Lu Changsheng followed the Fourth Elder to the deepest part of the Azure Bamboo Valley, where the ancestral hall of the Lu family was located.

This was his first visit to the Lu family's ancestral hall.

After all, such a place was considered a forbidden area of the Lu family, not accessible to just anyone.

The ancestral hall was very quiet.

The entire hall wasn't very large.

It didn't look luxurious; rather, it was quite simple.

But it exuded a solemn and ancient atmosphere.

Upon entering the hall, Lu Changsheng saw towering ancient trees and lush green bamboo.

This added a touch of plain tranquility to the solemnity.

However, the serene atmosphere was now broken by the sounds of crying and shouting.

"Woo woo woo, Father, Mother!"

"You left me, Yang'er, all alone, letting an outsider bully me."

Lu Changsheng immediately recognized this voice as Lu Miaoyang's.

For a moment, he couldn't reconcile this pitiful voice with the arrogant and proud image he had of Lu Miaoyang.

"This Lu Miaoyang isn't brainless; he simply relies on the family's favoritism, fearing nothing."

Lu Changsheng couldn't help but reflect on this.

Previously, he thought Lu Miaoyang was just a brainless wastrel.

But now, seeing this, he realized Lu Miaoyang had the confidence that the family would be biased towards him.

"How dare you create such a ruckus in the ancestral land! It's outrageous!"

The Fourth Elder, upon hearing this, showed anger on his face.

Worried that Lu Changsheng might be upset, he quickly reassured him, "It's alright, Changsheng."

He led Lu Changsheng into the ancestral hall.

Inside, they saw Lu Miaoyang with a face swollen and discolored like a pig's head, bandages wrapped around his body, and a noticeable cut on his neck.

He looked incredibly miserable, holding a memorial tablet in his arms, crying loudly.

It was truly a heartbreaking sight.

He was a far cry from the first time Lu Changsheng saw him.

"Miaoyang, don't worry. We will handle this according to the family rules, without bias."

"Yes, talk it over properly. Stop crying."

"Everyone is here, and you're making a scene like this."

Several family elders were trying to comfort and persuade him.

"Alright, Lu Miaoyang, Lu Changsheng is here."

"I will handle this matter fairly in front of your parents!"

At this moment, Lu Yuanding coughed twice, his expression stern, and spoke steadily.

"Thank you, Patriarch!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Miaoyang stopped crying and thanked Lu Yuanding.

Then he looked at Lu Changsheng with eyes full of resentment.

He, Lu Miaoyang, had never been humiliated like this in the Lu family.

"Lu Changsheng, Lu Miaoyang says you came to kill him. Is this true?"

Lu Yuanding looked at Lu Changsheng with a stern expression and asked.

"The issue between Lu Miaoyang and me was caused by him in the first place."

"He coveted my family's spirit pet, bullied my son, and in his rage, even tried to harm my son. His actions are shameful and his intentions vile."

"Even if he was bitten by my pet, it was his own fault!"

"I came back this time to resolve things peacefully, but he was aggressive, so I taught him a lesson."

"I didn't kill him out of respect for our family ties. If I really wanted to kill him, he would be dead."

"Moreover, I used my flying sword only because he first harbored murderous intentions towards me."

Lu Changsheng spoke righteously.

"Nonsense! You never intended to reconcile!"

"Even if I did draw my sword first, it was because you attacked me first!"

Lu Miaoyang shouted angrily.

Then, pointing to the marks on his face and the cut on his neck, he cried out, "Uncle Yuanding, Grandfather Lin, Grandfather Guang, look at my face and here, here, these are all from Lu Changsheng!"

"Father, Mother, how could you leave Yang'er alone! Woo woo woo!"

Lu Miaoyang cried miserably.

Several family elders and the Fourth Elder, seeing the two's appearances, couldn't help but shake their heads.

Lu Changsheng maintained his composure and recounted the events.

Lu Miaoyang, on the other hand, was causing a scene, making a fuss, and arguing irrationally. The contrast was clear.

"Lu Miaoyang, be quiet!"

"This matter will be judged according to family rules, no room for your nonsense!"

Lu Yuanding scolded.

"Patriarch, I don't want to argue anymore."

"Although I, Lu Changsheng, am not a Lu family member by blood, I have been in the Lu family for over seven years. I consider myself part of the family and am willing to abide by the family rules."

"So I ask the family to make a fair judgment!"

Lu Changsheng said solemnly.

He didn't want to argue anymore.

Especially since Lu Miaoyang was clearly trying to argue irrationally and cause trouble.

It wasn't like he could start crying about his own hardships in the Lu family over the years, could he?

"Alright, since that's the case."

"This matter will be judged according to family rules."

Lu Yuanding nodded, but didn't immediately announce the judgment.

Instead, he looked at the Fourth Elder and several elders, communicating silently about the decision.

During this process, Lu Yuanding and the family elders seemed to hear some shocking news, their eyes showing surprise, astonishment, and shock.

"Regarding the matter between Lu Miaoyang and Lu Changsheng, the family judgment is as follows!"

Patriarch Lu Yuanding spoke, his voice stern.

"Lu family member Lu Miaoyang, for causing trouble in Azure Bamboo Valley and fighting with Lu Changsheng, is fined one year's stipend and confined for three years to reflect on his actions!"

"Lu Changsheng, for failing to control his spirit pet, resulting in injuries to Lu family member Lu Miaoyang, and for engaging in a fight, is fined three hundred spirit stones and sentenced to three years of hard labor."

"But considering that he did not start the trouble and still needs to manage family business and create talismans, the three years of hard labor will be converted to a deduction of three years' stipend."

"Do you accept this judgment?"

Lu Yuanding's voice was stern as he spoke.

"Patriarch, I don't accept this!"

"My parents shed blood for the family, contributed to the family, and ultimately sacrificed their lives for the family. Yet now you are biased towards Lu Changsheng, an outsider!"

As soon as the judgment was announced, Lu Miaoyang shouted.

"Lu Miaoyang!"

Lu Yuanding and the Fourth Elder both shouted coldly.

Lu Changsheng was standing right there, and yet Lu Miaoyang called him an outsider.

One must know that Lu Changsheng was not only the son-in-law of the Lu family but also a top-grade talisman maker!

"I don't accept it. I'm not willing. This Lu Changsheng is just a family son-in-law. If it weren't for our Lu family taking him in..."

“How did it come to this?”

“Now he’s beaten me like this and almost killed me, and the family is still biased in his favor, helping an outsider bully one of their own!”

“Patriarch, I want to see the Patriarch! If the Patriarch knew you were helping an outsider bully a family member!”

Lu Miaoyang ignored the scolding and continued crying out loudly.

“Lu Miaoyang, Miaoyang.”

Several family elders tried to drag him away, but Lu Miaoyang clung tightly to the two ancestral tablets, making it difficult for them to use force.

Watching this scene, Lu Changsheng was speechless.

He thought the Lu family had a remarkably good temper to tolerate Lu Miaoyang’s antics. If it had been his family, they would have dealt with such a troublemaker with a slap.

“No, I’m not leaving! You’re all biased towards an outsider bullying me!”

“Father, Mother, why did you leave me alone? I want to see the Patriarch, let him decide!”

Lu Miaoyang cried loudly as he was dragged away.

However, suddenly, a booming voice echoed from the void.

“Scoundrel!”

Following that, Lu Miaoyang was sent flying backward, while the two ancestral tablets in his hands floated steadily to the altar, among the rows of other tablets.

“Patriarch! Patriarch!”

“Greetings to the Patriarch!”

“Greetings to the Patriarch!”

Upon hearing the voice, everyone in the ancestral hall, including Lu Yuanding, the Fourth Elder, and all the other family elders, immediately bowed.

“Patriarch of the Lu family!”

Lu Changsheng was taken aback and turned to see an imposing old man with white hair and a long green robe walking toward them. He hurriedly bowed in respect.

It was his first time seeing the Patriarch of the Lu family. Even during his marriage to Lu Miaoyun, he had only seen the family elders, not the Patriarch. He hadn’t expected the incident to escalate to the point where the Patriarch himself would appear.

“Scoundrel, the ancestral hall is not a place for your nonsense!”

The Patriarch glared at Lu Miaoyang and scolded.

“Patriarch, I…”

Facing the Patriarch, Lu Miaoyang was finally scared and dared not continue his antics. The Patriarch of the Lu family was the ultimate authority in Azure Bamboo Valley. His previous behavior had relied on the Patriarch’s affection and guilt towards his parents.

Now that the Patriarch had truly appeared, he didn’t dare to misbehave.

“Yuandong’s life was illustrious, how did he produce such a disgraceful descendant!”

“If it weren’t for his sake, I would have slapped you to death.”

The Patriarch spoke with a tone full of disappointment.

“Take this disgrace away as Yuanding suggested. Let him reflect at home, and if he dares cause trouble again, he will be severely punished!”

The Patriarch commanded.

“Yes, Patriarch!”

Lu Yuanding responded respectfully.

“Yes, Patriarch!”

Two family elders stepped forward, taking Lu Miaoyang away from the ancestral hall.

“You must be Lu Changsheng?”

The Patriarch then turned to Lu Changsheng and spoke.

“Lu Changsheng greets the Patriarch.”

Lu Changsheng felt an overwhelming sense of awe standing before the Patriarch, who seemed calm yet exuded an immeasurable aura. He didn’t look as frail as Yu Ningrong had described. In fact, in front of the Patriarch, Lu Changsheng felt as if he was being thoroughly scrutinized.

For a moment, Lu Changsheng was unsure if the jade pendant given by the girl in the colorful dress was effective or if his cultivation and secrets were being seen through by the Patriarch. The Patriarch, after all, was a formidable Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“The power of a Foundation Establishment Patriarch is terrifying!”

“If he sees through me and it becomes dangerous, will I have time to call for help?”

Lu Changsheng thought anxiously. He had dared to act against Lu Miaoyang because he had some confidence in his strength, believing he no longer needed to always retreat. But he hadn’t expected the situation to draw the attention of the Patriarch.

Facing the Patriarch, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. His confidence came from his second-level talismans and puppets, but those were equivalent to the attacks of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. They would be no match for a powerful Foundation Establishment Patriarch. Even if he activated the jade pendant to call for help, he wasn’t sure it would be in time.

“Young man, very good.”

“Since you are now a son-in-law of the Lu family, consider this your home.”

The Patriarch’s aged face softened into a faint smile. He extended a withered hand and gently patted Lu Changsheng on the head.

This gesture puzzled Lu Changsheng, but he remained calm, nodded, and respectfully replied, “Yes, Patriarch.”

“I’ve always considered this my home.”

Lu Changsheng spoke with sincerity.

“Good, good.”

The Patriarch chuckled, retracted his hand, and walked away.

“Farewell, Patriarch!”

“Farewell, Patriarch!”

Everyone in the hall bowed again as the Patriarch departed.

“Phew!”

Watching the Patriarch leave, Lu Changsheng finally let out a breath of relief. In that brief moment, cold sweat had soaked his back.

“What’s the deal with the Patriarch? Did he notice something about me?”

Lu Changsheng pondered, unable to understand why the Patriarch would take an interest in him.

“Changsheng, it’s all over now.”

The Fourth Elder smiled at Lu Changsheng and spoke softly.

“Don’t worry about the fine; I’ll take care of it for you.”

“It’s alright, Grandma.”

Lu Changsheng steadied his nerves and gently shook his head.

He could tell that the judgment had been somewhat biased in his favor by the Lu family.

He guessed that the Fourth Elder must have informed Lu Yuanding about his advancement to a top-grade talisman master.

"This small amount of spirit stones is nothing to Grandma," the Fourth Elder said warmly, waving her hand.

"Thank you, Grandma," Lu Changsheng replied, no longer insisting, recognizing her goodwill.

"It's getting late, and you've rushed back, traveling all day. Go home and rest early," the Fourth Elder said as she led Lu Changsheng out of the ancestral hall. "If anything comes up, just come and tell Grandma."

"Yes, Grandma," Lu Changsheng nodded slightly and headed home, still pondering about the Lu family's ancestor and wondering why the ancestor had looked at him. Did he see something in him?

"Forget it. At least for now, the ancestor doesn't seem hostile towards me," Lu Changsheng thought, quickening his pace towards home. Worrying about this now was pointless. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator truly had ill intentions towards him, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't possibly use the Demonic Curse Life Book to curse the ancestor to death tonight, could he?

Upon returning home, he was greeted by his concerned wives waiting in the courtyard.

"Husband, how did it go?" Lu Miaoyun and the others asked, eyes filled with concern.

"It's settled, everything is fine," Lu Changsheng waved his hand and explained the outcome to Lu Miaoyun.

"This wasn't our fault to begin with," Lu Miaoyun said, holding Lu Changsheng's arm. "Besides, you're a top-grade talisman master now. Even by the clan's rules, they'd consider your status!"

"Thank you for your hard work, Husband," she continued. "And congratulations on becoming a top-grade talisman master!"

"Yes, congratulations, Husband!" echoed the other wives.

"Alright, alright, we should celebrate tonight!" Lu Changsheng said with a broad gesture, acknowledging that becoming a top-grade talisman master was indeed something worth celebrating.

However, his wives blushed at his words, implying a different kind of celebration.

Deep in the Bamboo Valley, in a small courtyard filled with spiritual energy and the songs of birds, the Lu family ancestor lay on a reclining chair, resting with his eyes closed as Lu Yuanding reported on the family's situation. Several elders stood by.

"The Chen family, we should strike back if needed," the ancestor said lightly. "Otherwise, they'll think I'm near death. We need to maintain our authority to avoid unnecessary troubles."

"Yes, Ancestor," Lu Yuanding nodded immediately.

"By the way, tell me more about that Lu Changsheng," the ancestor said suddenly, as if remembering something.

The others were surprised that the ancestor would inquire about Lu Changsheng. Lu Yuanding then recounted Lu Changsheng's situation, with the Fourth Elder adding details.

"It seems this boy is a fortunate one with great luck," the ancestor said slowly after listening, his eyes flickering. He had been drawn to the ancestral hall by a sudden impulse and was surprised to find that he couldn't see through Lu Changsheng, sensing a mysterious aura about him. This piqued his curiosity.

"Great luck!" The elders exchanged astonished glances, not expecting the ancestor to describe Lu Changsheng this way. Luck was a mystical concept, but it undeniably existed in the cultivation world. Some people faced endless calamities, while others had smooth, fortunate lives filled with opportunities. Those with continuous good fortune were often referred to as fortunate ones with great luck.

Even those with mediocre aptitude could rise with the aid of luck and opportunities. In the cultivation world, anyone with a name was often considered fortunate.

"If this boy indeed has great luck, he could achieve significant success in the future," the ancestor continued. "If he can fully integrate into our family, he could be a great asset."

He sighed, "But you must act quickly. I can't protect you forever. If you can't produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator soon, abandon this Bamboo Valley and split up to survive. Otherwise..."

"Ancestor!" the elders interjected. "You're still in your prime. How can you say that?"

They were anxious but knew the truth. Though the ancestor had recovered from his injuries, his lifespan was limited.

That night.

Afterwards—

"Husband, today you asked me what I would choose if you had to leave," Lu Miaoyun said, nestled softly in Lu Changsheng's arms, her eyes filled with affection. "Since I'm married to you, if you leave the Lu family, I will naturally follow you."

"I was just asking casually, not planning to leave," Lu Changsheng replied gently, knowing his earlier question had unsettled her. "If I leave, where would I go? Don't worry about it."

He hadn't expected Lu Miaoyun to decisively choose to leave with him just because he mentioned it. If people were so easily swayed, the Lu family wouldn't marry off their daughters so readily, binding them to other families.

The Lu family, like other cultivation clans, instilled a strong sense of loyalty and duty towards the family, a mindset not easily changed.

"Alright," Lu Miaoyun responded softly, then let out a soft cry. "Husband, I can't go on. Go find the others..."

Before she could finish, her voice trailed off into incoherent murmurs.