The three-year promise!

Another month passed amid the quiet, monotonous routine of cultivation, Talisman Making, and spell practice.

Another of Lu Changsheng's concubines became pregnant with her second child.

His ninth child was also born.

Once again, his spiritual root showed no stirring, indicating that the child had no spiritual root.

On the second day after his ninth child's birth, Lu Changsheng received a letter.

He was rather surprised when he saw it.

It was actually from Hong Yi, who had taken the immortal sect's entrance assessment with him back then.

The letter began with a brief greeting, then asked whether Lu Changsheng still remembered their Three-Year Appointment.

More than two years had passed since they parted at the Azure Cloud Sect.

Hong Yi hoped that Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu would come to the reunion too.

He also mentioned that Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin had all agreed to attend.

"The Three-Year Appointment."

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly as he read the letter.

This Three-Year Appointment had been a lighthearted suggestion Hong Yi made during a casual conversation when the six of them were first escorted to the Azure Cloud Sect.

They had agreed that, whether or not they entered an immortal sect, they would gather three years later at Ruyi Tower, the largest restaurant in Ruyi Commandery.

If Hong Yi had not written to him, Lu Changsheng would have forgotten all about it. He had only taken it as a joke.

He had never expected Hong Yi to write and bring it up.

And Hong Yi even said that Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin would all be there.

There's about half a year left. Should I go?

Lu Changsheng pondered.

The Chen Lineage's ambush on their journey to Green Bamboo Mountain had left a shadow over him.

He felt that the cultivation world was far too dangerous and did not want to leave the Lu Lineage lightly.

But hearing that Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin would attend the gathering made him somewhat inclined to go.

As the saying went, one more friend meant one more road to take.

All three were disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect. Maintaining those friendships might prove helpful and bring him benefits in the future.

Although he was not close to Xiao Xiyue or Zhao Qingqing, he had gotten along fairly well with Han Lin back then.

While I'm there, I can sell off the talismans I've accumulated over the years and buy some materials for crafting high-grade and Top-Grade Talismans.

With a Talisman Treasure on me, I should be fine as long as I don't run into a powerful Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

Besides, I've been away from home for three years in pursuit of immortality and the Dao. It's time I went back.

After some consideration, Lu Changsheng decided to make the trip.

Aside from attending the reunion, he had other matters to handle, and he needed to settle things with his family in the mortal world.

Since I received a letter, Feiyu probably received one too.

Lu Changsheng thought.

He immediately headed out toward Green Bamboo Manor to see what Li Feiyu planned to do.

It would be best if they traveled together. That would be safer.

Lu Changsheng did not go straight to Li Feiyu's house.

Instead, he first stopped by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to greet its shopkeeper.

Without the shopkeeper of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's help back then, news of his talent for Talisman Making would not have reached the Lu Lineage's higher-ups so smoothly. Thus, he came to visit and express his thanks.

Besides, he was still living under the Lu Lineage's roof. Befriending more of its members and leaving a good impression could hardly hurt.

After all, cultivating immortality was not just about cultivation and fighting. It also involved navigating human relationships.

Seeing that Lu Changsheng had come to visit him after returning to Green Bamboo Manor, the shopkeeper of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion looked delighted and gratified.

He had helped Lu Changsheng back then out of his own self-interest.

He had seen that Lu Changsheng had a good talent for Talisman Making and a decent character, making him someone the Lu Lineage could recruit for its own use.

But Lu Changsheng's visit made him like the young man even more.

He felt that this young fellow truly was a good sort.

Afterward, Lu Changsheng bought some medicinal herbs from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to strengthen the body and nourish vitality, then carried them to Li Feiyu's house as a gift.

He now received ten spirit stones a month, while Li Feiyu still received only two.

If he offered direct financial support, Li Feiyu would not accept it.

Besides, he could not possibly do that.

Not only was he far from wealthy enough, doing so would also change the nature of their friendship.

Bringing a few gifts when dropping by for a visit was just right.

Carrying his gifts, Lu Changsheng arrived at Li Feiyu's house.

"You could've just come over. Why bring gifts?"

Li Feiyu was pleasantly surprised to see Lu Changsheng.

"It's not like I'm popping over from next door anymore. I hardly ever visit, so isn't it normal to bring something?"

"Besides, your wife is due in another two months. These are all good for nourishing her body."

Lu Changsheng spoke casually.

He and Li Feiyu were the same age, but Li Feiyu was a few months older, so he also addressed Li Feiyu's wife as his sister-in-law.

"All right, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Hearing this, Li Feiyu accepted the gifts without fuss.

"You received Hong Yi's letter too, right?"

Once they reached the main room, Li Feiyu brewed a pot of tea and spoke, having guessed why Lu Changsheng had come.

"I did. When I read that Han Lin and the others would be going, I thought I'd make the trip and catch up with everyone."

"And I've been away from home so long that I need to go back and settle things. So I came to ask what you had in mind."

Lu Changsheng spoke plainly.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Li Feiyu nodded.

"Good. Then let's go together. There's still half a year left, so we'll set out about a month in advance."

"After all, traveling from Green Bamboo Mountain to Ruyi Commandery takes that long."

Lu Changsheng said.

"No problem. I don't usually have much to do anyway. Just come get me when you're ready to leave."

Li Feiyu said.

The two chatted some more, and Lu Changsheng stayed for lunch at Li Feiyu's house before leaving.

In the blink of an eye, another two or three weeks passed.

On this day, Lu Changsheng's tenth child was born.

This child had no spiritual root either.

However, at the instant the child was born, a system notification sounded.

[Congratulations, host! Your number of offspring has reached ten. You have earned one prize draw!]

Just as I thought!

Hearing the system notification, Lu Changsheng felt a surge of delight, inwardly confirming his guess.

He had already suspected that once a previously triggered achievement reached a certain number, it would grant another reward.

The first threshold was one, and the second was very likely ten.

I wonder whether the next threshold will be twenty, fifty, or... a hundred.

Lu Changsheng pondered.

Without dwelling on it, Lu Changsheng went to see the child.

It was a girl, very

adorable.

After visiting his wife, concubines, and children, Lu Changsheng returned to his study to begin his fourth prize draw.

System, I want to draw a prize.

Lu Changsheng said silently.

Immediately, a pale red virtual Prize Wheel appeared before his eyes.

Looking at the familiar Prize Wheel, Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and prayed inwardly.

He hoped he would get a cultivation method manual.

His current Returning Origin Technique was one of the most basic cultivation methods available to everyone.

Its advantage was that cultivation proceeded steadily and safely, with virtually nothing going wrong along the way.

But its drawback lay in that same quality: it was so cautious and steady that it refined spiritual energy extremely slowly.

He had not noticed it much back at Green Bamboo Manor.

Now that he had moved to Green Bamboo Valley and was cultivating atop a second-rank spirit vein, the difference was glaring.

Thus, Lu Changsheng thought that if he could draw a cultivation method manual, he should be able to improve the situation.

After all, no matter how lousy the system was, surely it would at least give him an Unorthodox Grade cultivation method?

"Start the draw!"

Lu Changsheng exhaled and spoke.

Immediately, golden light began circling the pale red wheel.

Five seconds later, the wheel slowed.

Under Lu Changsheng's somewhat nervous, expectant gaze, the golden light stopped on spirit pet.