My daughter would be a good match for Lu Changsheng, too

At a manor in Green Bamboo Valley.

"What?"

"Lu Changsheng has become a First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master?"

"If I remember correctly, it's only been two years since he became a Ranked Talisman Master, hasn't it?"

Lu Yuanding had been handling affairs when Uncle Lu came to report the news.

When he heard that Lu Changsheng could draw first-tier middle-grade talismans and had become a Mid-Grade Talisman Master, surprise immediately crossed his face.

He had paid little attention to Lu Changsheng's progress in talisman making lately.

All he knew was that Lu Changsheng flawlessly completed the talisman-making assignments given to him each month.

He had never expected Lu Changsheng to already be capable of drawing first-tier middle-grade talismans, advancing from a Ranked Talisman Master to a First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master.

"Yes, Lineage Head. It will be another sixteen days before it has been two full years since Lu Changsheng became a Ranked Talisman Master."

"When I first heard the news, I could hardly believe it either, so I had Lu Changsheng draw a Fire Cloud Talisman in front of me."

"This is the first-tier middle-grade talisman he drew-the Fire Cloud Talisman."

Uncle Lu nodded and took out a talisman as he spoke.

He had anticipated that Lu Yuanding would also be astonished by the news and might find it hard to believe.

That was why he had asked Lu Changsheng to draw a Fire Cloud Talisman before his eyes.

"It really is a middle-grade talisman, a Fire Cloud Talisman. Lu Changsheng's talent for talisman making is truly..."

Lu Yuanding drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

He no longer quite knew how to describe Lu Changsheng's talent for talisman making.

Starting as a novice who had never touched talisman making, he had felt his way forward on his own and become a Ranked Talisman Master in a year and a half.

Then, in roughly two years, he had advanced from a Ranked Talisman Master to a First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master.

That was astonishing.

His eldest daughter, Lu Miaoge, was exceptionally talented at talisman making.

Yet even she had taken nearly three years to advance from a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master to a Mid-Grade Talisman Master.

Moreover.

Compared with Lu Changsheng, Lu Miaoge had not only enjoyed better conditions, but also received instruction and guidance from an accomplished teacher.

The comparison only made Lu Changsheng's talent for talisman making seem all the more extraordinary!

Had Lu Changsheng known that advancing from a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master to a Mid-Grade Talisman Master was so difficult that even Lu Miaoge had taken three years, he probably would have waited another six months or a year.

He had figured that since becoming a Ranked Talisman Master from scratch had only taken him a year and a half, advancing to middle grade after two years should be about right.

"All right. Inform the elders and senior lineage members that we'll hold a brief meeting tomorrow."

"We'll see what they think and what arrangements they suggest for Lu Changsheng."

Lu Yuanding set down the Fire Cloud Talisman, tapped his fingers against the desk, and gave his instructions.

Unlike an ordinary Ranked Talisman Master, a First-Rank Middle-Grade Talisman Master already warranted the Lu Lineage's attention.

Especially with the talent Lu Changsheng was now displaying, there was a strong chance he would become a Second-Rank Talisman Master in the future, barring any unforeseen mishaps!

Even great Foundation Establishment cultivators had to show a Second-Rank Talisman Master some respect.

"Alas, it's a pity Lu Changsheng isn't of our Lu bloodline. In the end, he still comes from outside the lineage."

Lu Yuanding sighed deeply.

Even though he had always told Lu Changsheng that he was one of them, one of the family.

He was ultimately not of the Lu bloodline, so they could not fully regard him as one of their own.

Green Bamboo Hall, Green Bamboo Valley.

Inside a simple yet elegant meeting room.

A stick of incense slowly burned in the incense burner.

Lu Yuanding sat at the head of the table, with several high-ranking members and senior members of the Lu Lineage seated on either side.

"I imagine you elders are already somewhat familiar with Lu Changsheng's circumstances. What are your thoughts?"

Lu Yuanding looked toward the elders and senior lineage members as he spoke.

"With such talent for talisman making, this young man has a chance of becoming a Second-Rank Talisman Master. Naturally, he must serve our Lu Lineage. We absolutely cannot let him leave!"

A gray-haired elder spoke.

He was the Lu Lineage Grand Elder, a peak Qi Refining cultivator responsible for the lineage's finances and for helping the lineage head oversee its affairs.

"Lineage Head, this young man has only been with our Lu Lineage for a little over four years. Has his heart truly settled with us?"

A thin elder with graying temples spoke up.

He was the Lu Lineage Third Elder, responsible for matters involving spiritual bamboo, spirit fields, spirit herbs, and the like.

"Judging by Lu Changsheng's conduct over the years, he's someone without grand ambitions, content with modest prosperity."

"Although his heart may not belong entirely to our Lu Lineage, he has developed a certain sense of belonging."

"Combined with our previous contract, the likelihood of Lu Changsheng leaving our Lu Lineage is currently quite low."

Lu Yuanding replied.

"I hear this Lu Changsheng has only one hobby: marrying wives and having children."

"Even after marrying nine mortal women from our Lu Lineage, he still wasn't satisfied. He brought back another three women from the mortal world as wives and concubines, one of whom even has a spiritual root."

"I imagine he knows his own prospects for immortal cultivation are bleak, so he's placed his hopes in the next generation and wants to have more children with spiritual roots."

"As it happens, my youngest granddaughter, Miaoyi, is twenty this year. She's sweet and sensible, and she has an eighth-grade spiritual root. I'm willing to marry her to Lu Changsheng."

"That would make Lu Changsheng a true son-in-law of our Lu Lineage."

"Then, once my granddaughter bears him a few more children with spiritual roots, he'll be firmly bound to our Lu Lineage."

"Besides, Lu Changsheng's surname is also Lu. His future children will easily fit into our Lu Lineage and become members of it!"

An elder with crane-white hair and a youthful face spoke up.

He was the Lu Lineage Fifth Elder, a brewer responsible for the Lu Lineage's spirit wine business.

At his words, the expressions of the elders and senior lineage members subtly shifted.

Seated at the head of the table, Lu Yuanding also felt something stir within him.

He had quite a few children.

But only three of them had spiritual roots.

His eldest daughter, Lu Miaoge, gave him the least cause for concern.

She was not only sensible and diligent in cultivation, but also talented at talisman making.

His second daughter, Lu Miaohuan, however, was another matter.

Although she had a sixth-grade spiritual root, she preferred having fun and paid little attention to cultivation.

After becoming the Lu Lineage's head, he had also neglected to discipline his children, leaving this daughter somewhat spoiled and haughty.

That was manageable within the Lu Lineage, where he was there as her father.

But with her spoiled, haughty temperament and complete lack of hard-earned lessons, she could easily suffer once she married out and he was no longer there.

And once she suffered a setback, she could

easily suffer a devastating one.

Now, hearing the Fifth Elder's words, an idea suddenly began to form in his mind.

Perhaps he should marry his daughter Lu Miaohuan to Lu Changsheng.

After their few encounters, together with Uncle Fu's and Uncle Lu's assessments, he also felt that Lu Changsheng was a decent man.

Not only was he exceptionally gifted at talisman making, but he was also fairly honest and steady.

Although he was fond of women and had rather a lot of wives, concubines, and children, he at least never neglected his proper work in talisman making.

Moreover, the information Lu Yuanding had received showed that Lu Changsheng treated his wives, concubines, and children very well and was attentive to them.

With all that in mind, along with Lu Changsheng's origins in a mortal farming household, his now largely severed ties to that mortal family, and his settling on Green Bamboo Mountain as effectively half a member of the Lu Lineage, Lu Yuanding did not fear his daughter would suffer if she married him.

Once the thought arose, the more Lu Yuanding considered it, the more feasible it seemed.

He felt Lu Changsheng would make a good son-in-law.

"With such talent for talisman making, Lu Changsheng must not be allowed to waste it. We should nurture him properly."

"I am also willing to marry my granddaughter Miaoyun to Lu Changsheng and teach him talisman making, so that his heart will belong wholly to our Lu Lineage and we may gain another Second-Rank Talisman Master."

A dignified woman who appeared to be in her thirties or forties spoke up.

She was the Lu Lineage's Fourth Elder, a First-Rank Top-Grade Talisman Master responsible for the lineage's talismans.

"I have a granddaughter as well."

Another gray-haired elderly woman spoke.

Following the Fifth Elder's proposal, elder after elder and senior lineage member after senior lineage member spoke up, expressing their willingness to marry descendants with spiritual roots to Lu Changsheng.

Although the Lu Lineage was a single lineage and they were all family.

It still had different branches, each of which considered its own interests.

Someone like Lu Changsheng, already half a member of the Lu Lineage and displaying such talent for talisman making, was naturally a piping-hot bun everyone wanted a bite of in the eyes of these elders and senior lineage members.

They were more than happy to marry descendants with spiritual roots to him.

Doing so would effectively bind Lu Changsheng, a future Second-Rank Talisman Master, to their own branch.

Even if he failed to become a Second-Rank Talisman Master in the future, becoming a First-Rank Top-Grade Talisman Master was all but assured.

No matter how they looked at it, this was a deal guaranteed to profit, with no chance of loss.

Watching the elders and senior lineage members continue to speak up, Lu Yuanding gave a slight cough and said, "I think Miaohuan is about marriageable age as well. She would be a good match for Lu Changsheng."