Losing Wealth Averts Disaster

Upon seeing Chen Sheng, the housekeeper Lan Lin concealed her disgust.

"How should I address this senior?"

She went up to him and bowed to the dark-skinned old man.

"I am Zheng Wu. In the past two years, I have moved my clan to the Iron Apricot Villa. I heard that there is a second-tier array master with outstanding skills in Wuqi Mountain, so I have come here to ask for his array skills."

The dark-skinned old man forced a smile, but it looked slightly awkward against his fierce appearance.

"Iron Apricot Villa?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Lin couldn't help but glance at Chen Sheng.

Iron Apricot Villa was originally the Spirit Vein site of Chen Sheng's Lineage, but it was mortgaged and sold off decades ago.

"Senior Zheng, please follow me."

Lan Lin led the way to Small Plate Peak and negotiated with the people inside.

"Chen Sheng, don't bother me."

An unpleasant voice came from inside the cave on Small Plate Peak, where a tall, elegant, and dignified woman emerged.

Zheng Wu frowned slightly and glanced at Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng coughed lightly and gave an awkward smile:

"Manrong, I'm here to introduce you to some business. This Zheng Wu is the new owner of the Iron Apricot Villa and the patriarch of the Zheng Family."

Upon hearing the words "Iron Apricot Villa," Shi Manrong paused, her feelings a complex mix.

She was adopted by the Chen Family at a young age, grew up there, practiced formations, and got married.

"So it's Daoist Zheng. Please come in and discuss this."

Shi Manrong gracefully raised her hand and activated the formation.

Chen Sheng looked delighted and entered Small Plate Peak with Zheng Wu.

At Small Turtle Peak, Lan Chang'an finished his daily cultivation and nurturing of the Treasure Talisman.

They left the cave to check on the growth of the spiritual trees and medicinal herbs on the mountain.

Twenty years ago, when Lan Chang'an first moved to Small Turtle Peak, he planted a lot of spirit medicine seeds and spiritual tree seedlings.

The older these medicinal trees and herbs are, the higher their value.

"Brother Lu, that scoundrel Chen Sheng is here again, and he brought a fierce-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator with him. They're asking Fairy Shi for help."

Every time Chen Sheng came, Guan Qiaozhi would tip him off.

Lan Chang'an nodded, not paying any attention; it didn't sound like they were here to see him.

Half an hour later.

Chen Sheng and the dark-skinned old man named Zheng Wu left Small Plate Peak.

"Brother Zheng, you should be satisfied with my ex-wife's formation plan, right? As for my reward..."

Chen Sheng wore a fawning smile.

"Um."

Zheng Wu gave a low snort and casually tossed him a small bag of Spirit Stone.

Chen Sheng took a look and his expression turned grim. Inside were only a dozen or so Spirit Stone and some loose pieces of Spiritual Sand.

"I've heard that there's a second-tier Alchemist and Talisman Master on Wuqi Mountain. Could you introduce them, Brother Chen?"

Zheng Wu's narrow eyes narrowed slightly.

"Huh! This person..."

On Small Turtle Peak, Lan Chang'an casually glanced at Chen Sheng and his companion flying in the distance.

His gaze lingered on the robust, dark-skinned old man.

Although he had aged considerably and the scars on his face had almost completely disappeared, Lan Chang'an still recognized him.

"Brother Lu, do you know that Foundation Establishment elder?"

Guan Qiaozhi noticed his expression.

"Hmm, this person's nickname is ' Zheng Wugong,' and he was once Qi Refining Ninth Layer elder of the Zheng Family of Bamboo Leaf Mountain."

A look of surprise crossed Lan Chang'an's face.

Decades ago.

Zheng Wugong once led a team to intercept and kill that group of Immortal Seedling in front of Jade Moon Lake.

Later, the Zheng Family's Bamboo Leaf Mountain was conquered by the Mu Family, and they chose to submit to the Maple Leaf Huang Family.

Zheng Wugong, as the only remaining Qi Refining Ninth Layer, led his clan members away.

At that time, in order to relocate safely, Zheng Wugong went to the Beast Taming Zhou Family, to plead with them, and the Zhou Family agreed to ask the Mu and Huang Family not to exterminate him.

On their way to relocate, they encountered Lan Chang'an, who then took the opportunity to kill the Ugly Woman from the Zheng Family to avenge her family.

"The Zheng Family of Bamboo Leaf Mountain? Is that the present-day Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market?"

Guan Qiaozhi suddenly realized.

Watching Zheng Wugong and Chen Sheng walk away into the distance.

Lan Chang'an fell into thought, somewhat conflicted.

There wasn't much of a deep-seated hatred between him and Zheng Wugong.

The two had never met before, nor did they have any direct grudges or conflicts of interest.

In the early days, Zheng Wugong might not have remembered him.

To say there's no enmity...

Zheng Wugong once led a team to intercept and kill Immortal Seedling, posing a threat to him.

At that time, Lan Chang'an was only at the Qi Refining First Layer, which was the most vulnerable period for him.

"Qiaozhi, go out and find out some information about Zheng Wugong."

Lan Chang'an gave the instructions.

"Yes, Brother Lu."

Guan Qiaozhi flew out of Small Turtle Peak.

Besides the three main peaks, Wuqi Mountain also has some independent Rogue Cultivator who serve the three main peaks in exchange for the right to cultivate on Wuqi Mountain.

Some of them are well-informed.

An hour later, Guan Qiaozhi returned and reported the general news.

"The Second-Order Spiritual Vein Lineage estate that Chen Sheng had previously mortgaged and sold was bought by the Zheng Family, who had moved there, two years ago because the agreement had expired..."

Lan Chang'an understood the cause and effect.

The clansmen that Zheng Wugong led back then were incredibly resilient. They lived far away from the Bamboo Leaf Mountain area and, through hard work, successfully continued their lineage.

Lan Chang'an suspected that Zheng Wugong must have carried some valuable supplies that the Zheng Family had secretly hidden in his early years.

As long as the migrating lineage can produce Foundation Establishment Realm, there will eventually be a day when it rises again.

Judging from what I sensed just now, Zheng Wugong's Foundation Establishment, and he had been stuck at the bottleneck for a long time.

He should have advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm decades ago, but it wasn't until the last two years that he led his clansmen to find a Spirit Vein clan land.

Several days later.

A Escape Light rapidly turned back, returning to Wuqi Mountain.

A robust, dark-skinned old man, riding Escape Light, flew to the front of Small Turtle Peak.

"Zheng Wu, formerly of the Zheng Family of Bamboo Leaf Mountain, has come to pay his respects to Talismans Master Lu."

Zheng Wugong's voice was low and deep, and his expression was solemn.

After about ten breaths...

"Senior Zheng, my master requests your presence."

A beautiful woman in a traditional Chinese dress came to greet them.

As fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zheng Wugong was the head of the family.

Lan Chang'an only sent one maid to greet him, which was actually a bit disrespectful.

"Please lead the way, young lady."

Zheng Wugong remained calm and spoke politely, showing no displeasure.

Enter the main hall of the cave.

A gentle and serene man in white came into view.

"Daoist Zheng, I have long admired your name since my youth, and it is only today that I have the pleasure of meeting you."

Lan Chang'an smiled.

"Daoist Lu, you flatter me! I have long admired your inspiring reputation."

Zheng Wugong bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Lan Chang'an returned the greeting and gestured for the guest to take a seat.

Zheng Wugong sat to the left, his feelings complicated.

Decades ago, when he intercepted and killed that group of Immortal Seedling in front of Jade Moon Lake, he only glanced at Lan Chang'an.

At that time, Lan Chang'an, with his Qi Refining First Layer cultivation, killed a new member of the clan who Qi Refining Third Layer.

Later, Zheng Feng, Ugly Woman from the clan, had been seeking revenge for many years, and he had only heard this name by chance.

At that time, Lan Chang'an was just an insignificant nobody to him.

A few days ago, following Chen Sheng's guidance, he came to Wuqi Mountain to seek a formation.

Afterwards, Chen Sheng introduced the other two Peak Master of Wuqi Mountain.

It wasn't until halfway there, when he recalled fragments of memories from the depths of his mind, that he confirmed the identity of that Talismans Master Lu.

Lan Chang'an chatted with Zheng Wugong for a while and learned about the current situation of the Zheng Family.

The Zheng Family had just moved to the Iron Apricot Villa, and their overall strength was not as great as that of the Zheng Family of Bamboo Leaf Mountain at its peak.

"Daoist Lu, this is a small token of my appreciation."

Zheng Wugong forced a smile onto his scarred face and presented a bag of Spirit Stone.

"If I, Zheng, have offended you in any way in the past, I hope you will not take it to heart."

Lan Chang'an accepted the Spirit Stone and scanned them with his Divine Sense; there were a full thousand Spirit Stone.

"Daoist Zheng is too kind."

Lan Chang'an put away the Spirit Stone, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

"There is no personal grudge between us. Besides, I, Lu, have long since left the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family, so there is no longer any enmity between us."

"Daoist Zheng, go outside and inquire. When has Lu ever been locked in a life-or-death struggle with anyone?"

"I have heard of Fellow Daoist Lu's noble character and integrity."

Zheng Wugong praised loudly.

He secretly wondered: Who killed Zheng Feng and her brother on the way back then?

The Ugly Woman Zheng Feng had only one mortal enemy in those years: Lan Chang'an.

Decades ago, one could only make a few connections, not confirm anything.

However, judging from Lan Chang'an's current achievements, it is evident that he was deeply cunning and vengeful even in his youth.

Zheng Wugong came to apologize, and that was one of the reasons.

The Zheng Family moved to the Iron Apricot Villa, but their foundation was unstable and their protective formation was not yet complete. They did not want to offend a Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator with considerable strength and connections.

After Lan Chang'an Foundation Establishment, he had no external military achievements.

However, as Second-Order Talisman Master who possesses Second-Order Spirit Beast, he is by no means an ordinary person.

Back then, this person hid himself so well.

Who can estimate just how strong they truly are now?

Even the ruthless Zheng Wugong had no choice but to apologize in person, spend money to avert disaster, and resolve the feud for the sake of his Lineage, which had just gained a foothold.

After chatting for half an hour, Zheng Wugong took his leave.

Lan Chang'an personally saw him off.

Previously, when Zheng Wugong came to visit, he deliberately neglected him and had his concubine receive him.

In reality, they were secretly observing the person's expression to see if there was any resentment or dissatisfaction.

We arrived at the entrance of the cave.

Zheng Wugong thought of something and asked:

"By the way, Daoist Lu, that Fellow Chen Sheng said that you and he are sworn brothers. Is this true?"

sworn brotherhood?

Lan Chang'an's face twitched slightly, feeling both annoyed and amused:

"That's not true. This person is disliked by everyone in Wuqi Mountain."

After a moment's thought, Zheng Wugong must have had another purpose in asking this question.

"What, Chen Sheng offended Daoist Zheng?"

"It's not that serious."

Zheng Wugong said with a smile.

"Because the Zheng Family's current residence, ' Iron Apricot Villa,' was formerly the Chen Family's ancestral land. There are some historical properties around the manor that are disputed with Chen Sheng."

Lan Chang'an immediately understood: Chen Sheng saw that the Zheng Family was new to the area and their foundation was unstable, so he wanted to find a reason to take advantage of them.

Zheng Wugong didn't have enough connections in the area and was wary of Chen Sheng, so he didn't completely break off relations.

"Daoist Zheng, if this person is being unreasonable, there's no need for him to give face to me and Fairy Shi."

Lan Chang'an responded.

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Lu."

Zheng Wugong bowed and left, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Lan Chang'an watched the man's retreating figure, lost in thought.

We need to observe further.

Just now, Zheng Wugong apologized and admitted his mistake, willing to pay money to avoid further trouble; his attitude was very sincere.

Lan Chang'an is not the extreme type who would rather kill a thousand innocent people than commit the crime.

Let's consider this a temporary resolution to the feud.

Only if, decades later, Zheng Wugong shows no hostility or unusual behavior, will the matter truly be over.

The day after Zheng Wugong left.

The Fairy Shi of Small Plate Peak descended gracefully.

"Daoist Lu, I have a few questions for you."

"There's no need to go to the cave."

Shi Manrong, dressed in a simple white dress, smiled demurely and gracefully raised her hand to set up a soundproof barrier.

"What problem does Fairy Shi have?"

Lan Chang'an remained unmoved.

Shi Manrong has lost part of her memory for a year.

I don't know what I recalled or what information I deduced.

"Before I lost consciousness, did I mention any cave dwelling or ruins to Fellow Daoist Lu?"

"No," Lan Chang'an said calmly.

Before she lost her memory, Shi Manrong was willing to cooperate with him to explore Ancient Ruins, but now she might not be so.

Furthermore, he did not know the exact location of the Ancient Ruins.

Shi Manrong rubbed her temples; all she could remember about the Ancient Ruins were fragmentary pieces of information.

"Are we really just ordinary friends?"

"Yes."

"Then why did the will I left before I fainted state that I wanted to bequeath part of my estate to Daoist Lu?"

Shi Manrong's calm, clear eyes were fixed on Lan Chang'an's facial expression.

Lan Chang'an was taken aback, showing surprise.

(End of this chapter)