Er Shun's Filial Piety

The good news is...

Li Erqing's ninth son, Mu Jiuan, was spotted by a passing True Person while gathering herbs and was taken in as a disciple.

The identity of that True Person is mysterious; Li Erqing and his son had never heard of him in the Liang Kingdom.

Lan Chang'an's first reaction was not that Mu Jiuan had good fortuitous opportunity, but rather that something was very strange, or that the letter was concealing certain details.

Mu Jiuan's aptitude is close to that of High-Grade Spiritual Root, which is indeed quite good, but not enough to particularly tempt Core Formation True Person.

Those who can create False Core mostly start with High-Grade Spiritual Root.

Many who achieve the True Elixir have Earth Spiritual Root.

In the eyes of True Person, High-Grade Spiritual Root are not considered a scarce resource.

"Could it be that Mu Jiuan possesses a hidden Innate Treasure Body? Or is there some secret behind this matter...?"

Lan Chang'an pondered.

Innate Treasure Body are extremely rare; Lan Chang'an had only seen a few cases in his Previous Life.

Mu Jiuan was taken away by that True Person.

Lan Chang'an could easily guess that the True Person took his disciple away was probably going to give Li Erqing, the father, some benefit.

"This guy has benefited from having a baby again."

The bad news in the letter.

After years of effort, the Huang Family finally formed a marriage alliance with the Beast Taming Zhou Family, and became on good terms with one or two branches of the family.

Even worse is...

The Beast Taming Zhou Family, has clashed with the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family; the cultivation Lineage affiliated with both sides have already started a war.

With the Zhou Family's energy diverted, they were unable to effectively address the influence of the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family, who were on the periphery of the family's power.

This is very disadvantageous for the Mu Family.

"The Maple Leaf Huang Family proceeded cautiously, first by offering concessions to the Beast Taming Zhou Family to gain their understanding. Then, they used the Marketplace's economic ties to win over the Zhou Family, eventually forging marriage alliances with one or two branches of the family years later."

Having managed Lineage business in his Previous Life, Lan Chang'an had a premonition of the Huang Family's leader's strategies.

The Huang Family's strategy was not achieved overnight.

It was achieved gradually and imperceptibly over a long period of two or three decades.

The Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market is a crucial link, generating substantial profits for the Huang Family. With sufficient financial resources, they can implement many of their plans.

Steady operation, lying low for two or three decades.

The Huang Family's strength is unprecedented, and they have produced their fourth Foundation Establishment.

Now, the opportunity has finally arrived!

If the conflict between the Zhou Family and Zhuo families escalates, they may have no time to attend to Jade Moon Lake.

When Li Erqing wrote this letter, his cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and he was exceptionally promoted to become an elder of the Mu Family from outside the clan.

The letter ends by mentioning:

His second son, Mu Ershun, will bring a gift to Yellow Dragon Immortal City to pay his respects to Lan Chang'an.

After reading the letter, Lan Chang'an learned about the potential crisis facing the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family.

Li Erqing's life took many dramatic turns.

Born into a farming family, he married into Lineage of cultivators and somehow rose to become Lineage elder within a few decades?

His life experiences could be written into a miscellaneous biography.

<Starting from a farmer marrying into Lineage cultivators>.

Lan Chang'an has even thought of a title for his biography, which is sure to grab attention. Add some erotic details, and it's bound to be a bestseller.

Moon Empress.

A robust young man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an honest-looking face arrived in the mountains of northern Liang Kingdom aboard Flying Boat.

"This is Yellow Dragon Immortal City!"

The young man looked on in shock as he gazed at the towering, crystalline city that stretched for hundreds of miles in his field of vision.

Compared to it, Jade Moon Mountain Villa is like a tiny grasshopper.

The cultivators who came and went, occasionally accompanied by the Escape Light of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, made his heart pound with fear.

"It's much more bustling than Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market! No wonder Uncle Lu abandoned his Lineage to seek fortuitous opportunity here."

Upon entering the Immortal City, the young and strong man looked around, his eyes wide with amazement.

The young, strong man looked remarkably like Li Erqing; he was none other than Mu Ershun.

After inquiring along the way, Mu Ershun entered the inner city of Yellow Dragon Immortal City and found the Golden Cloud Valley's residence.

"Excuse me, is Lin Lu here?"

Mu Ershun questioned the Golden Cloud Valley cultivator guarding the gate.

A short while later, a young man emerged from the camp.

The young man was slender with a short beard. He hesitated for a moment when he saw Mu Ershun.

"Are you Mu Ershun?"

"Haha! It's been so many years, Brother Lin, you still recognize me at a glance."

Mu Ershun laughed heartily.

"Er Shun is still as dashing as ever, how could I not recognize him? I've long wanted to visit Brother Er Shun at Bamboo Leaf Mountain."

Lin Lu was now quite attentive, his former arrogance nowhere to be seen.

Twenty years ago, the two met for the first time in a shop on Bamboo Leaf Mountain when they were teenagers.

At that time, Lin Lu, as a disciple of the sect, looked down on Mu Ershun, who was an apprentice.

His life hit rock bottom after his father's early death.

After much agonizing reflection, Lin Lu decided to reconnect with his father's old friends.

More than a decade ago, during his most destitute period, he went to Bamboo Leaf Mountain to borrow Spirit Stone from Mu Ershun.

After arriving in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, the two sides occasionally exchanged letters.

"Er Shun, you're here to visit Uncle Lu, right? Let me show you the way, and you can have some tea at my place while you're at it."

After consulting with the local authorities, Lin Lu took Mu Ershun to Brocade District.

Lin Lu's residence was located between the Golden Cloud Valley compound and Lan Chang'an's residence.

Lin Lu felt a little guilty in front of the cheerful and friendly Mu Ershun.

"Er Shun came to Yellow Dragon Immortal City and came to see me first. Could he be here to collect a debt?"

He still hasn't repaid the Spirit Stone he owes Mu Ershun.

It wasn't that Lin Lu deliberately delayed paying.

In recent years, he married and settled down in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, which led to a sharp increase in his expenses.

The wife said renting was unstable, so the couple bought the house they were renting, incurring a 20-year installment debt.

There are legitimate money shops in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, but the interest rates are not low.

These days, Lin Lu is tightening his belt and is very short of money.

Lin Lu didn't actually want to buy a house, but his wife came from a powerful cultivation Lineage in the city, with a generous dowry and a stronger personality than him.

Passing by Lin Lu's house.

"Brother Er Shun, this is my wife Li Qiuyue."

Lin Lu introduced the two parties.

"Sister Qiu, this is my close friend Mu Ershun, a senior mid-grade Talisman Master."

"Hello, sister-in-law! This is a small token of my appreciation that my father entrusted to me."

Mu Ershun sized up Lin Lu's wife; she was plain-looking and not as pretty as his own wife.

He took out fifty Spirit Stone and a Talisman Box.

"Brother Er Shun! This is unacceptable—"

Lin Lu felt ashamed and quickly declined.

I thought Mu Ershun was here to collect a debt, but he unexpectedly brought a generous gift.

"Brother Er Shun! This gift is too generous!"

Li Qiuyue's eyes lit up, and she quickly took the Spirit Stone and Talisman Box, glancing at Lin Lu with surprise.

That look seemed to say: You poor wretch, you have such wealthy friends?

When the two got married, Lan Chang'an only gave them thirty Spirit Stone and a few Mid-Grade Talisman.

Li Qiuyue, unusually considerate, served tea and water.

After finishing his tea, Mu Ershun was going to Uncle Lu's house.

Lin Lu accompanied him, leading the way, and said with emotion, "I've lived to my thirties and only now do I understand the meaning behind my father's dying wish. If I had been half as steadfast as Uncle Lu back then, diligently cultivating and abstaining from women, I wouldn't still be stuck at the bottom of the sect."

On his deathbed, Lin Yi instructed him to learn from Uncle Lu's steadiness, humility, and down-to-earth nature.

Over the years, Lin Lu has regretted not heeding his father's dying words.

Mu Ershun praised, "Uncle Lu is truly admirable. He hasn't married or had children for decades, and his talisman skills are outstanding, yet he remains low-key and pragmatic. My father once said that Uncle Lu is a benefactor to our family."

"Uncle Lu's ability to associate with two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Uncle Zhao and Uncle Zhang, on equal footing is something that ordinary cultivators can hardly achieve."

Lin Lu works at the Golden Cloud Valley headquarters and knows more about Lan Chang'an.

Fifteen minutes later.

Mu Ershun and Lin Lu arrived at Water Moon Residence.

A pretty and charming maid in a blue dress greeted the two.

Mu Ershun secretly clicked his tongue in amazement: the maid in Uncle Lu's house was far more beautiful and elegant than his wife, and could be compared to his second wife, Mu Caiwei, in her youth.

In the courtyard, a giant Spirit Turtle, as big as a palm leaf fan, was resting by the pond.

Upon seeing strangers, the Spirit Turtle's round eyes curiously surveyed them, looking adorably innocent.

"A low-grade spirit beast, the Mystic Water Turtle."

Mu Ershun's heart stirred as he recalled certain rumors about Bamboo Leaf Mountain.

Enter the house.

A gentle, serene, tall, and elegant man in white came into view.

"Nephew, greetings to Uncle Lu!"

Mu Ershun bowed respectfully.

Upon seeing that familiar figure, untouched by time, again after more than a decade, he was deeply moved, his eyes welling up with tears.