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Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Before the Lu Residence

A Da stood behind Zhong Shan, while Zhong Shan gazed into the distance, taking in the scenery of the distant mountains and roads.

"Master, those people are still following us," A Da said worriedly.

"Let them follow. It's not easy for them either," Zhong Shan smiled faintly.

"But our journey has been discovered. What secrets do we have left for retreat?" A Da worriedly asked.

"It doesn't matter. The path is in my heart. They won't guess our destination, well, maybe one person can. But it doesn't matter; I'll just create more routes for him to know," Zhong Shan chuckled.

"Yes," A Da immediately responded.

Fifteen days later. Grand Marshal's Mansion.

In a projection of mountains and rivers, Yi Yan and Iron Blood stood by.

"Grand Marshal, Zhong Shan and his group have stayed in these places. They shouldn't have discovered our people," Iron Blood pointed at the projection seriously.

"Hehe, stayed in these places? Not discovered? They discovered it long ago," Yi Yan showed a bitter smile.

"How is that possible?" Iron Blood didn't believe.

"Let it go. Stop following them. Withdraw," Yi Yan shook his head and sighed.

"Yes," Iron Blood immediately responded—

Two months later.

"Master, ten thousand miles to the west is Qili Town, eight thousand miles to the southeast is..." A Da explained while pointing at the map.

When he mentioned Qili Town, Zhong Shan's pupils contracted.

Qili Town? Isn't that Lu Jianping's hometown? The jailer he met in the Sky Prison last time? The Lu Jianping he had some suspicions about?

"Let's go, to Qili Town," Zhong Shan said directly.

"Yes," A Da immediately nodded. Guiding the white cloud, they shot off towards the west.

Qili Town was not as grand as the Sky City. Internally, it resembled an ordinary human city of the Great Jin Dynasty, with town walls, but these walls were only tens of meters high, enough to block some fierce beasts and low-level monsters.

There were many mortals in the town, as well as cultivators, most of whom existed in the form of aristocratic families. The highest cultivation level was only around the Golden Core stage.

For Zhong Shan and A Da to enter the town was to become the presence of peak experts.

At the town gate, Zhong Shan and A Da descended from the clouds. The guards at the town gate didn't even dare to stop them.

Flying on clouds? Those must be at least Yuanying stage cultivators. They looked at the two newcomers with incomparable admiration.

Ignoring the gazes of others, Zhong Shan and A Da walked into the town.

Zhong Shan was looking for Lu Jianping's family, not to show off.

Once in the town, Zhong Shan inquired a bit and quickly found out where Lu Jianping's family was.

Sure enough, it was in Qili Town, and it was a newly rising aristocratic family.

Forty years ago, the Lu family was nothing special, an ordinary mortal family living at the bottom. Unexpectedly, forty years ago, Lu Jianping emerged from the Lu family, bringing cultivation techniques back to the family. The entire family embarked on the path of cultivation because of Lu Jianping.

However, in Qili Town, they were still considered a small aristocratic family. Ten years ago, Lu Jianping was about to marry, but he suddenly abandoned his fiancée and the entire family disappeared.

Some said Lu Jianping died, some said he went to the Sky City and ascended to become an immortal, but the highest cultivation level of the Lu family was only Foundation Establishment. Who would dare to cross the endless river to the mythical Sky City?

Zhong Shan simply used a spirit stone to smoke the eyes of a low-level cultivator, who then nodded and bowed, leading the way for Zhong Shan.

"Elder, you've come at the right time. The Zhao family has announced that they will raid the Lu family today," the guide said, his words spitting out like foam.

"The Zhao family? Raiding the Lu family?" Zhong Shan asked with a hint of confusion as they walked.

"Yes, the Zhao family is the first aristocratic family in Qili Town, aside from the town mayor. They say the Zhao family has three or four Qi Condensation stage powerhouses. Young Master Zhao issued a statement that they will raid Lu Jianping's fiancée today," the guide explained.

"Raid Lu Jianping's fiancée?" Zhong Shan questioned.

"Yes, Lu Jianping has really good luck. He disappeared ten years ago, but his fiancée is still waiting for him without any regrets. She even moved into the Lu family and considered herself a daughter-in-law of the Lu family. It's just a pity for her beauty. She waits alone in an empty room every day. Matchmakers are trying to persuade her to remarry. Even the Lu family has lost hope for Lu Jianping's return, but for his fiancée, they will always stand by her. If she wants to remarry, they won't stop her. But if she doesn't want to, she will forever be a member of the Lu family, and the Lu family will always protect her," the guide said.

"Oh? Who said that?" Zhong Shan was surprised.

"Master of the Lu family, Old Master Lu," the guide said.

"Old Master Lu?" Zhong Shan was surprised. This Old Master Lu seemed quite heroic.

"Old Master Lu is highly respected in town and holds great authority in the Lu family. Unfortunately, this time he's been targeted by Young Master Zhao of the Zhao family. Young Master Zhao is a tyrant in Qili Town and extremely lecherous. He would snatch any woman he fancied. But it's said that Young Master Zhao also has excellent aptitude, so the whole Zhao family dotes on him. Today is the calamity for the Lu family," the guide sighed.

Zhong Shan nodded, being led all the way to a large mansion west of the city.

"Elder, this is it," the guide said.

"Alright, you can go," Zhong Shan nodded.

"Yes," the man immediately responded. Although he wanted to gain some benefits, he knew better than to linger in front of the two powerful individuals.

Above the mansion were two large characters: "Lu Residence."

Zhong Shan listened to the guide's words just now and could deduce some things. Bringing back cultivation techniques forty years ago, mysterious disappearance ten years ago. No news during the past decade? It was unusual. Even if he became a jailer in the Sky City, he could still take leave. Unless there was something important in the Sky City that kept him from leaving for ten years?

Outside the Lu Residence, a large crowd had already gathered.

At the gate of the Lu Residence, a white-haired old man stood at the forefront, followed by more than twenty angry-looking people, each holding swords and knives, ready to fight at the old man's command.

Beside the old man was a beautiful woman, her brows furrowed with worry.

The old man was obviously the master of the Lu family. Outside the gate, there was also a large group of people. Half of them were dressed in black, holding knives and swords, while the other half were wearing red clothes, carrying a bridal sedan chair and playing musical instruments.

At the forefront was an extremely handsome young man, dressed in red with a large red flower pinned to his chest, dressed as the groom. Young Master Zhao.

Seeing this scene, Zhong Shan's heart stirred. Standing in a corner, he took out a memory crystal and slowly recorded everything. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Truly fortunate. It's better to be lucky than to be early.

"Old Master Lu, I respect you, but today I'm just taking the bride away. Let us pass, I won't make things difficult for you," Young Master Zhao said solemnly.

"Young Master Zhao, Du Na is my Lu family's daughter-in-law. She is a member of my Lu family. What reason do you have for coming here today? Are you planning to violate the laws of Qili Town?" Old Master Lu said coldly.

In the town of Qili, the Zhao family stood as the unchallenged authority. "Old Man Lu, I see you're getting on in years. It can't be easy maintaining a peak cultivation level to keep a family in check. Don't push your luck. Do you believe that I won't slaughter your entire Lu family right here and now?" Young Master Zhao's voice was icy cold.

"Would you dare?" Old Man Lu's eyes widened in defiance.

"Humph, what wouldn't I dare? Aren't you just relying on Lu Jianping? He's been missing for ten years, likely devoured by beasts in the mountains by now. Otherwise, why hasn't he returned? And even if he does, what could he possibly do? At most, he's in the Golden Core stage. Do you think the Zhao family would fear him? Now that he's gone, your Lu family only has five innate cultivators. The people I brought alone have ten. Does your insignificant Lu family still wish to oppose me? And Duna is still a maiden. How is she your Lu family's daughter-in-law?" Young Master Zhao sneered.

"Humph, once someone enters my Lu family's gate, they become part of my family. The Lu family has never feared death—not in the past, not now, and certainly not in the future. If you want to take anyone from my family, you'll have to step over our corpses," Old Man Lu's eyes blazed with a fierce determination.

"Do you really wish to die?" Young Master Zhao's eyes glinted with malice.

"It's not about wanting to die. The Lu family has flourished for decades, all thanks to Jianping. Now that he's not here, if Duna is taken by you, how could we face him upon his return? Come then! The Lu family fears no death. Today, I want to see just how lawless you can be. Justice will prevail, and even if I become a vengeful spirit after death, I will see you face retribution," Old Man Lu's voice was resolute and unwavering.

Though Old Man Lu's cultivation wasn't the highest, his dignity and ferocity were intimidating. Even the seemingly invincible Young Master Zhao felt a flicker of fear under his imposing presence. The Lu family members, clutching their swords, were filled with a reckless valor, ready to face death head-on, with only a few showing fear.

Regaining his composure, Young Master Zhao's face flushed with anger and humiliation. "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

Just as the men behind Young Master Zhao were about to attack, a voice called out, "Wait a moment."

It was Duna, standing behind Old Man Lu. Her plea drew everyone's attention.

"What is it? Is Miss Duna willing to follow me?" Young Master Zhao's face twisted into a lecherous grin.

"Don't worry, daughter-in-law. The Lu family fears no death. We will hold them off, and I have already made arrangements for the family. You must leave at once," Old Man Lu spoke with urgency and solemnity.

Tears welled up in Duna's eyes. She looked at Old Man Lu and bowed deeply. "Father, I am an unfortunate person. Before my wedding, Jianping suddenly disappeared, his fate unknown. And now I have brought calamity upon the Lu family. I am unworthy of the Lu family and Jianping. I cannot watch the Lu family perish because of me. But in my heart, I am already Jianping's wife. In life, I belong to him; in death, I will be his ghost. Forgive me, father. Tell Jianping not to mourn for me, but to live well."

Old Man Lu, sensing that something was amiss, reached out to stop her, but it was too late. Duna's delicate sword was already at her throat. There was no time for anyone to intervene, and the speed of her action made it impossible to halt, even if she herself wanted to.