NOVGO.NET Chapter 224 - 224
Chapter 224: Conquering the Lu Family, Starting as an Outer Clan Disciple (Part 1)
Inside the Ancient Wood Sect.
The gathered guests had already pulled back from Lu Qingyun.
Watching Lu Qingyun undergo her tribulation, they were all deeply shaken.
None of them had expected Lu Qingyun to simply up and break through to Immortal King without any warning.
"Sect Master Gu, you've really landed yourself a fine disciple this time."
The mighty beings around him looked at Gu Qingyuan, their words dripping with undisguised envy.
Gu Qingyuan, for his part, wore an expression of immense pride. After all, she was his sect's Holy Maiden.
Before long, Lu Qingyun successfully broke through to the Immortal King Realm. The surrounding cultivators immediately rushed forward to offer congratulations, extending olive branches at every opportunity.
An Immortal King this young was worth recruiting by any means necessary.
But in the face of their recruitment attempts, Lu Qingyun gently shook her head: "I'm sorry, but I don't intend to leave the Ancient Wood Sect for the time being."
Hearing this, they felt a wave of disappointment but didn't make a scene.
Prodigies would naturally have their own pride--that was perfectly normal.
"No matter. Should Young Friend Lu ever wish to leave in the future, our Jade Maiden Valley will always have its doors open for you."
"Indeed, our Chaotian Sect feels the same."
"In that case, our Caoxian Sect also welcomes Young Friend Lu."
At that moment, Immortal Emperor Li Fan, Zhu Qingyan, and the assembled prodigies made their entrance, once again sending a wave of shock through the gathered guests.
At the same time, those forces that had been secretly harboring thoughts of "destroy what you can't have" quietly retracted their schemes.
With Immortal Emperor Li Fan and Zhu Qingyan backing her, who would be so reckless as to make an enemy of Lu Qingyun?
What they didn't know was that in the shadows, a Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm existence was also secretly protecting Lu Qingyun.
In the Dao Realm, before the Lu Family's Mid-Grade World.
Lu Xunxian cupped his fists toward the Lu Family's territory and spoke with a respectful tone.
"This junior, Xuanxian, has heard of the Lu Family's great power and has come specifically to seek shelter. I humbly request the Lu Family's acceptance."
Shortly after Lu Xunxian's words fell, a figure flew out from within the Lu Family's territory, landed before him, and scrutinized him carefully before speaking.
"Who are you?"
Sensing the Immortal Emperor-level aura emanating from the newcomer, Lu Xunxian hastily replied.
"Reporting to my lord, I hail from the Changsheng Realm. After cultivating to the Immortal Monarch Realm and ascending to the Dao Realm, I found myself without any backing. Having learned of the Lu Family's greatness, I've come specifically to pledge my allegiance."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.
As an elder of the Lu Family, he was naturally well-acquainted with the worlds surrounding the Lu Family's territory, and the Changsheng Realm was indeed among them.
However, something struck him as odd--the Changsheng Realm didn't seem to have had anyone who'd recently broken through to the Immortal Monarch Realm.
Sensing Lu Changfeng's doubt, Lu Xunxian quickly spoke up.
"My lord, I ascended to the Dao Realm three million years ago."
"Three million years ago? That makes sense, then."
Understanding dawned on Lu Changfeng, and he fell into thought.
"Very well. Since you hail from a world under my Lu Family's jurisdiction, then swear a Heavenly Dao Oath--from this day forward, you shall be absolutely loyal to the Lu Family and never betray us."
Lu Xunxian's expression darkened. He clearly hadn't expected someone from the Lu Family to make such an outrageous demand.
"My lord, isn't that request a bit excessive?"
"Excessive?"
"Get this straight--you're the one seeking our Lu Family's protection. If just anyone could waltz in and receive our shelter, then the whole world would be lining up at our door."
Lu Changfeng sneered.
He'd seen plenty of people like Lu Xunxian--drawn to the Lu Family's power and nothing more.
But the moment trouble struck the Lu Family, they'd be the first ones to flee.
Lu Xunxian naturally wouldn't agree to Lu Changfeng's demand.
He hadn't even uncovered his own origins yet, nor did he know what relationship he had with the Lu Family. How could he possibly swear eternal loyalty?
So in the next moment, Lu Xunxian produced a Storage Ring.
"My lord, this is a small token of my sincerity. I hope my lord might be willing to make a small accommodation."
Seeing Lu Xunxian produce a Storage Ring, Lu Changfeng furrowed his brow, glanced around to confirm no one was watching, and only then accepted the ring.
Upon inspecting the contents within, Lu Changfeng's breathing quickened.
Clearly, the value of what lay inside far exceeded his expectations.
"You're just an Immortal Monarch. Where did you get something this valuable?"
"Reporting to my lord, I obtained it from a senior's inheritance while traveling through the Dao Realm."
Resources at the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm level--how could Lu Changfeng not be tempted?
After accepting the Storage Ring, Lu Changfeng wrestled with himself internally before ultimately pocketing it.
"Ahem. Starting today, you'll be considered a vassal of our Lu Family. What's your name?"
Lu Changfeng cleared his throat and fixed Lu Xunxian with a serious look.
One couldn't really blame him. Though the Lu Family was regarded as one of the top forces in the Dao Realm, the distribution of resources within the clan was exceedingly tight.
At his current pace, reaching the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm would take him at least a trillion years.
But with the resources in the Storage Ring Lu Xunxian had given him, he could dramatically reduce that timeframe.
And that, in turn, would elevate his standing within the clan.
"Reporting to my lord, my name is Xuanxian."
"Xuanxian? And your surname?"
Lu Changfeng furrowed his brow.
"My lord, I've been an orphan since childhood, and thus have no surname."
"Is that so? Then from today onward, I bestow upon you the Lu surname. You are now Lu Xuanxian. This is your Identity Token--you must attend a Clan Assembly once every five hundred years."
"Furthermore, remember this well--you must not abuse the Lu Family's name to cause trouble outside. If you're caught, your cultivation will be destroyed and you'll be expelled from the Lu Family!"
His expression turned severe as he issued the warning.
Lu Xunxian readily agreed to everything.
Soon, he received a token from Lu Changfeng's hands.
The token was palm-sized, and the moment it touched his hands, a weighty sensation washed over him. On its surface was engraved the character "Lu."
"This is the Lu Family's Outer Clan Disciple token. I'll bind it to you now."
"Within the Lu Family, members are divided into four ranks: Outer Clan Disciples, Inner Clan Disciples, Kin Disciples, and Core Disciples."
While binding the token to Lu Xunxian, Lu Changfeng explained the Lu Family's rules.
"Outer Clan Disciples are people like you who come seeking refuge with the Lu Family. Such disciples receive our family's protection but cannot enjoy the privileges of Inner Clan Disciples, such as stipends and the like."
"Even so, you are required to attend a Clan Assembly every five hundred years and follow the main family's arrangements."
"As for Inner Clan Disciples, these are members who possess the Lu Family bloodline but lack exceptional talent. They receive an annual allocation of one hundred portions of High-Grade Immortal Liquid."
"Moreover, the hierarchy within the Lu Family is strict. Outer Clan Disciples like you are required to greet Inner Clan Disciples whenever you encounter them."
Lu Xunxian's expression turned grave as he asked.
"And if I don't?"
"Don't greet them? Then you can look forward to facing clan law--seven days of punishment in the Dao-Gang Wind Valley. Whether you survive will be entirely up to your luck."
Lu Changfeng sneered as he warned.