Eighteen Years

A few years ago.

Zhang Shu married a rogue immortal cultivator, and they had a son, Zhang Ke.

Zhang Ke's appointment as a second-rank water lord in the Min River was at Lu Qingfeng's behest.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le were enjoying themselves in the mortal world, serving as officials in Jimo City. Not wanting to be disturbed, they kept their conversations private.

Therefore, Zhang Ke was also kept in the dark.

Lu Qingfeng glanced at the sky and saw several figures landing beyond the clouds, seemingly waiting for him to pay them a visit. He couldn't help but smile and said to Ao Le, "I won't go see these people in the sky."

"Um."

Ao Le nodded slightly, knowing that although her husband had many friends, he also had quite a few enemies in the Sorrow River. Most of the people in this area were from the same lineage as the once -Heaven-Shaking Eastern Marshal Ao Shang and the once-mighty Southern Marshal Zhu Jiu. They had a rather unpleasant past, so there was no need for them to meet.

If these people knew that the immortal in Jimo City was Lu Qingfeng, they would probably run away even faster than Lu Qingfeng.

In the mundane world, there is little to manage.

"Let's go!"

Lu Qingfeng used the Great Five Ghosts Transportation Method, and immediately black clouds rose, carrying the couple and the two little ones, Lu Xiao Lu Yao, into the sky and disappearing.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ke quickly bowed and said, "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty and Mistress."

When I looked up again, the courtyard was empty.

The horizon.

Ao Zhong stood atop the azure clouds, looking down, waiting for the immortals below to come and pay their respects. Suddenly, Black Wind arose below, and the aura of five ghosts flickered. Looking further down, there was no trace of the True Immortal.

"They ran away?"

Ao Zhong was taken aback, his brows furrowing instantly. He looked south, pondered for a moment, and then his eyes widened in shock, "That scoundrel from Guangyuan?!"

Far away.

Another True Immortal arrived, landing before Ao Zhong, and asked in surprise, "That was just now—"

"The Great Five Ghosts Transportation Method!"

"Investigate and impeach Guangyuan!"

Ao Zhong gritted his teeth.

"It really was him!"

The True Immortal said in a deep voice, "Guangyuan has been wandering the mortal world for fifty thousand years. There are rumors that he has already become an immortal, but there has been no news from any side. It seems that he has just become an immortal?"

Ao Zhong shook his head.

Looking south, I felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Is Ao Zhong, the Sky Patrol Commander, the son of Ao Shang?"

East Submerging Continent.

The five ghosts dispersed.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le each carried Lu Xiao Lu Yao as they walked towards a small town in a western country. Ao Le asked curiously.

"Good."

"Ao Shang had a total of thirty-six sons, but only this Ao Zhong was fortunate enough to become True Immortal. He had a past marriage with the daughter of the Wu River Dragon Lord, and he has a considerable grudge against me. His ascension to True Immortal is a joyous occasion, so I will do him a favor and not cause him any trouble."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

He was in charge of the Censure Office and commanded demons. He once secretly instigated a demonic disaster, slaughtering the entire Wu River family. Ao Zhong's father-in-law, the Dragon Wu River Dragon Lord, along with several of his brothers-in-law, all perished at the hands of demons.

The area inside and outside the Sorrow River was in an uproar.

Some speculated that Lu Qingfeng was behind it all, with impeachment memorials pouring in like snowflakes, but ultimately nothing came of it.

The enmity between him and Ao Zhong is considerable.

Previously, Lu Qingfeng and his father Ao Shang were at odds.

However, Ao Shang died 30,000 years ago when he was undergoing the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation, and a wisp of his soul entered reincarnation. Among Ao Shang's lineage, the Ao Zhong has the highest status and strength, but even they cannot contend with Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng wielded immense power in the Sorrow River and held a prestigious position, especially in the two continents of East Submergence and East Sinking, where his influence was at its peak.

Ao Zhong could only stay in the Ancient Sorrow Continent, not daring to set foot in Chunshen Shen.

"My husband deliberately revealed the aura of the Five Ghosts, and said he wouldn't cause trouble for Ao Zhong."

Ao Le smiled, pursing her lips.

Lu Qingfeng also laughed out loud.

The two walked into the city, talking as they went.

This time I'm going back to the East Submerging Continent.

Instead of Divine Lord of Censure's Palace, he chose to continue living among mortals.

"Xiao'er and Yao'er are young. After returning to the Divine Lord's Mansion, they are pampered and spoiled."

"It would be better to live among humans for a while longer."

"Wait twenty years, then send him to the Heavenly Pivot Prefecture and give Ao Jun a headache!"

Lu Qingfeng, holding Lu Yao, said to Ao Le.

Although the two little ones are both over a year old, they can't understand what their father is planning for the time being.

"Life is great, and there are plenty of playmates."

Ao Le nodded, also quite agreeing.

Growing up in humble circumstances allows one to understand the hardships of life and prevents them from developing a spoiled and arrogant nature.

As long as one's temperament isn't twisted.

With such a father, his future achievements will certainly be remarkable.

Then.

The two then took Lu Xiao Lu Yao and settled in Celebration City, a small county town in the northern border region called Jing Kingdom, on the west side of the East Submerging Continent.

Tens of thousands of years ago.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le spent most of their time in the mortal world, sometimes as a peddler, sometimes as an official in the court, sometimes as a general in the army, and sometimes, like in Jimo Commandery, as a prefect, governing the people.

Human beings possess countless wisdoms.

Besides cultivating, Lu Qingfeng was also absorbing the essence of human wisdom to replenish himself. It might not be useful now, but it would be beneficial to draw inferences and accumulate knowledge. In the future, when his cultivation stalls, careful reflection and contemplation might reveal a way to break through.

Never be too lazy to accumulate more.

This time.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le completely transformed into an ordinary couple, opening a pharmacy in Celebration City. They used illusion magic to conceal Lu Xiao and Lu Yao horns and tails, as well as their various extraordinary auras.

While teaching the two little ones to grow, Lu Qingfeng was also consolidating his newly broken-through cultivation and comprehending the various changes of the Mahayana realm and the True Immortal body.

Time flies.

Eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye.

"I've made up my mind. I'll set off tomorrow to the Immortal Mountain in the north to seek a master and learn martial arts!"

A burly, dark-skinned young man looked at the somewhat delicate-looking boy in front of him and asked in a loud voice, "Lu Xiao, do you want to come with me?"

Lu Xiao was wearing a long robe and looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. His appearance was quite similar to Lu Qingfeng's, but he also had a bit of Ao Le's charm in his eyes.

After hearing what the burly young man said, Lu Xiao was quite tempted.

But after thinking about it, he still gritted his teeth and shook his head, "I won't go. With my parents still alive, I shouldn't travel far."

"Don't Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu have Lu Yao to take care of them?"

"Let's go together. I've heard that there is a Yangwater Immortal Mountain in the north, where several immortals live. They are capable of Heaven-Soaring and escaping into the earth, and are very famous in the world today."

Zhang Kui's face showed his anxiety, and he quickly advised, "That little sister of the Zhou family was taken away by a passing immortal a long time ago to cultivate immortal arts. If you stay here in Celebration City, when you see the little sister of the Zhou family again, she may have already forgotten about you."

Zhou's younger sister was Lu Xiao and Zhang Kui's childhood playmate.

She was closest to Lu Xiao, often calling him "Brother Xiao" like a little shadow.

However, a few years ago, the youngest sister of the Zhou family suddenly disappeared.

According to her parents, she was taken in by an immortal and became his disciple.

These years.

Lu Xiao would occasionally mutter a few words, regretting that he hadn't been able to say goodbye properly back then.

Zhang Kui brought up Zhou's younger sister to ignite Lu Xiao's desire to seek immortality, so that he would have a companion on his journey to Yangwater Immortal Mountain to seek immortality and become an apprentice. Even after he becomes an immortal, this best playmate will never grow old.

"The Zhou family's youngest sister."

Even if she becomes an immortal, I will still be her 'Brother Xiao'. How could she forget me?

Lu Xiao shook his head and said somewhat naively, "I won't go. When are you leaving tomorrow? Never mind, I'll go back to the pharmacy now and ask Lu Yao to prescribe some antidote and healing ointment for you. Yangwater Immortal Mountain must be extremely far away, and there will be many dangers along the way, so you must be well prepared."

Lu Xiao said.

He then hurriedly left.

Lu Yao always finishes work on time every evening; if she's late, she might miss it.

"Oops!"

Watching Lu Xiao run away, Zhang Kui slapped his thigh in anger, "What's the point of a man living in this small county for decades?!"

Lu Xiao ignored all that.

He ran back to the Black Sand Apothecary and headed straight for the backyard. The backyard was filled with drying herbs, and a young girl in linen clothes was picking through them. Upon closer inspection, the girl looked exactly like Lu Xiao, as if they were cut from the same mold.

However, since Lu Xiao was born a man, his face appeared somewhat delicate.

The girl was born female, yet her face possessed a handsome and spirited air.

Although their faces and heights are similar, their temperaments are completely different, making them easily recognizable.

"Lu Yao".

"Zhang Kui is going on a long journey tomorrow to seek immortality and become a disciple at Yangwater Immortal Mountain. I would like to ask you to help me prepare some ointment, otherwise Zhang Kui will definitely die on the way."

Lu Xiao ran up to Lu Yao, panting heavily, and said...

"Zhang Kui is going to seek immortality?"

Lu Yao turned around, frowning, and said, "I heard that Yangwater Immortal Mountain is some distance to the north. Many martial arts practitioners from Celebration City went there to become disciples, but none of them came back alive. Zhang Kui is only eighteen years old. How can he compare to those martial arts practitioners?"

Compared to Lu Xiao.

Lu Yao was much more decisive and capable in her speech and actions. As she spoke, her hands never stopped working.

Lu Xiao listened and shook his head, saying, "Seeking immortality is not about strength, but about Immortal Destiny."

Lu Yao scoffed, "Then how do you know that none of those martial arts figures have the Immortal Destiny, but only Zhang Kui does?"

As he spoke.

Seeing that Lu Xiao was about to speak, Lu Yao waved her hand impatiently and said, "Alright, let Zhang Kui do whatever he wants. But Lu Xiao, you don't mean to go with us, do you?"

"Zhang Kui asked me to come along."

"But I didn't agree."

Lu Xiao replied.

"At least you have some conscience."

Lu Yao immediately smiled, her tone becoming cheerful again, "I have some prepared ointments in my room, for bruises, sprains, detoxification, and insect repellent. Hurry up and take them to him."

"Good!"

Lu Xiao was delighted to hear this and ran home as fast as he could.

Early the next morning.

In the courtyard.

A couple who looked to be only around thirty years old were busy with their own tasks. The woman was watering flowers and weeding, while the man was processing medicinal herbs, with Lu Yao helping out.

"Father."

"I see Lu Xiao going to the martial arts school all the time, and a few days ago he was searching all over the city for all kinds of immortal stories and cultivation manuals. He must really want to go out with Zhang Kui to seek immortality."

Lu Yao turned her head and said to Lu Qingfeng with certainty.

Lu Qingfeng smiled, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, glanced westward, and quickly lowered his gaze before asking, "Then, Yao'er, do you think becoming an immortal is a good thing?"

"Becoming an immortal would be wonderful, of course."

Without hesitation, Lu Yao replied, "Immortals can Heaven-Soaring and escape into the earth, and they can live forever. In that case, there wouldn't be so many births, aging, Changsheng, and deaths in the world, and our family of four would never be separated."

Lu Yao had been working in her family's pharmacy since childhood, and had become accustomed to life, aging, sickness and death, which made her mature long ago.