Seeking the Lu Clan's Forgiveness

Ever since Ancestor Tianyan had forcibly awakened the Lu Clan's bloodline power, the clan's overall strength had indeed risen considerably. Even so, it still couldn't compare to the truly super powers.

A faction's foundations were a reflection of its strength.

Did the Lu Clan have foundations?

Of course it did. If all the ancestors from every generation awakened, the Lu Clan could probably become invincible beneath the heavens in an instant.

But the important thing now was that the ancestors would not awaken immediately. There was no telling how long it would be before the next one did.

With Ancestor Tianyan alone holding things together, the Lu Clan had begun to recover gradually, but its progress was still somewhat slow.

Then there were the super powers.

Leaving aside the wealthy powers of Central Province, even the Azure Feather Dynasty, the hegemon of Qingzhou, could barely supply enough spirit pills, wondrous medicines, and heavenly treasures to nurture a single genius from childhood.

It also controlled a secret realm of heaven and earth that it kept strictly to itself.

The legendary nine blessed lands and ten grotto heavens were all in the hands of the world's top powers.

Lu Qingshan had spent many years roaming the outside world, and during one chance encounter, he had learned that the Azure Feather Dynasty possessed the Lush Wood Blessed Land, one of the legendary nine blessed lands.

There were three thousand great Daos, and the Lush Wood Blessed Land was a manifestation of the Wood Dao.

Not only did it have an innate advantage when it came to nurturing Wood Dao heavenly treasures, but it could also greatly increase the cultivation speed of those who cultivated the Wood Dao.

Because the Azure Feather Dynasty controlled the Lush Wood Blessed Land, most people in the dynasty mainly cultivated the Wood Dao.

At that thought, Lu Qingshan couldn't help thinking of Second Elder Lu Mutong, who cultivated the Wood Dao.

Although the two sides had formed an alliance, borrowing the Lush Wood Blessed Land would probably be no simple matter.

As the Azure Feather Dynasty's most important foundation, the Lush Wood Blessed Land was surely guarded with the utmost care. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong.

Even Ancestor Qingtian had not volunteered a single word about the Lush Wood Blessed Land. If anything happened to it, the blow to the Azure Feather Dynasty would be too great.

But for the sake of the Lu Clan, Lu Qingshan was still willing to try.

"Patriarch, someone claiming to be the Azure Feather Dynasty's ninth prince wishes to see you."

Just then, a patriarch outside the room reported.

Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow. He had naturally known for some time that the Azure Feather Dynasty's ninth prince had intended to put down the Lu Clan's rebellion.

Although it had only been a misunderstanding, Lu Qingshan didn't mind making a mountain out of a molehill to achieve his own goal.

Outside the Lu Clan's gates.

Qing Zhe and his companions waited anxiously.

The Lu Clan was filled with a festive atmosphere, as its members had frequently been taking wives and concubines of late.

By contrast, they felt as though a great calamity was about to befall them.

"Alas, I never expected things to turn out like this when I returned to White Cloud City."

Chi Chen stood behind Qing Zhe and sighed softly, his emotions complicated.

Qing Zhe was utterly dejected. His father had told him not to bother coming back if he failed to obtain the Lu Clan's forgiveness.

What is all this?

Just then, someone finally emerged from the Lu Clan.

"Everyone, please come in. The patriarch has been waiting for you for quite some time."

The newcomer was none other than Lu Fan.

Qing Zhe and the others merely glanced at Lu Fan and exchanged a few polite words before turning their attention to the Lu Clan.

They didn't take Lu Fan seriously at all.

He was just an utterly ordinary member of the Lu Clan.

How could they possibly have imagined that he was a reincarnated saint?

Lu Fan paid it no mind. Smiling, he led the group into the Lu Clan.

As soon as they entered, Qing Zhe and the others began looking around curiously, but in the end, they were disappointed by what they saw.

Apart from the festive strips of red cloth everywhere and the scattered Lu Clan members, there was nothing special about the place. It seemed to be nothing more than an utterly ordinary, third-rate faction.

How could my mighty Azure Feather Dynasty form an alliance with a faction like this?

Qing Zhe couldn't understand it, but what was done was done. He could only do as instructed and seek the Lu Clan's forgiveness.

After all, how could he be blamed for this? He had only been following orders, but someone had to take the blame.

So, here he was.

Just as Qing Zhe was wallowing in dejection, a familiar, graceful figure suddenly appeared in the distance.

"Imperial sister?!"

Qing Zhe blurted out in surprise.

"Huh?"

Qing Xu also noticed them from afar. She stopped and walked over.

"What are you doing here?"

Seeing Qing Zhe's sorry state, Qing Xu's face immediately lit up with an intriguing smile.

Qing Xu had changed into a long, pure-white dress. Her dark hair cascaded loosely down her back, and she looked like a fairy untouched by the mortal world, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

But Qing Zhe had no inclination to admire her. Instead, he asked somewhat angrily, "Why are you here? Don't tell me you knew all along that the Lu Clan was our ally and deliberately kept it from us?"

Ever since Qing Xu had left them to travel to White Cloud City alone, there had been no word from her.

Qing Zhe had originally thought she had run into danger, which had made him even more reluctant to enter White Cloud City rashly.

But now, Qing Xu didn't look as though she had been in any danger. If anything, her bearing had improved considerably.

Thinking back on it now, Qing Zhe suspected she had been playing them for fools.

Seeing that Qing Zhe was somewhat angry, Qing Xu chuckled.

Come to think of it, she really had forgotten about Qing Zhe and the others after joining the Lu Clan.

But so what? In any case, she was now the Lu Clan patriarch's adopted daughter.

"I can't be bothered with you."

With that, Qing Xu went on her way toward the ancestral shrine.

What she needed to do now was attain the heavenly spirit physique as quickly as possible with Ancestor Tianyan's help.

Qing Zhe was taken aback by her attitude. Then, in a fit of anger, he got a little angry.

Though he liked to lie flat, he still had some brains. They had been ordered to seek the Lu Clan's forgiveness, but Qing Xu hadn't. Clearly, Qing Xu seemed to have some connections within the Lu Clan.

At that moment, Lu Fan, who had been standing silently beside them, kindly cleared up their confusion.

"Miss Qing Xu is now the patriarch's adopted daughter, and our ancestor is personally guiding her."

"What?!"

His imperial sister hadn't done all that well in the dynasty, yet she was doing so well here.

With a sudden change of fortune, she had actually become the Lu Clan patriarch's adopted daughter.

No, that wasn't right. He believed he knew his imperial sister well. If there were nothing here to attract her, she would never have done this.

It seemed the Lu Clan really did have something special.

This was bad. He still had to seek the Lu Clan's forgiveness. His imperial sister wouldn't trip him up, would she?

Qing Zhe suddenly wilted. He turned to Chi Chen and asked meekly, "I wasn't harsh with Little Xu just now, was I?"

Chi Chen: ...

A short while later, Qing Zhe and his companions finally arrived at the patriarch's residence.

Lu Guangyao had only just arrived there himself.

When Qing Zhe and his companions appeared, Lu Qingshan looked over at them impassively.

Seeing Qing Zhe covered in injuries and in a weakened state, Lu Qingshan's heart stirred. He immediately realized that the Azure Feather Dynasty's Feather Emperor was making a gesture of goodwill to the Lu Clan.

Look, I've beaten my own son up this badly. Let's put this matter behind us, all right?

Unfortunately, Lu Qingshan was desperately poor right now. He wished he could strip the Azure Feather Dynasty clean.

Just as Lu Qingshan was about to speak, Qing Zhe suddenly threw himself at Lu Guangyao's feet and wailed, "Patriarch Lu, a misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding!"

"I was at fault! I shouldn't have rashly brought people here to disturb your esteemed clan!"

Seeing Qing Zhe with tears and snot streaming down his face, Lu Guangyao froze. Lu Qingshan said nothing, his expression unreadable.

Chi Chen stepped forward and cautiously reminded him, "Your Highness, this is the Lu Clan's first elder. The one up ahead is the Lu Clan's patriarch."

Qing Zhe's wailing stopped abruptly. He turned and glared at Chi Chen, as if to say, Why didn't you tell me sooner?

Chi Chen's face turned bitter. How was I supposed to know you'd pull this stunt the moment you got here?

Clearly, Qing Zhe had often used this trick on His Majesty the Feather Emperor.

But the Lu Clan was not the Azure Feather Dynasty.

Just like that, Qing Zhe calmly got up and dusted himself off. Then he repeated his old trick, throwing himself toward Lu Qingshan.

"Patriarch Lu, a misunderstanding! It was all..."

"All right, all right."

Before Qing Zhe could finish, Lu Qingshan interrupted him impatiently.

Golden light then flared from his palm, and a forceful power lifted Qing Zhe up.

"My Lu Clan is at the most critical stage of its development, yet you suddenly brought people here intending to do us harm. You frightened everyone in my clan so badly that no one dared sleep all night. What punishment do you deserve?"

Seeing the anger on Lu Qingshan's face, Qing Zhe trembled, and even his voice began to shake.

"Patriarch Lu, I, I..."

Behind Qing Zhe, Chi Chen and the others kept their heads lowered, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Even if they had three Spirit Concentration Realm experts, what of it?

The Lu Clan had been able to form an alliance with their Azure Feather Dynasty. How could it possibly be as simple as it appeared on the surface?

There had to be a power here beyond anything they could imagine.