Sect may have fallen a bit in recent years, but—hmm? What did Alchemist Lu just say?" Gu Yuan had expected, at best, a vague answer today.

After all, from a long-term view, and with Lu Chang’sheng’s family here, there was no way they’d agree outright. She was preparing a speech to persuade him—who knew she’d get a positive reply?

For a moment, she was caught off guard. But, steady by nature, she quickly regained her composure.

"Alchemist Lu is truly willing to join my Good Beast Sect?"

"Of course." Lu Chang’sheng said with a light smile, but he didn’t lay all his cards on the table—no sense in making himself easy to exploit.

"I’ve just about hit a wall in my Alchemy Dao cultivation, so support from an Immortal Sect would do me good. Truth be told, if not for Madam’s offer, I was planning to leave Guangnan Domain soon and find an Immortal Sect elsewhere to pursue my cultivation."

"Alchemist Lu is absolutely right." Gu Yuan replied quickly, even lowering her own stance considerably.

Indeed, just as Lu Chang’sheng said—with his current fame and strength, unless he’s picky, even a Small Domain Immortal Sect would find him very tempting.

"Luckily, when Alchemist Lu visited Supreme Profound Sect before, his cultivation hadn’t broken through yet, and Heaven-Burning Valley hadn’t held its examination. Otherwise, how would Good Beast Sect get the chance to approach Alchemist Lu?"

Gu Yuan felt quietly glad inside and, without a hint of hesitation, offered the terms Good Beast Sect had prepared.

"With Alchemist Lu’s strength and reputation, if you join Good Beast Sect, you’d at least be appointed a steward at the Alchemy Institute. Our stewards there receive five mid-grade spirit stones per year, and in our Immortal City territories, you’d have first pick of shop locations. Normally, a new steward gets to select one shop slot, but for Alchemist Lu—we’re willing to offer you an entire street a hundred yards long."

"Also, we know Alchemist Lu doesn’t seem to have a suitable spirit beast yet. That’s where our Good Beast Sect excels. Once you join, you’re free to choose any spirit beast you like from the Grade-B Beast Institute as your companion for cultivation."

Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t expected Good Beast Sect to show such sincerity. With these terms, there was no need to risk heading to a larger domain in search of a stronger sect.

After all, beyond resources, a steady cultivation environment was something he needed badly.

Gu Yuan wasn’t done—the benefits of an Immortal Sect steward were far beyond what Lu Chang’sheng had imagined. Even without running any shops, just from the steward’s salary, he could save up enough spirit stones in ten years to buy a basic Foundation Establishment Pill.

What mattered most—

"We’ll grant Alchemist Lu one quota per year to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

This, now, was truly a grand offer from Good Beast Sect!

Lu Chang’sheng took a deep breath. Even though these Foundation Establishment Pills were the most basic of their kind, the right to buy them was incredibly precious.

However—

Gu Yuan detected a subtle shift in Lu Chang’sheng’s tone; her heart skipped—was even this not enough for him?

To be clear, offering these perks already stretched them to the limit. It’s not that they couldn’t give more, but as an Immortal Sect, they couldn’t focus on one person alone—it was important not to upset the wider balance.

"Alchemist Lu, it’s not that we can’t offer better terms, but you must understand, you haven’t quite reached that threshold—if—"

Lu Chang’sheng smiled, "No need to worry, Miss Gu Yuan. I’m more than satisfied with Good Beast Sect’s sincerity. But it seems your understanding of me is still stuck in the past month or two."

Gu Yuan frowned, not immediately catching the meaning of Lu Chang’sheng’s words.

Until Lu Chang’sheng placed a jade bottle on the table, "Miss Gu Yuan, please take a look!"

Gu Yuan seemed to grasp something instantly; her beautiful eyes glazed for a second, and she slowly reached for the jade bottle.

The moment she opened it, her voluptuous figure gave a visible shudder, as if struck by lightning. Her breath grew heavier, and her gaze toward Lu Chang’sheng was bright and full of astonished delight.

"Alchemist Lu has reached that stage?"

"I guarantee it!"

Lu Chang’sheng nodded.

As they sat down to negotiate, Gu Feng had already left, so Lu Chang’sheng had fewer reservations.

Gu Yuan’s face was overflowing with joy. Though she couldn’t tell for sure if the second-tier pill in the jade bottle was genuinely refined by Lu Chang’sheng, she figured he had no reason to lie.

With such matters, once they got back to Good Beast Sect, the elders would inspect it themselves, and Lu Chang’sheng would surely need to refine a batch in person.

To lie about this was to gamble with his own life.

"Whew—Alchemist Lu, you truly kept it quiet, didn’t you? What a stunning breakthrough!"

After a while, Gu Yuan took a deep breath, coming out of her reverie to look at Lu Chang’sheng, forcing a smile.

Now that Lu Chang’sheng had made it into the second tier, all those former terms seemed trivial. Shortly after, Gu Yuan hurried off; she needed to discuss with the sect’s patriarch. Of course, before leaving, she reminded Lu Chang’sheng over and over to wait for her good news.

When the time came, he certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.

"Aren’t you afraid she’ll spread the word?"

Nangua watched Gu Yuan’s departing figure and laughed.

Her own husband was just as dazzling here in the Spirit Realm as he’d been in Great Yuan.

"No, she’d be the last to leak it—she’s more worried than anyone about rumors stirring up trouble for my Entry." Lu Chang’sheng replied with a grin.

"You have a point. Chang’sheng, you’re always so clever!" Li Nangua giggled merrily.

Lu Chang’sheng shook his head helplessly. His wife was more shrewd than she cared to show—she just habitually didn’t think such things in front of him.

"Once I join Good Beast Sect, Lu Mansion shouldn’t stay here in Platinum Immortal City any longer."

"Mm, naturally. We’ll ask Chang’an and the others to get things ready. There aren’t many of us, so it’s no trouble to move." Li Nangua said.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, all settled? Lord Yang is asking after the two of you!" came Gu Feng’s voice.

Lu Chang’sheng and Li Nangua exchanged glances, then soared on their swords, arriving atop the city wall before long.

When they saw the scene outside the city, a look of grave concern unconsciously flickered in both their hearts.