Will Fourth Brother Come Home for the New Year This Year?

Before the daily reading task was completed, the flying boat had already arrived above the Lin Household's residence.

A massive, shimmering flying ship slowly approached from the horizon, its hull adorned with spiritual patterns that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, casting a vast shadow over the Lin Household's residence below.

Lin Qiaohua, Lin Donglin, and other Lin Household cultivators had already heard the commotion and put down their work to quickly come out and greet them.

Lu Yang and his group were slowly lowered from the deck, supported by Wang Da's profound yet gentle Spiritual Qi.

Lin Qiaohua immediately came forward, smiling warmly, "You're back! Please come inside!"

Lu Yang smiled and said, "Great-Grandma, I won't go in; I still need to go home."

Lin Qiaohua was taken aback. Her warm, strong hands held Lu Yang's, and her voice was full of reluctance and pleading. "Leaving so soon? A Yang, stay a little longer, have a meal before you go."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang smiled gently, his tone tinged with apology. "Great-Grandma, the New Year is almost here, and I should go back home. I'll come to visit you again after the New Year."

Hearing Lu Yang say this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Qiaohua's eyes, but she knew that this was only natural.

With the Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, it was natural for a scion of the Aristocratic Clan like him to rush back to his clan to celebrate the New Year.

She released her hand and said gently, "Okay, be careful on the road."

Lu Yang nodded slightly and turned to look at Lin Ying standing to the side.

The morning sunlight fell on her, turning her plain-colored long dress a warm apricot color.

A gentle smile graced her face, though a hint of reluctance lingered in her eyes. She didn't say much, simply watching him quietly.

"Senior Sister Lin, you can communicate more with Guan Qiu later. She has been immersed in Dao of Alchemy for hundreds of years, which will greatly benefit you," Lu Yang said softly.

"Hmm... I understand." Lin Ying nodded gently.

She had a lot to say, but in front of so many elders, she didn't know where to begin.

Finally, he merely raised his eyes to glance at Lu Yang, his gaze filled with unspoken words.

Lu Yang whispered a few more instructions to her, nothing more than to rest more, not to forget the time while refining pills, to go to Guan Qiu if she encountered a bottleneck in her cultivation, and to have Wang Liu and the others accompany her if she went out, and other such trivial things.

Lin Ying listened, her smile deepening, and finally she gently pushed him. "Alright, I know. You should hurry up and set off, or it'll be dark soon."

Lu Yang then stopped talking, cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Qiaohua and the others, and then returned to the flying boat with Wang Da's Spiritual Qi supporting him.

The Flowing Light Flying Boat slowly changed direction, and the spiritual patterns on both sides of the ship's side lit up with an even more dazzling brilliance than before.

After a deep, resonant hum, the massive ship shot through the clouds like an arrow and disappeared into the horizon at an incredible speed.

Only the tangled clouds remained, slowly dissolving in the sky, as if gently smoothed out by an invisible hand.

Only after the flying boat had left did Lin Qiaohua turn her gaze away from the sky.

She was about to call everyone back inside when she noticed three middle-aged women standing quietly behind Lin Ying.

These three women had ordinary faces and unremarkable figures.

Lin Qiaohua only glanced at them, but felt all the muscles in her body involuntarily tense up.

That was the most instinctive reaction of a low-level cultivator when facing a high-level being, and it had nothing to do with her own will.

She looked at Lin Ying with some surprise and uncertainty, and asked in a low voice, "Yingying, who are these three seniors...?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying's pretty face flushed slightly, her expression a mixture of shyness and happiness. She softly replied, "These three are the protectors arranged by Junior Brother Lu."

"A protector?!" Lin Qiaohua's pupils contracted sharply, and the Lin Household cultivators behind him, including Lin Donglin, stared wide-eyed, their eyeballs almost popping out.

Lin Mingyue couldn't hold back any longer and excitedly rushed to introduce them, "Yes, Ancestor! These three seniors were arranged for Sister Yingying by my brother-in-law. This Senior Wang Liu is a Peak Golden Core expert! Senior Wang Qi is Late Golden Core expert, and Senior Wang Jiu is Middle Golden Core!"

Upon hearing this, the entire courtyard fell silent.

All the Lin Household cultivators stood there dumbfounded, their expressions dazed, as if they had been struck by lightning.

Peak Golden Core, Late Golden Core, Middle Golden Core?!

These three powerful Golden Core True Person could easily dominate the Taibai Mountain Range with just one of them!

And now, all three of them are standing here, acting as protectors for Yingying?!

They looked at Wang Liu and the other two, then at Lin Ying, and felt that the scene before them was too dreamlike.

Even Lin Qiaohua, the patriarch of the Lin Household who had lived most of his life, couldn't hide his shock at this moment.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

Wow... A Yang is so good to Yingying!

The good things made her feel a little guilty.

Seeing that even their ancestor was stunned, Lin Mingyue and the other two exchanged glances, all seeing satisfaction in each other's eyes.

The three of them were shocked in turn all day yesterday!

From being Golden Core protector to Marrow-Washing Profound-Penetrating Fruit, from Golden Core True Persons lining up to welcome them, to sitting at the same table with a group of Golden Core Ancestors, each of these events alone would be enough for them to boast about for a lifetime.

Looking back at the stunned reactions of their elders, the three of them felt a surge of superiority, a sense of having been there all along, and even unconsciously straightened their posture.

Lin Ling was the first to lose his composure, speaking with great excitement, "Grandpa, that's nothing! My brother-in-law was amazing yesterday, you didn't see it with your own eyes..."

He spoke eloquently to the Lin Household about what he had seen and heard in Taibai Market the day before. Lin Jin and Lin Mingyue would occasionally chime in with their comments, the three of them taking turns to say something, like a comedy duo.

The stories told left the Lin Household members stunned.

Their mouths were agape, their eyes were fixed, and they desperately tried to piece together the images in their minds, only to find that even imagining them was difficult.

The younger generation of the Lin Household, in particular, were green with envy.

Just by listening, they could sense how exciting Lin Mingyue and her two companions' experience had been yesterday.

Their hearts were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

In short, I deeply regret it.

If they had known their brother-in-law was so easy to talk to, they would have shamelessly begged and pleaded with him to stay.

Even just watching from a distance in a corner would be fine!

Not only the younger generation, but even the middle-aged and elderly members of the Lin Household couldn't help but show a hint of envy when they heard what Lin Mingyue and the other two said.

In their entire lives, let alone becoming Golden Core True Person, they would even bow and make way for the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Where would they ever see such a grand display?

For a moment, the enthusiasm of the Lin Household cultivators for Lin Ying was almost overflowing.

Those Lin Household who had previously been critical of Lin Ying for consuming resources to refine pills now wore fawning smiles on their faces.

Lin Ying sensed the changes in everyone, but her mind was filled with thoughts of Lu Yang's voice and smile. She found herself missing him even though it had only been a short while since they last met.

The airship glided smoothly through the clouds.

With Lin Ying absent, the top-floor room was unusually quiet, with only the muffled rumble of churning clouds and the occasional gust of wind outside the window.

Inside the study, wisps of steam rose from the teacups on the corner of the table, the aroma of tea slowly spreading in the quiet space.

Lu Yang continued reading and completed the remaining daily reading tasks.

After finishing his daily tasks, he didn't rush to cultivate, but instead continued to read the "Record of Same-Heart Creation".

As Earth Grade Supreme Quality Cultivation Method, this Cultivation Method is naturally obscure and difficult to understand.

However, with Lu Yang's current strong comprehension, he successfully grasped the basics after reading it once.

In fact, Lu Yang led the entire dual cultivation session last night.

Lin Ying was guided by him to circulate her Spiritual Qi, but she didn't gain much insight into the Cultivation Method; at best, she could only be considered to have gone through it once.

After today's systematic and detailed reading, Lu Yang's understanding of "The Record of Same-Heart Creation" has deepened even further.

The Cultivation Method data on the panel also changed accordingly.

"The Record of Same-Heart Creation" Level 1 (145/10000)

As Earth Grade Supreme Quality Cultivation Method, the experience points required to upgrade "The Record of Same-Heart Creation" are astonishingly high.

It takes a full 10,000 experience points just to go from level 1 to level 2.

This would be enough to level up to the maximum level in any Yellow Grade Cultivation Method.

However, this is normal, since the higher the quality of the Cultivation Method, the stronger its effect.

Lu Yang still had over ten thousand Cultivation Method Experience saved up, and without hesitation, he added them all to this Cultivation Method.

As insights into the Record of Same-Heart Creation continued to emerge, Lu Yang's understanding of this Cultivation Method deepened.

"The Record of Same-Heart Creation" Level 2 (2111/20000)

After reaching level 2 of the Cultivation Method, Lu Yang's understanding of this dual Cultivation Method deepened to a new level.

It's a pity that Senior Sister Lin isn't around right now, otherwise we could try it out.

Lu Yang put away the book with a slight regret, got up and left the study, and went to the deck.

The clouds swirled on both sides of the flying boat, their surface tinged with a dazzling silvery-white by the sunlight.

A gentle breeze brushed past his face, causing the hem of his robe to flutter slightly.

As the airship drew closer to the Yue Kingdom, Lu Yang's excitement grew.

I left home at fifteen, and it's been more than four years now. I'm finally going home.

Thinking of his parents' earnest expectations and the gentle smiles of Lineage elders, Lu Yang's lips curled up into a smile.

The Yue Kingdom.

Eastward Prospect Mountain is a small mountain that can be seen everywhere in the Yue Kingdom. What makes it unique is that this mountain has a certain Spiritual Qi, and the vegetation on the mountain remains fresh and green all year round.

Even in the dead of winter, when the forests elsewhere are withered and desolate, the Eastward Prospect Mountain remain lush and green, looking from afar like a deep green velvet carpet spread across the land.

There is an Eastward Prospect Town outside Eastward Prospect Mountain.

The townspeople all hold this mountain in a deep-seated awe.

Every time this mountain is mentioned, I unconsciously lower my voice and bow in the direction of the mountain.

They knew that immortals lived on Eastward Prospect Mountain.

Those immortals can control water and fire. With a wave of their sleeves, they can summon a blazing fireball or conjure a sharp water blade out of thin air. Their power is far greater than that of martial arts masters.

There was an old escort in the town, Liu Tou, who was in danger in the mountains. He saw an immortal washing his sword by the stream. The sword flew up on its own and circled the mountainside three times before falling back into the immortal's hands.

He would tell this story whenever he had a few drinks, and he'd been doing it for twenty years, always looking shaken every time he did.

Although these immortals rarely appear in public, the mortals in the town do not completely avoid contact with them.

Occasionally, herb gatherers or hunters who get lost in the mountains will encounter one or two Wind Dao figures. With a casual gesture from them, they will inexplicably find their way out of the forest.

Those who were fortunate enough to receive a 'divine encounter' became the subject of much attention upon returning to town, vividly describing the appearance of the immortals to their neighbors.

He possessed an otherworldly air and extraordinary temperament, even more noble than those princes and nobles.

Of course, these ordinary people had never actually seen real royalty or nobility.

Their sense of awe led them to this conclusion instinctively.

There are only two days left until Chinese New Year's Eve.

With the New Year approaching, the entire Eastward Prospect Town is bustling with activity.

Red lanterns and ribbons were hung everywhere on the main street of the town. Some of the lanterns were new, while others were from last year and had been re-covered with red paper. They were arranged in two rows under the winter sun, turning the whole street into a festive red.

The cobblestone streets were filled with vendors hawking their wares.

There were vendors selling sugar paintings and candied hawthorns, vendors selling cloth and rouge, and vendors performing acrobatics while banging on percussion instruments.

Villagers from the surrounding mountain villages carried firewood, charcoal, furs, and various mountain products, making their way to the town early in the morning along the frozen, hard dirt roads. They laid out their loads on the street, hoping to get a good price, exchange them for money, buy some cloth and meat for their homes, and have a decent New Year.

On a bustling street, two young men were walking slowly with a little girl who looked only eight or nine years old, blending into the crowd.

The little girl had rosy lips and white teeth, and chubby cheeks that were slightly reddened by the winter wind. She was as cute as a porcelain doll.

She had two small buns tied with red ribbons in her hair, which swayed as she walked.

At that moment, she was staring wide-eyed at the sugar figurine stall by the roadside, calling out in a clear voice, "Second Brother! I want to eat a little sugar figurine!"

The young man called "Second Brother" looked to be in his early twenties, with rather handsome features. He looked down at Lu Hongdou and said helplessly, "Hongdou, you've already eaten a skewer of candied hawthorns, you can't have any more!"

Lu Hongdou's big eyes immediately reddened, and she pouted, "Wow!! I don't want it, I want to eat it!"

The second brother was completely bewildered by her face-changing skill, gesturing wildly in the air without managing to make any sense.

He turned his head and looked at another young man beside him with a pleading look. The young man was about the same age as him, but his features were more stern. At this moment, he turned his gaze away expressionlessly, pretending to watch the street performance.

The second brother's face darkened. He grabbed the young man, put his arm around his neck, and threatened in a low voice, "Third brother, you'd better come up with a plan, or I'll just buy it! At Hongdou's age, eating too much grains as a mortal will cause his Spiritual Qi to stagnate, which isn't good for his cultivation. If Grandfather finds out, we'll both be punished, and neither of us will escape!"

The young man called "Third Brother" immediately changed his expression.

He quickly bent down, pointed to a stall in the distance filled with straw-woven insects and animals, and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, "Good Hongdou, let's go see those straw dolls! Look how cute that straw turtle is! Its shell is even woven from double strands of straw! Do you want to buy one?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Hongdou immediately stopped crying, which was already halfway through.

She blinked her large, tear-filled eyes and turned to look curiously in the direction her third brother was pointing.

The next second, she burst into laughter through her tears, grabbed her second brother with one hand and her third brother with the other, and ran excitedly toward the straw weaving stall.

"Quick! I want that grass turtle!"

After a flurry of activity, Lu Hongdou found herself holding a small, exquisite straw-woven turtle.

The grass turtle is exquisitely crafted, with clear patterns on its shell, four short legs dangling down, and even the two small eyes on its head are inlaid with black beans.

She lovingly stroked the turtle, turning it over and over to examine it.

After playing for a while, she suddenly remembered something, looked up at her two older brothers with a hint of expectation in her big eyes, and asked softly, "Second brother... Fourth brother, are you coming home for the New Year this year?"

Upon hearing this, the two young men's expressions changed slightly at the same time, and they exchanged a glance.

The second brother squatted down, patted Lu Hongdou's head, and smiled gently, "Your fourth brother is cultivating at the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect. You've heard your eldest uncle talk about the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, right? It's a top-tier sect, very far away from here, so it's not very convenient for him to come back. He'll definitely come back to see Hongdou when he has time."

The third brother bent down and chimed in with a smile, "Yeah, who knows, in a few years your fourth brother will become a very powerful cultivator. When he comes back, he'll bring you a whole bunch of fun stuff, the kind a hundred times more fun than the grass turtle!"

Lu Hongdou's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the light in her eyes dimmed for a moment.

Those small hands gripped the grass turtle tighter, the stiff edges of the woven grass leaving shallow marks in their palms.

But she quickly looked up and flashed a big smile, "Alright then! You naughty fourth brother, you haven't come back to see Hongdou for so long. When he comes back, I want to ride a big horse!"

The two young men nodded repeatedly.

"Yes! Riding a big horse!"

The two smiled and agreed, then looked at each other, their eyes both showing a hint of sadness.

Since Lu Yang joined the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, he still sends one or two letters home every year, but he hasn't returned for more than four years.

They all understood that Lu Yang was under immense pressure.

This year is the final year of the outer sect assessment. If you succeed, you will become a formal outer sect disciple; if you fail, you can only become a menial disciple.

Their family couldn't offer much help; they could only pray that Lu Yang would pass the outer sect assessment smoothly.

The siblings in this generation of the Lu Household have an extremely good relationship.

They naturally hoped that Lu Yang could gain a foothold in the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect and have a bright future.