Chapter 2142: Ascending the Hall and Entering the Chamber

The pie won't fall from the sky—what exactly is the Nine Abysses Great Emperor plotting?

Lu Zhen stepped forward first, originally intending to reach out and take the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's horse as a friendly gesture, but then he suddenly remembered this black-and-white-spotted king was full of iron teeth and sharp fangs, and strangers were not allowed to approach, so he awkwardly pulled in his sleeves and loudly addressed the crowd: "This is the Lord of Flash Gold, the reincarnated Dragon God, who leads the Dragon God Army to drive out the Ya people for us and has also seized the sacred land of the Korlin tribe—Nine Abysses Great Emperor!"

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor remained motionless, only the black-and-white-spotted king beneath him snorted impatiently.

Lu Zhen steadied himself. Before the crowd, his family's savior Bailie must not be slighted. Thus he bowed deeply to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor and respectfully said: "Nine Abysses Great Emperor came to Bailie's aid, resolving our urgent crisis—your righteousness is as lofty as the heavens, and the Lu clan is eternally grateful!"

"No need for courtesy." The Nine Abysses Great Emperor's low voice resonated in everyone's heart: "It is my duty."

This statement left everyone puzzled—what "duty"? What portion does Bailie hold for him?

But he said no more, and Lu Zhen, to avoid an awkward silence, continued: "Now that the south is settled, your esteemed presence returning to Bailie is for...?"

This is also everyone's question.

"Lu Zhen invited me, so I came." The Nine Abysses Great Emperor's voice carried a hint of teasing: "How so? Not welcome?"

"Your Majesty's presence brings glory to the Lu family's humble abode—how could there be any neglect?"

Lu Feiyan followed beside her brother, remaining silent until now, when she suddenly interjected: "Your Majesty, the mansion has already prepared a banquet to welcome and cleanse you of travel's dust."

These words were originally meant by Lu Zhen for the Lu father and son, and those in the know felt ill at ease hearing them. But with the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's personal arrival, the situation became intriguing.

With so many eyes watching, Lu Zhen found no reason to refuse, so he could only reply with warm enthusiasm: "Your Majesty, please!"

Just moments ago he had said the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's loyalty to Bailie was "as lofty as the heavens"—now, inviting the benefactor to a meal at the Lu mansion is only natural, is it not?

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor did not decline, dismounted from the black-and-white-spotted king, and strode into the Lu mansion with confident steps.

He himself carried an awe-inspiring presence, and those ahead made way one after another.

Dozens of black-armored guards followed inside, and Lu Zhen and Lu Qingbin siblings also closely followed the Great Emperor, entering the mansion together.

Lu Zhen and the Commander of Martial Affairs exchanged glances, both seeing worry in the other's eyes.

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor's arrival bodes ill—now we don't know which play he's performing.

At this point, the two could do nothing but proceed step by step, following him inside.

After generations of the Lu family's management, though the Lu mansion's area is not large, its architecture is elegant and its gardens exquisite, with ancient trees hundreds of years old everywhere—even a tree fern reaching five zhang in height, already seven hundred years old, yet still lush and verdant.

You should know, the tree fern is a fern plant.

Ferns growing this tall are rarely seen nowadays.

The banquet was set in the pavilion directly beneath the tree fern. Today the weather was just right—sunlight filtered through the tender green leaves, scattering golden specks across the ground.

"Tree demon?" The Nine Abysses Great Emperor patted the trunk, feeling the surging vitality within.

"Exactly." Lu Zhen explained: "This ancient tree fern has signed a contract with Bailie, serving as this place's 'feng shui wood,' equivalent to the local mountains and waters."

Everyone took their seats according to rank, with the upper seat naturally reserved for the Nine Abysses Great Emperor. Lu Zhen sat to his left, while the Commander of Martial Affairs and the Commander of the Yellow Banner sat close beside him, to guard him fully.

From the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, they sensed a strong ill intent.

Today, nearly all members of the Lu family had gathered.

Lu Zhen had originally feared Lu Liu's family would return with ill intentions, so he gathered the clansmen to make him hesitate to act. Who would have thought the great boss of Cangyan State himself would arrive, resulting in the Lu elders all being made to accompany him, while the rest of the clansmen crowded outside, peering in.

At the moment of seating, the Jinglong Battle Armor fell away, and the Nine Abysses Great Emperor became a mortal emperor.

Long eyebrows, starry eyes, handsome and extraordinary.

No one expected the renowned Lord of Flash Gold, who shakes the nine heavens, to be this young—the Lu family outside erupted in commotion.

Normally, Lu Zhen would surely rebuke them, but today he had no heart for it.

He hurriedly introduced the Lu family members at the table to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor: "These few are all elders of my Lu clan; this one is my second uncle Lu Lianqing, that one is my fourth uncle Lu Lianyun..."

As he introduced each, that person would bow to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor.

He Lingchuan listened patiently, then said: "The Lu family of Bailie is a three-thousand-year-old lineage. I originally thought the Lu population would be more than this."

The crowd felt embarrassed upon hearing this.

One does not know whether it is the interaction of earthly and human qi, but Bailie's development over the past few decades has been poor, and the Lu population has not flourished.

He Lingchuan had seen in Beijia families of three or four hundred years, with main and branch lines combined, numbering several thousand.

In contrast, the Lu family, counting generations together, numbers no more than a hundred.

Truly cannot be called a "flourishing clan."

Lu Zhen sighed: "In ancient times, my Lu family also produced immortals in abundance. Unfortunately, after the spiritual energy waned, we rose and fell with heaven and earth."

He Lingchuan's soul-capturing mirror in his bosom gave a sharp laugh: "To dare claim you share weal and woe with heaven and earth—what a bold face! Even the ancient dragon clan would not dare boast thus!"

Dishes were served one after another, but He Lingchuan did not move his chopsticks. Seeing him still, no one dared to eat.

"Does the Lu family arise from qi and fortune?" He asked slowly: "I have heard a theory—that the key to the Lu family enduring a thousand years lies in the 'Child of Qi and Fortune'?"

Several elders nodded, and Lu Zhen added: "Whenever the clan declines, a restorer arises, capable of leading the Lu family out of decay."

This "restorer" refers to the clan head.

"Oh?" The Nine Abysses Great Emperor looked intrigued: "Then who is the restorer of this recent generation?"

"The acknowledged one is Lu Dingxun from sixty years ago." Lu Zhen continued: "At that time, the Lu family was deeply in debt and unable to continue, but this Lu Dingxun, my seventh uncle, was a rare commercial genius, relying on the salt-colored pearls that appeared that summer to build his fortune, and then led the Lu family to prosperity."

"Salt-colored pearls?"

"In the north of Bailie lies a vast salt lake, producing a special kind of colored clam, whose adult size rivals that of a bear's paw. This colored clam can produce pearls, but in very small numbers. Other clam shells might yield seven or eight, even ten or more small pearls per clam, but the salt lake clam yields only one—yet it wins in size and roundness." Lu Zhen added: "The salt lake colored clam was once Bailie's important product, with annual pearl harvests bringing profit, but sixty years ago, for unknown reasons, the large clams in the lake died en masse, and the harvested pearls were scattered and sparse."

"At that time, the Lu family was extremely anxious but helpless, only able to gather solutions everywhere. Lu Dingxun discovered that the colored clams had been affected by the red tide that broke out in the salt lake over those two years, so he introduced a kind of colored shrimp to clean the algae. After several years, the salt lake began producing pink and pure black large pearls, fetching high prices."