After hiding for a day, the group of trackers dispersed, and Lu Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief.
He continued on his way.
After walking for ten days, he finally reached Changyuan Mountain.
The former Marketplace of the Lu Family has now become the place for the Lu Family's rebuilding.
"Greetings, Grand Elder."
Lu Xuanji once again met the Grand Elder.
At the moment of seeing the Grand Elder again, he almost didn't recognize him.
In the past, the Grand Elder was one hundred and fifty years old yet had a head full of black hair, looking extremely youthful, brimming with energy like a young man.
But now, the Grand Elder's hair was all white, his face wrinkled, seemingly very weary, with no trace of the past vigor, just an old and declining aura.
The downfall of the Lu Family had almost crushed this old man.
"Not bad, not bad, Xuanji, you are still alive. As long as you live, there is hope," Lu Tianyi said, looking at this junior with a hint of joy in his eyes, "We have all aged, our potential exhausted; only you have the greatest hope. It's just a pity the Lu Family has declined and cannot offer you much."
In his words, there was a sense of decline.
"Grand Elder, you are only one hundred and fifty years old and have already reached the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment Stage, with hopes for the Purple Mansion in the future."
Lu Xuanji cupped his hands and said.
The Grand Elder's aptitude was very strong, the strongest among the older generation.
Even the Clan Leader's aptitude could not compare to the Grand Elder.
It was precisely because of this that many elders stalled the Flame Sun Ancestor, giving him the chance to escape.
"The Purple Mansion, very difficult, very difficult. I have confidence to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment by one hundred eighty, but as for becoming a Purple Mansion Cultivator, that depends on luck," the Grand Elder said calmly, "Oh, you have reached the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation at the bone age of only forty, not bad, not bad."
"There is hope for reaching the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation by forty-five, then continue honing your foundation for five years, and attack Foundation Establishment before fifty."
Perceiving the changes in Lu Xuanji, the Grand Elder was very pleased.
The Lu Family has successors now.
The Lu Family still has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, but they are all old, the Grand Elder Lu Tianyi is one hundred fifty-three, the Fourth Elder Lu Jinwen is one hundred seventy, and the Seventh Elder Lu Jin Xiu is two hundred, their time is running out.
They must cultivate some fresh blood to support the Lu Family's situation before passing on.
"Not only that, Ye Feixue has also reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation," Lu Xuanji said.
"How old is she?"
The Grand Elder asked.
"Twenty-seven."
"Twenty-seven."
The Grand Elder, hearing this data, subconsciously frowned, a hint of envy and melancholy flickering in his eyes.
The gap between people is too large, even greater than the gap between humans and dogs.
At twenty-seven, the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, Celestial Spirit Root is terrifying.
This is even with the Lu Family slowing down her cultivation speed, if she were at the Dan Yang Sect, it would be faster.
"Forget it, she is your Dao Companion, I can't persuade you much. Just keep a low profile, keep a low profile," the Grand Elder said, "Hold back as long as possible, otherwise the Lu Family cannot support it."
"Yes."
Lu Xuanji nodded.
To cultivate to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation, the Celestial Spirit Root needs ten to twenty years, Dual Spirit Root needs twenty to thirty years, Three Spirit Roots need forty to fifty years, Four Spirit Roots need eighty to a hundred years, and Five Spirit Roots need at least two hundred years.
The Celestial Spirit Root cultivates so fast.
"With the Celestial Spirit Root, she will surely enter the Golden Core, but that is under a solid foundation. If the foundation is not stable, accidents may happen," the Grand Elder said, "Consolidate her foundation more, don't rush to attack the Foundation Establishment stage, she doesn't lack time, hone the foundation more. If there's no major issue, she shouldn't wander outside, safety first."
Lu Xuanji nodded, then asked the Grand Elder some more questions.
"We can't go back to Purple Sun Mountain; some properties have to be abandoned, and we can only abandon certain things to get the support of the Ye Family, Wu Family, and Dan Yang Sect," the Grand Elder sighed as he talked about the Lu Family's position.
Innocent man bears guilt with his treasure; strength bears no crime, weakness bears crime.
If the Lu Family was still the former Purple Mansion family, with a Purple Mansion ancestor holding sway, occupying more than half the land of Qingshui Commandery, having various large and small families as vassals would be no problem.
But first, the Purple Mansion ancestor passed away, then the attack by the Flame Sun Ancestor, now only three Foundation Establishment cultivators are left. To occupy the former properties is not only impossible but dangerous, like a child carrying gold walking in the marketplace, it would bring disaster to the Lu Family.
For safety, they can only slice off some interests to the Ye Family and Wu Family.
Some ores, spirit veins, orchards, medicine gardens, and a large portion of the population are all ceded to these two families. The most valuable Purple Sun Mountain, despite being ransacked by bandits, still has medicine gardens, spirit fields, and an underground high-grade third-level spirit vein, these are massive assets, finally given to the Ye Family.
The other three marketplaces were directly given to the Dan Yang Sect.
As they say, a whale falls, all things thrive.
The fall of the Lu Family allows the other families to thrive.
Proactively relinquishing some interests gives the Lu Family some dignity, and also presents other families with some dignity.
"Will giving up these interests allow the Lu Family some breathing space?" Lu Xuanji asked, "When the wall collapses, everyone pushes, when the drum breaks, everyone beats. People enjoy hitting a man when he's down. Will they spare the weak Lu Family and give it some breathing space?"
The Grand Elder remained silent and said, "They will spare my Lu Family, but also not spare it."
"What do you mean by that?"
Lu Xuanji asked.
"They will spare us because those families, having just divided some of the Lu Family's properties, have yet to digest it all and will not move against the Lu Family; having taken some of our properties, they still want to maintain some face and will not directly attack the Lu Family. They still want to keep some face," the Grand Elder said, "But some loose cultivators and small families, having not gained any advantages, will act against the Lu Family. The Lu Family is still fraught with peril."
"Then who are the Lu Family's main enemies?"
Lu Xuanji inquired.
"I don't know," the Grand Elder said, "When you are strong, there are few enemies, perhaps none; when you are weak, enemies are plentiful, and everywhere."
Lu Xuanji asked again, and the Grand Elder responded.
Since the Lu Family's rebuilding, over a hundred cultivators have reached Changyuan Mountain, along with three Foundation Establishment cultivators. It's not comparable to top forces, but it is adequate for self-preservation.
On Changyuan Mountain, a secondary-level spirit vein supports the cultivation of five Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over two hundred Qi Cultivation Cultivators.
That battle greatly weakened the Lu Family; their current goal is no longer expansion but recuperation and recovery of their Primordial Qi.