New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve.

Cold winds whipped through the streets of the Inner City, yet pedestrians still came and went, exchanging New Year's greetings.

The Inner City's public security and the affluence of its residents were starkly different from the Outer City's scene.

In the center of the Inner City stood the Wang Family's Hall of Worship.

The Wang Family's treatment was quite good; they had set up a lavish buffet banquet in the hall to entertain over thirty Worshippers.

More than thirty Worshippers sat at three long tables.

The Worshippers ate and drank with their colleagues, chatting happily.

Lu Changfeng also sat at a long table. Black Ox was to his left, eating with gusto, while Old Luo was to his right, drinking with great enjoyment.

Halfway through the meal, the current head of the Wang Family, Wang Shou, arrived with several of his children to offer New Year's greetings.

This was Lu Changfeng's first time interacting with Wang Shou, the head of the Wang Family, at such close range.

As Wang Shou came to toast him, Lu Changfeng quickly opened his interface to scan Wang Shou's Bone Structure and talent.

Name: Wang Shou Bone Structure: Grade A Mid Talent: None

Wang Shou's Bone Structure, like Wang Yue's, was an excellent Grade A Mid.

However, his talent was none.

Compared to ordinary people, this Bone Structure was quite good.

But for a family head, this talent was somewhat lacking.

The head of the Wang Family was likely not the most outstanding individual in terms of strength within the family.

"Worshipper Lu, Happy New Year!" After Wang Shou finished toasting, a young maiden stepped forward and raised her cup to Lu Changfeng.

Lu Changfeng looked over and saw it was the Sixth Miss, Wang Yue.

After their first joint Worshipper mission, Wang Yue had specifically requested Lu Changfeng for several similar tasks.

Over half a year, they had become quite familiar with each other.

"Happy New Year, Sixth Miss!"

Lu Changfeng raised his cup and drank it all in one go. Unfortunately, he still hadn't seen the Wang Family's top genius, the Second Young Master.

The Second Young Master, praised as the top genius by the Wang Family, was likely a talented individual with a Bone Structure of Grade A Upper.

If he could copy a Grade A Upper Bone Structure, the time to merge and achieve Heroic Bone Structure could be shortened to one year.

However, Lu Changfeng only allowed himself to think such pleasant thoughts.

The Second Young Master of the Wang Family would undoubtedly be heavily guarded. Approaching him rashly could easily lead to the Wang Family deeming him to have ulterior motives and initiating an attack, even a lethal one.

"Worshipper Lu, what are you looking at?" Wang Yue didn't leave. She pulled up a chair and sat beside Lu Changfeng. Black Ox, understanding the situation, moved over to make space.

Lu Changfeng withdrew his gaze. "It's nothing. It's just the first time I've seen so many Wang Family members gathered. Your family's descendants are indeed all talented individuals."

Wang Yue chuckled, "Of course. However, our Wang Family's most formidable genius, my second brother, isn't here yet."

"The name of the Second Young Master of the Wang Family is widely known, but I've never seen him since I took up my post as a Worshipper here," Lu Changfeng probed.

"My second brother..."

Wang Yue hesitated. "Let's not talk about him. Worshipper Lu, after spring, would you be willing to accompany me to Luocheng?"

Luocheng was one of the twenty-three cities in Yunyang Prefecture.

It was located to the right of Fengcheng.

It took five to six days to walk there and two days by horse.

"If there is a mission, I naturally would not dare to refuse," Lu Changfeng replied.

Wang Yue frowned slightly. "What if it's a personal request from me?"

Lu Changfeng thought carefully. "Then you would need to tell me the full purpose of this trip, Sixth Miss, so I can consider it."

Wang Yue asked, "Fengcheng belongs to our Wang Family. Do you know who is behind Luocheng?"

"Behind Luocheng is none other than one of the four great sects of Yunyang Prefecture, the Xuanyuan Sword Sect," Old Luo interjected from the side.

Wang Yue glanced at him and smiled. "Ah, it's Worshipper Luo. Worshipper Luo is correct. The Xuanyuan Sword Sect is indeed behind Luocheng."

"The Xuanyuan Sword Sect is a sect with thousands of years of history, filled with countless experts, each with astonishing swordsmanship. I want to have my younger brother join the Xuanyuan Sword Sect."

"Your brother?"

Wang Yue nodded and briefly introduced him.

Her brother's name was Wang Shao. They were full siblings. Because his Bone Structure wasn't very good, he wasn't highly regarded by the family.

However, Wang Shao was quite talented in swordsmanship.

Therefore, Wang Yue wanted to send her brother to the Xuanyuan Sword Sect to try his luck.

If Wang Shao stayed in Fengcheng, he would have no future.

"It will take at most half a month. After half a month, whether we succeed or not, we will return."

As Wang Yue's words fell, Old Luo on the other side drained his wine in one gulp, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes before disappearing: "Sixth Miss, shall this old man accompany you to the Xuanyuan Sword Sect?"

Wang Yue was slightly taken aback. If Old Luo was willing to go, that would naturally be for the best.

After all, despite Old Luo's slovenly appearance, he was a genuine expert in the Muscle Tendon Realm.

He was more than enough to protect her and Wang Shao.

The other Worshippers in the Hall of Worship who were in the Muscle Tendon Realm were all self-serving.

Even as the Sixth Miss, she couldn't command a Muscle Tendon Realm Worshipper without the order of the Family Head or the manager of the Hall of Worship.

For Wang Yue to command a Worshipper, she had to follow the family's procedures.

And if she followed the normal procedures, the Family Head would certainly not be willing to dispatch many Worshippers for the sake of a mere Wang Shao; at most, he would send a few guards.

This was the reality within martial arts families. Only those with outstanding talent like Wang Yue could gain attention. Those with poor talent were destined to become collateral branches and receive no attention within the family.

Wang Shou had many wives and concubines, and nearly a hundred children. More than half of them lacked talent, so he couldn't possibly manage them all.

Just like Wang Yue, she was nominally the Sixth Miss, but in reality, her title of Sixth Miss was not determined by birth order.

To put it simply, Sixth Miss meant 'the sixth child with excellent talent in the Wang Family.'

"Sixth Miss has treated me well in the past. Since he is Sixth Miss's biological brother, I will go with you." Before Wang Yue could respond, Lu Changfeng on the side also replied.

The Xuanyuan Sword Sect was a renowned sect in the Song Kingdom.

It might have even stronger Bone Structure talents. Following Wang Yue to go there was perfectly justifiable.

Moreover, with Old Luo, a hidden 'Sword Dao master,' present, their safety along the journey was also guaranteed.

Besides, Lu Changfeng's own strength was by no means weak.

Although his cultivation realm was still at the sixth level of Blood Tempering, Lu Changfeng felt that his strength, speed, and explosive power after cultivating the [Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique] far surpassed those of the same level.

Wang Yue was overjoyed: "Haha, with two Worshippers helping, this trip will be safe and sound!"

"When do we depart?" Lu Changfeng asked.

"Hmm, in three days, on the third day of the month, how about that?"

Lu Changfeng and Old Luo both nodded, indicating no problem.

Thus, Wang Yue left with delight.

Lu Changfeng watched Wang Yue leave.

He poured himself a cup of wine and clinked it with Old Luo.

"What? Do you have a history with the Xuanyuan Sword Sect?"

Old Luo glanced at the young man beside him. At first, he thought this kid was approaching him with ulterior motives.

But after half a year, this kid only occasionally sought him out for drinks and chess. Gradually, he came to understand that Lu Changfeng might not have any other intentions towards him, simply looking for someone to pass the time with.

"Yes! Taking this opportunity, I'll go see some people." Old Luo staggered to his feet, "We're traveling far in three days, so I'll go back and rest."

Lu Changfeng looked at the drunken appearance of this 'Sword Dao master' and shook his head inwardly.

Lu Changfeng looked up at the dark and cold night sky. After today, he would be nineteen years old.

Could he possibly touch upon immortality in his lifetime?

Tomorrow, I'll go sweep my Master's grave.