Gathering of Immortal Sprouts

Three days later, Xu Fugui's manor was decked out in lanterns and colorful streamers, brimming with festive cheer.

Lin Changheng circulated his Breath Concealment Art, which he had already cultivated to the proficiency stage, to mask his mid-stage cultivation level before arriving right on time.

He offered two genuine Wood Origin Pills as a gift, worth at least four spirit stones—a rather generous contribution.

"Brother Lin, please, come right in!"

Xu Fugui beamed with joy, hurriedly ushering Lin Changheng inside and personally escorting him to a wine table before turning back to greet other guests.

Soon, several familiar immortal sprouts arrived and took seats at his table.

They began to chat with practiced ease.

During the last gathering for the birth of Fugui's child, the immortal sprouts had been somewhat reserved, as Lin Changheng's status was no longer what it once was, and they dared not be as casual as before.

Lin Changheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Yet, who would have thought that after half a catty of spirit wine each and a round of clinking glasses, the barriers between them would simply dissolve.

They returned to their old ways.

Lin Changheng was naturally happy to see this; perhaps he would be a lone wolf in the future, destined for a long, solitary life, but at least that time was not now.

After all, a person is the sum of all their social relations, and this saying still held true during the Qi Refining stage.

While waiting for the banquet to begin, they talked about many things.

Lin Changheng also learned a piece of news: among those who had died in the marshes last time, there was another third-layer Qi Refining cultivator, who happened to be one of the immortal sprouts who had come to the Xu family at the same time.

Speaking of this, the other immortal sprouts all wore expressions of sorrow.

Lin Changheng sighed deeply, not knowing what to say, his resolve for a steady, cautious path of development only growing firmer in his heart.

He had known that sprout; although the man had married into a family, he had not yet fathered any children, choosing instead to cultivate desperately, only to be conscripted to the battlefield and lose his life.

"Perhaps I will have to head to the Land Reclamation battlefield soon as well."

One of the immortal sprouts, Bai Fengxian, downed a cup of wine in one gulp and said gloomily.

"Didn't you have two children? Why would you still need to go to the Land Reclamation?" another asked in surprise.

"Unfortunately, neither of them has spiritual roots. Once the front lines are in dire straits, I'll be sent up. It's a pity that my 'equipment' isn't obedient enough to produce an heir with spiritual roots!"

Bai Fengxian downed another cup of wine, explaining with a tone full of self-loathing for his own inadequacy.

Lin Changheng didn't know what to say; as expected, everything carried risks. He figured that future conscriptions would eventually reach the immortal sprouts who did have children with spiritual roots.

As an alchemist, he should be among the last of the sprouts to be sent to the front. If it truly came to that, he could consider running away.

If the Xu family was sending alchemists to the front, they would likely be on the verge of collapse anyway—why stay?

At the wine table, a sudden silence fell; no one spoke further, simply raising their cups to drink together.

Before long, the clamorous noise of the venue suddenly died down.

Lin Changheng looked up to see Xu Fugui accompanying a group of people inside. At their head was the head of the Xu family, Xu Xuheng, and by his side was a young girl in a pale purple dress, bright and stunning—it was none other than the Xu family's eldest miss, Xu Hanji.

Xu Xuheng arrived at the center of the hall and delivered a few words of blessing, drawing waves of applause and cheers before drifting away with his entourage.

However, those with sharp eyes and clear minds present all knew that this simple appearance by the family head and the eldest miss was merely to convey a stance.

The wedding banquet was halfway through.

Xu Fugui was already tipsy, his waistline growing wider as he greeted guests with high spirits.

At his side was a young female cultivator, a delicate beauty in her early twenties wearing a bright red robe.

Compared to the dark-skinned Xu Fugui, they looked like an old husband with a young wife.

In the world of immortal cultivation, there was no such thing as women being unable to show their faces, and they toasted the guests together.

"Hanling, these are all my old friends. This is the Brother Lin I was just telling you about!"

Xu Fugui arrived at the table of immortal sprouts and introduced him bluntly, placing special emphasis on Lin Changheng at the end.

"Greetings to you all, and greetings to Brother Lin."

Xu Hanling was quite well-behaved and followed his lead.

The immortal sprouts didn't show any strange expressions at Xu Fugui's special introduction of Lin Changheng; instead, they all smiled in response and raised their cups to return the gesture.

Lin Changheng also nodded with a smile and wished them "a marriage lasting ten thousand years."

He watched the newlyweds head to the next table to offer toasts.

When all the guests had left, the group of immortal sprouts still hadn't dispersed, having been kept behind by Xu Fugui.

They drank and feasted once more.

Seeing that the hour was late, Lin Changheng told him to hurry to the bridal chamber, and only then did Xu Fugui end the gathering with lingering reluctance before heading toward the back courtyard.

His current residence was larger and more spacious than those of the other immortal sprouts, including Lin Changheng.

Furthermore, it was not located within the Tide-Listening Dojo where the other sprouts gathered.

Such treatment clearly indicated he was already being regarded as one of the Xu Family.

Lin Changheng and the others walked out together, but upon arriving before the Tide-Listening Dojo, they saw a tall, elegantly regal female cultivator standing quietly under the moonlight.

Dantai Feiyue.

Whether it was because it was too late or for some other reason, Dantai Feiyue was no longer surrounded by a noisy crowd of people.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, might I borrow a moment of your time to speak?"

Her voice, elegant as a golden sparrow in a jade hall, drifted over—melodious yet devoid of any loss of nobility.

Immediately, several of the Immortal Seeds began winking and nudging Lin Changheng; it was hard not to let one's imagination run wild when a beauty extended an invitation late at night. Moreover, having drunk too much, their thoughts were flying, and they naturally filled their minds with scenes of intense, joyous revelry.

They then tactfully quickened their pace into the dojo, leaving space for the two of them.

Lin Changheng chuckled, helpless against them, and turned to look at Dantai Feiyue, smiling faintly.

"Is Fairy Dantai waiting here specifically for me? Is there something important?"

Lin Changheng did not move, but Dantai Feiyue had already shifted her lotus steps, drawing closer and stirring up a feminine fragrance—neither orchid nor musk, yet refreshing to the heart.

"Brother Lin, this little woman seems to recall never having offended you; why keep me at such a distance? As fellow Bing-Gui Immortal Seeds, we ought to share a bond of friendship..."

Lin Changheng had guessed many reasons for why this woman might be seeking him out, but he had not expected Dantai Feiyue to open with such a slightly resentful remark.

It caught him quite off guard.

"Fairy Dantai has misunderstood."

After a brief moment of contemplation, the corners of Lin Changheng's lips curled into a shallow smile. "It is just that... by nature, I do not care for trouble."

She let out a soft laugh.

Dantai Feiyue suddenly unfurled her wide sleeves and spun gracefully before Lin Changheng, her skirt fluttering in the night air under the moonlight, as if she were a flying celestial.

"Brother Lin, look at me from head to toe—where is there any trouble left?"

"How am I to interpret that?"

"Those Xu Family disciples from before, who spent their days chasing beauty and neglecting their duties, have been reprimanded by the Patriarch for going too far. He has ordered their parents to discipline them strictly and have them focus on practicing their arts and attending to their tasks, or else they will all be sent to the front lines for Land Reclamation..."

She stopped abruptly, tilting her face—fair as frost and snow—to look at Lin Changheng.

"Since that is the case, we Immortal Seeds can interact more often."

Lin Changheng's heart stirred; he took a deep look at the female cultivator and smiled.

"That is only right."

Dantai Feiyue's bright eyes sparkled. Having obtained the result she wanted, she took her leave.

Only Lin Changheng remained where he stood, his slender figure casting a cold silhouette under the moonlight.

As long as he was not beset by mindless trouble, even if this woman was calculating, what harm was there in interacting with her?

Besides, she was also a ranked talisman master, and she could be of some assistance to him.