Chapter 343: Fu Xue's Doubts, Journeying with Two Women

What a pity, I'm one step late.

On the square, seeing Lu Xun win the Saint-grade Longevity Pill, an old man sighed.

After hearing the news, he rushed over immediately, but still arrived one step too late.

My lifespan still has several decades; in those decades, Lan Xing will pass at least ten Ancient Road Nodes, maybe I can find something better...

Although he felt regret, the old man did not insist.

He too is a powerhouse who has entered the Earth Core Secret Realm, strong, but his lifespan was largely consumed there.

Now he has only several decades of lifespan left.

Several decades is a lifetime for ordinary people.

For such a powerhouse, that's far too little.

Now he only hopes to find more and better things at the upcoming Ancient Road Nodes, to extend his lifespan or break through his cultivation, so he can live longer.

No matter how strong one's strength.

If lifespan is exhausted, it's all for nothing.

Come on, Xiao Xue, we can only think of another way.

Fu Yue was preparing to leave.

Over the past month and a half, she had been preparing a gift, but couldn't find anything quite suitable.

After much difficulty, she encountered a set of Saint-grade Longevity Pills, but they fetched an astronomical price.

She could only settle for second best, buying a few items she had previously eyed, then handing them to Lu Xun to give to Fu Lao Yezi.

Sister, should we contact Lu Xun first? He might have already prepared a sufficiently grand gift.

Fu Xue said.

Hearing her, Fu Yue shook her head: 'This matter was originally my fault; how could I let him spend? We should prepare it ourselves.'

All right.

Seeing Fu Yue insist, Fu Xue said nothing more.

Young friend, you've seen the price of the Saint-grade Longevity Pill; even if the first auction had a modest premium, before those who entered the Earth Core Secret Realm back then all obtained theirs, the price wouldn't drop below ten thousand units. Are you sure you want to give it to Fu Lao Yezi?

After the auction ended, Master Ge couldn't help but ask Lu Xun.

Lu Xun nodded: 'Yes, senior.'

Once spoken, it cannot naturally be taken back.

Haha, good, Fu Lao Tou has picked up a treasure, young friend. Old man, I increasingly regret not having a beautiful daughter.

While Master Ge praised Lu Xun, he also regretted his past decisions there.

Perhaps out of jealousy, he changed his address for Fu Lao Yezi to Fu Lao Tou, his tone turning sour.

These old-timers are sometimes rather cute.

Right, this is the Dark Energy obtained from this auction; I'll pay the tax for you directly, so you won't be exposed.

Master Ge handed Lu Xun a Dark Energy Card.

The Saint-grade medicinal pills auctioned this time were all fourth rank or above.

Due to the large quantity, and because fifth- and sixth-rank Saint-grade medicinal pills are priced higher.

Excluding the Saint-grade Longevity Pills, they sold over ten thousand cubic units of Dark Energy.

After deducting taxes, there were still over nine thousand cubic units of Dark Energy.

Lu Xun's Dark Energy was once again enriched.

No one ever complains of having too little Dark Energy.

These are still fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-rank Saint-grade medicinal pills.

If in the future Lu Xun can refine Saint-grade medicinal pills of seventh rank or above, that would truly be profitable.

Even if materials for seventh-rank-or-higher Saint-grade medicinal pills are hard to gather, for some common medicinal pills, materials can still be found.

Teacher, someone is looking for you; it's an old friend of yours.

At that moment, someone came to find Master Ge.

Probably they're here for the Saint-grade Longevity Pill, young friend; I'll go check the situation.

All right, senior.

Master Ge left.

Once the Saint-grade Longevity Pill appears, those powerhouses who have entered the Earth Core Secret Realm will surely not be able to resist.

If they can't buy it, they'll likely try to contact a Saint-grade Alchemist.

Master Ge's side is just a channel.

Master Ge will have plenty to do from now on.

Young friend, it's the Li Family; they want your friend to refine pills on their behalf, providing the materials themselves, while the fee is set by your friend. The Li Family is immensely powerful, so you can discuss it with your friend.

Not long after, Master Ge returned, bringing the news to Lu Xun.

The first to arrive was a person from the Li Family of Celestial Mechanism City, an old friend of Master Ge.

Teacher, someone else is looking for you.

The Li Family person had just left when another came seeking.

Over the next two days, people coming to find Master Ge were incessant.

Even Granny Xue of the Northern Dipper Hall came.

Her arrival confirmed Lu Xun's speculation.

Granny Xue also entered the Earth Core Secret Realm; her remaining lifespan is scant.

Given her strength and standing, on all of Lan Xing, the longevity-boosting spiritual objects and medicinal pills have likely all been consumed by her.

They've eaten it to no effect.

She has never taken a Saint-rank Longevity Pill before, but as a Saint-rank pill, it will definitely work for her.

For those people who came to find Master Ge, Lu Xun had Master Ge stall them, neither refusing nor directly agreeing.

Let's wait until after Master Fu's birthday passes before we talk.

"Teacher."

A few days later.

At the Lu family building, Lu Xun saw Fu Yue and Fu Xue again.

"Lu Xun, these are the few congratulatory gifts I bought."

"The first is a blood coral bed from a deep-sea secret realm in the depths of the East Sea; its effect is that cultivating and sleeping on it strengthens qi and blood, prolonging life."

"The second is Star Dream Glaze from the Ancient Starry Sky Road; wearing it on the hand can slow aging and extend lifespan..."

"The third..."

Upon meeting, Fu Yue took out several treasures and introduced them one by one.

"Teacher, what are you doing? I said I would prepare the gift myself."

After Fu Yue finished introducing them, Lu Xun spoke.

"This matter started because of me; how could I let you spend money? These five items exactly used up the ten thousand cubic meters of Dark Energy my grandfather gave me; each is quite renowned, so it's fitting for you to give them away."

Fu Yue said.

"Why is she so stubborn..."

Lu Xun didn't expect that Fu Yue failed to buy a Saint-rank Longevity Pill and instead bought some other rare treasures.

Had I known, after the auction ended, Lu Xun should have told her that he himself had won the Saint-rank Longevity Pill.

He didn't tell them purely to give them a surprise.

But before the surprise could be given, Fu Yue went on a buying spree and spent the ten thousand cubic meters of Dark Energy on several items.

"Teacher, it's really unnecessary; I've already prepared the gift. You can give these things to your grandfather yourself—they're useful to him anyway."

Lu Xun went to great trouble, using an auction specifically to highlight the importance of the Saint-rank Longevity Pill.

Besides, Master Ge already knows.

This set of Saint-rank Longevity Pills must be given away no matter what.

"Are you ready? Then it's fine; let's send them together."

Fu Yue smiled faintly, her tone gentle yet firm.

Her persistence actually has another reason.

She worries that Lu Xun's prepared gift isn't grand enough.

Although Lu Xun rose quickly, in the eyes of some true great clans he is no different from an upstart.

What Lu Xun considers a fine gift, in the eyes of those top clans in Xuanji City, might not even be presentable.

The treasures valued by top great clans naturally differ from those valued by ordinary cultivators.

For example, the five items Fu Yue bought are each worth more than one thousand cubic meters of Dark Energy.

Most cultivators on Lan Xing have never even heard of them.

"Really, it's unnecessary, Teacher; I'll send the gift myself—rest assured, I won't embarrass you."

Lu Xun saw through Fu Yue's thoughts at a glance.

Fu Yue, having her intention exposed, felt her ears heat and her face flush; her voice unconsciously dropped a few notches: "It's not that; mainly I just don't want you to spend money."

"Both teachers' grandfathers are my grandfather; giving a gift to my own grandfather—what expense is that?"

Lu Xun laughed and waved his hand.

"Alright."

Fu Yue no longer insisted.

Although she still felt some worry, given her understanding of Lu Xun, his actions have always seemed reliable.

In the end, she chose to trust Lu Xun.

Trust is trust.

Fu Yue still had another plan.

She had already bought the gift.

If, when the time comes, Lu Xun's offering isn't presentable, she can still bring out those five gifts to save the situation.

"By the way, Lu Xun, your group has a fourth-grade Saint-rank alchemist; I don't know if she knows a mysterious sixth-grade Saint-rank alchemist."

After the gift matter was settled, Fu Yue suddenly asked about something.

"Sixth-grade Saint-rank?"

Lu Xun feigned ignorance.

"Well, a few days ago, Xuanji City held an auction; among the pills auctioned was a sixth-grade Saint-rank pill. I saw it from afar—it had three layers of colored patterns, different from what your fourth-grade Saint-rank alchemist produces. I wondered whether your Saint-rank alchemists might be disciples of that senior."

Fu Yue explained the reason.

She guessed correctly.

In a sense, Bai Ling truly counts as Lu Xun's disciple.

But the account between Lu Xun and Bai Ling is not easy to settle.

Because Lu Xun's alchemical skill comes from Bai Ling, and after Lu Xun improved, he unreservedly handed down his own alchemical insights to Bai Ling hand over hand.

Thus bringing about Bai Ling's progress.

"I'm not too clear on this; I'll go ask Bai Ling later."

Lu Xun pretended to be clueless.

Hmm, if you know them, please help recommend them; I'd like to ask that senior to help refine some pills.

Fu Yue said.

Old Master Fu treats them very well; even if it's not for a gift, Fu Yue wants to buy longevity pills for Old Master Fu.

Since it can't be bought, if we could ask that Saint-rank alchemist to help refine them, that would also work.

Everyone else goes to Master Ge for recommendations.

Fu Yue, however, took a different approach and found Lu Xun.

Because she felt that two Saint-rank alchemists had suddenly appeared on Lan Xing, one in the open and one in the dark, the two might be connected.

Even if they're not connected, they might still know each other.

"Okay."

Lu Xun agreed.

"Grandfather's birthday starts tomorrow; get ready, and I'll come pick you up here early tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

Fu Yue said no more, made the arrangements, and left.

Only Fu Xue stood motionless in place, her almond eyes fixed on Lu Xun, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Teacher, is there something dirty on my face?"

Lu Xun felt a bit uneasy under her stare.

"No, I'll come with my sister early tomorrow morning to pick you up and take you to our home."

Fu Xue finally withdrew her gaze, flashed away, and left.

Lu Xun let out a sigh of relief.

He inexplicably felt that Fu Xue seemed to have noticed something.

Even if she didn't see anything, she might have sensed something.

"Lu Xun... could it be him?"

After leaving Liuyun Dao, Fu Xue fell into silent thought.

When Lu Xun went on stage to claim the auction item, although he wore a cloak and mask, she felt he was very familiar.

This familiarity came strangely, with no clear basis, feeling more like an intuition.

She faintly felt that Lu Xun had spent thirty thousand cubic units of Dark Energy to purchase the Saint-rank longevity pill.

But thirty thousand cubic units of Dark Energy is enormous; Fu Xue felt Lu Xun might not be able to produce that amount.

Such an amount of Dark Energy, even placed in the Fu family, is no small figure.

Even an ordinary Seven Boundary family couldn't produce that much Dark Energy.

Even an Eight Boundary family, if they could manage it, would struggle and might have to scrape together funds from everywhere.

That amount equals liquid assets.

However, thinking back to when Lu Xun, at the ancient road node, searched for heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures and always found what he sought, perhaps he had found Dark Energy.

Therefore, Fu Xue's suspicion of Lu Xun has not been dispelled.

Moreover, she inexplicably felt.

That mysterious Saint-rank alchemist might be related to Lu Xun.

When Saint-rank pills first appeared in the world, it was in the capital.

At that time, Lu Xun had just arrived in the capital not long before.

Later, the Lu Clan's publicly announced Saint-rank alchemist wasn't it Bai Ling, who once followed Lu Xun?

Don't forget, the Star Moon Pavilion rented by Murong Yan is Fu Xue's asset.

After the Star Moon Pavilion became the Spirit Pill Pavilion, Jia Yuwei, in order to stop Bai Ling from making pills, once wanted to buy the Star Moon Pavilion.

With the Jia Clan's financial strength, such a small building, even on the expensive Qingbei Jie, is not something you can just buy outright.

As a result, since it was Fu Xue's asset, she didn't think much of that money, and besides, because it was related to Lu Xun, she didn't sell it; later she even gave the Star Moon Pavilion directly to Lu Xun.

Through this, Fu Xue knew that Bai Ling had initially been refining pills at the Star Moon Pavilion.

She even once bought a Saint-rank pill at the Divine State Auction House and gave it to Lu Xun.

Thus, from Fu Xue's perspective,

the appearance of Saint-rank pills seems to be intertwined with Lu Xun in countless ways.

Fu Xue still didn't dare to think that the Saint-rank alchemist might be Lu Xun.

After all, that possibility is too far-fetched.

She merely felt that the Saint-rank alchemist might be related to Lu Xun.

The various doubts rising in her heart made Fu Xue increasingly unable to see through Lu Xun.

In her eyes, Lu Xun became ever more mysterious.

"Good morning, two teachers~"

"Morning, Lu Xun, let's go!"

"Mm!"

The next day, before dawn, Fu Yue and Fu Xue arrived.

Lu Xun had already made preparations.

He changed his hairstyle and transformed his treasure robe into a new form, making himself look more mature.

Fu Yue was quite pleased with his new outfit.

The three simultaneously boarded the flying boat, heading for Xuanji City.

"Today there will be many guests at home; normally, not many will notice you, just follow me—when we meet the Fu family elders and Grandfather's friends, whatever I call out, you call out the same."

Along the way, Fu Yue told Lu Xun some precautions.

Just thinking about having to pretend to be a couple with Lu Xun later, her heart inexplicably sped up a bit.

She is actually more than twice Lu Xun's age.

However, among cultivators, age is not an obstacle.

Strength and potential are the keys to the future.

Lu Xun's achievements on the Heavenly Dao Battlefield have already proven that age means nothing for him.

Moreover, Lu Xun and she are not really a couple; they are just pretending.

So Fu Yue quickly steadied her emotions and began to instruct Lu Xun.

Lu Xun listened attentively, nodding from time to time, looking like a well-behaved child.

「We've arrived. 」

Before they knew it, they had arrived at Celestial Spindle City.

Today, Celestial Spindle City is noticeably more lively, with many airships heading there.

「Most are coming to wish Grandfather a happy birthday; he has many old friends, and some families from the moon will also come. 」

Fu Yue recognized some of the airships.

The Fu family is not particularly famous among ordinary people or ordinary cultivators.

But among the strong, their name is like thunder that rings in the ears.

This 200th birthday celebration of Old Master Fu is likely to be even livelier than Lu Xun imagined.