Chapter Sixteen: I, Ni Yu, Shall Cultivate Immortality!

Lu Fan couldn't help but chuckle wryly—his father's change of expression was absurdly swift. Still, the taste of spiritual energy was something one had to experience firsthand. The more profound the martial artist's cultivation, the more deeply they would feel it, for the emergence of spiritual energy was akin to a beacon of hope, illuminating a path beyond the limits of martial prowess.

"Father, though spiritual energy is indeed wondrous, true benefit lies in mastering and fully assimilating it. To absorb too much at once is counterproductive—it hampers progress and stunts growth," Lu Fan said. "Take Sister Ning, for instance. Had she thoroughly mastered just a single wisp of spiritual energy, she could have faced four masters alone yesterday outside the city. But her grasp was crude. It took two wisps of spiritual energy to barely manage a four-against-one fight."

"For a long time to come, I will not offer Sister Ning any assistance unless she completely commands the two wisps of energy," he added calmly.

Behind him, Ning Zhao lowered her head slightly, a hint of shame flickering in her eyes."My gratitude for your instruction, young master," she said softly, clearly dissatisfied with her own performance the day prior.

Lu Changkong pondered this as he sensed the spiritual energy within his dantian—only now did he truly grasp its immense power."You make a fair point. Man may triumph over fate. Spiritual energy, like qi and blood, is a force meant to be tamed," he said with a faint nod. As a seasoned master, Lu Changkong's understanding of the martial path far surpassed Ning Zhao's.

"So, Father… what of my endeavor to build my own force?" Lu Fan asked, his eyes gleaming.

Lu Changkong was momentarily stunned, then laughed. He cast a deep glance at his son. Was this boy truly forming a power base merely for self-preservation?

"What do you need?" he asked at last.

Lu Fan's lips curved into a smile. Reclining lazily in his wheelchair, he rested his chin on one hand and gently tapped the woolen blanket draped over his legs with the other.

"Not much—just a plot of land and a building," he said casually.

Lu Changkong narrowed his eyes and waved dismissively."I have no land to give. As city lord, I remain untainted, clean as jade. What land could I possibly offer you?"

"However, the Chen family owns a plot in the eastern part of the city. You may go inquire—call it collecting rent."

At this, Lu Fan let out a soft laugh. A glint appeared in his eyes. The three great families had colluded with Dantai Xuan and torn apart all pretense with both the Lu family and the imperial court. It was time to settle old scores. Those who once mocked him had left wounds on his spirit—and he fully intended to collect reparations.

"Fan'er, shall I assign a city guard unit to you?" Lu Changkong asked after a moment. After all, no force could be built without loyal men.

"No need. My strength lies in quality, not quantity," Lu Fan replied with a light smile, instructing Ning Zhao to push him out.

Yi Yue and Ni Yu quickly followed.

"Oh, and Father—copy your Blood-Shifting Technique manual for me. I have great plans for it."

His voice drifted from afar.

Lu Changkong stood with hands behind his back, watching his son's figure disappear around a corner, the wheelchair wheels creaking softly as they rolled away. A flicker of brilliance flashed within his gaze.

"Immortal fate… spiritual energy…This world… is on the brink of chaos."

…

Ning Zhao wheeled Lu Fan out of the Lu residence. Ni Yu trotted behind, shielding him from the sun with an umbrella. Suddenly, she seemed hesitant to speak.

"Young master…"

Lu Fan, dozing slightly in his wheelchair, opened his eyes just a sliver and glanced sideways at her, releasing a faint hum from his nose.

"Mm?"

Ni Yu's flat chest rose and fell slightly. Then, as if steeling her resolve, she declared,"I, Ni Yu, wish to follow you in cultivating immortality!"

She feared that if she didn't make progress soon, she wouldn't even be fit to serve as his maid.

"Oh?" Lu Fan was genuinely surprised. That this girl had such aspirations was unexpected. Ning Zhao and Yi Yue were also visibly taken aback.

"You want to cultivate with me? Your martial skills are terrible, your talent worse, and you're lazy to boot. Tell me… what exactly are you good at?" Lu Fan asked with a teasing smile.

Ni Yu flushed a deep red, clutching her umbrella tightly. His words pierced her heart, yet after much hemming and hawing, she could only whisper,

"Young master… I—I'm good at eating."

Lu Fan froze, then burst into hearty laughter. Yi Yue and Ning Zhao couldn't help but chuckle behind their hands.

Crushed by their laughter, Ni Yu looked utterly defeated.

After a while, Lu Fan reached out a slender hand and tousled her hair."To be able to eat is a blessing. Worry not. I shall bring you along—eating while cultivating."

Ni Yu's eyes sparkled with delight.

…

Once beyond the Lu estate, Ning Zhao continued to push Lu Fan along the main road.

"Young master, where are we headed?" she asked gently.

"To the residences of the three great families?" Yi Yue chimed in.

But Lu Fan shook his head, a lazy expression on his face."To a butcher shop."

He lowered his gaze, toying with his slender fingers.

A butcher shop?

Ning Zhao was momentarily dumbfounded. Had she misheard? Wasn't he going to confront the great families?

"Young master… are you craving pork?" Ni Yu's eyes lit up instantly. When it came to food, she was the most enthusiastic.

"No, I'm going to a butcher shop… to find someone," Lu Fan said with a faint smile.

"Young master, there are many butcher shops in North Luo City. Which one?" Ni Yu prattled on. "East of the city? West? South? There are some in the markets too. Which one exactly?"

Lu Fan shot her an expressionless glance, clearly unimpressed by her sudden excitement."You talk too much.Lead the way.Pick the wrong one… and I'll dock your next few meals."

Ni Yu: "…"

The young master… is a demon, isn't he? What happened to 'eating is a blessing'?!

Seeing her face full of existential doubt, Ning Zhao and Yi Yue finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

…

"Boss, give me half a pound, chopped fine. Gonna make stuffing for dumplings tonight for the wife."

A laborer in coarse garments called out cheerfully.

Rows of red-and-white pork cuts hung from hooks behind the stall, neatly arranged like a forest of meat. Behind the shop, two figures sat on low wooden stools, awaiting customers.

One was a middle-aged man in a blood-stained apron, reeking of meat and blood.The other was a large-headed child, four or five years old.

"Shuang'er, stand back," the man instructed as he stood, turning his head.

The child nodded obediently, his wide eyes blinking beneath the gory canopy of meat, utterly out of place in such a setting.

Swish.

The cleaver gleamed as the man flicked it up. With practiced ease, it spun in his fingers, slicing through the air with a chilling whoosh.

A chunk of meat was cut down with precision. Without weighing it, he scraped off the skin, removed stray hairs and blood, and began to mince.

Rhythmic chopping sounds echoed. Soon, the pork was diced into fine pieces. With a flick, he scooped it into a lotus leaf, tied it, and tossed it to the customer.

Then, he slammed the cleaver into the chopping board and wiped his hands on his apron before turning toward the child.

The customer weighed the meat and left contentedly.

"Dad, someone else is coming," the child said in a soft voice, pointing into the distance.

The man froze.

He spun around sharply.

The creaking of wheelchair wheels scraping against the sticky ground sounded strangely like teeth gnawing sticky rice.

Instinctively, the man shielded the child. His weathered, story-laden eyes filled with caution.

"At last, the sixth butcher shop in North Luo City… we've found it."

A calm voice drifted in.

The boy in the wheelchair was pushed forward by a stunningly beautiful maid. Draped in a woolen blanket, he smiled gently as he looked at the man.

"Discarded disciple of the Dao Sect—Nie Changqing… is that you?"

The man's pupils shrank. A cold killing aura surged from him.

"Oh? So I've finally found the right one," the boy whispered, smiling still.