Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 825 The Impermanent Ghost Sect
The Lu family in Shanggu County.

Li Chang arrived at Lu Fusheng's courtyard with Yang Zhengshan's letter.

The war between the Lingxiu Three Sects and the Youyu Gate temporarily ceased, and Lu Fusheng returned. He had participated in a great deal of this war, from the great battle outside the ancient ruins to the series of battles that broke out between the two sides east of Yushan Town. He was involved in all of them and suffered serious injuries as a result, which took him a year to recover.

Now that the war between the two sides has ended, the Lu family has also gained a chance to catch their breath.

In the antique-style hall, Li Chang stood respectfully in front of Lu Fusheng and handed him the letter.

Lu Fusheng opened the letter and scanned it, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Yang, you've successfully completed your Foundation Establishment?"

Li Chang bowed his head and said, "The patriarch completed the Foundation Establishment stage a year ago!"

"Haha, good, good, good!" Lu Fusheng clapped his hands and laughed.

Lu Fusheng was genuinely happy that Yang Zhengshan had successfully established his foundation.

In his heart, Yang Zhengshan was already the most important ally of the Lu family. He had previously thought that Yang Zhengshan's cultivation was slightly lacking, but now that Yang Zhengshan had completed the Foundation Establishment, he would become the most reliable ally of the Lu family.

It is even more important than the Illusion Moon Sect, because in the eyes of the Illusion Moon Sect, the Lu family is just an affiliated family, while on Yang Zhengshan's side, the two sides are allies who can entrust their lives to each other.

Indeed, Lu Fusheng truly valued Yang Zhengshan as an ally, after all, the two had fought side by side and shared life and death.

He looked at the letter in his hand, stroked his long, flowing beard, and said, "Helping you contact the elders of the Illusion Moon Sect is no problem, but getting the Illusion Moon Sect to support the Yang family will be a bit difficult!"

"Please enlighten me, Senior Lu!" Li Chang said.

Lu Fusheng said, "The Lian family was originally an affiliate of the Wuxiang Sect, and the Huanyue Sect may not be willing to clash with the Wuxiang Sect at this time!"

The issues he considered were actually issues that Yang Zhengshan had considered before.

"The patriarch said that it would be best if this matter succeeded, but it wouldn't matter if it failed. In any case, this is an opportunity, and the patriarch feels it is necessary to try to seize it!" Li Chang said.

Lu Fusheng nodded slightly, "It's good that Brother Yang is prepared like this. Well then, without further ado, I'll go to the Illusion Moon Sect now. You stay here and wait for my news!"

He naturally supported the Yang family's bid for the title of a prestigious family. If the Yang family could become a prestigious family, the alliance between the two families would be strengthened.

At that time, they will have more confidence when speaking in front of the Illusion Moon Sect.

To be honest, he actually disliked the Illusion Moon Sect. After all, the Lu family was an affiliate of the Illusion Moon Sect, and he needed to show deference to the sect at all times.

How can a true man submit to others?

Lu Fusheng was never one to tolerate humiliation. If the Lu family hadn't needed the support of the Illusion Moon Sect, he truly wouldn't have wanted to be their dog.

That's right, it's about being a dog.

The twelve noble families could be arrogant and domineering in front of the lower-level martial arts families, but they could only bow down and submit in front of the three major sects.

……

As night falls and the bright moon rises, the Illusion Moon Lake appears as if paved with shattered silver. Nine jade platforms stand in a circle, with moon-shaped lamps hanging in the air, their ethereal blue light swirling and shimmering like scattered snowflakes.

On the lake, several young Moon Foxes often frolic in the water, their long tails hanging like silver frost, their phantom eyes inlaid with ghostly fire. With a light touch of their toes on the lake surface, blue lotuses bloom, and the shattered shadows of the moon turn into fireflies, fluttering around the nine jade platforms.

Led by the disciples of the Illusion Moon Sect, Lu Fusheng walked along the lakeside to the Mirror Abyss Pavilion. Looking at the Illusion Moon Foxes playing in the lake, he couldn't help but show envy in his eyes.

The Phantom Moon Fox is a first-tier exotic beast. Upon reaching adulthood, it possesses the strength of the late first-tier stage, comparable to a Heavenly Gang stage martial artist. With careful nurturing, it has a high chance of growing into a second-tier exotic beast.

The Illusion Moon Sect is named after the Illusion Moon Fox, and Illusion Moon Lake is named after the Illusion Moon Sect.

This Illusion Moon Lake is not the residence of the Illusion Moon Sect, but rather the habitat of the Illusion Moon Fox.

The Lu family also has a Golden Feathered Eagle, but it is far inferior to the Illusion Moon Fox.

Although an adult Golden Feathered Eagle possesses the strength of a late-stage Tier 1 eagle, it is difficult for it to advance to Tier 2 because it lacks Tier 2 bloodline.

Bloodline is not a prerequisite for a beast's advancement, but it is one of the most important talents for a beast's advancement.

Take the Azure Wolf King, for example. Don't mistake it for an ordinary beast. Its ancestors were demonic beasts raised by the Sun True Sect. Although that was ten thousand years ago, the Azure Wolf King still retains the bloodline of ancient demonic beasts.

In addition, the ancient formation contained a large number of rare and precious materials, and the Azure Wolf King devoured countless spiritual herbs and fruits, which enabled it to complete its advancement.

The Lu family's Golden Feather Eagle is only slightly stronger than the Flying Slave Eagle and Crimson Cloud Horse from the Spirit Source Land; both are exotic beasts that are difficult to advance in.

Led by the disciple, Lu Fusheng stepped into the Mirror Abyss Pavilion and ascended the steps. The white marble steps were cool with moonlight, and bronze lampposts on both sides were adorned with moon-swallowing dragons.

The cloud-patterned window on the second floor of the pavilion was half-closed, letting out the rustling sound of bamboo slips turning. Occasionally, a maid would lift the curtain with her delicate hand, and the glint of a silver hairpin slipping from her hair would fall into the lake along with the laurel leaves drifting down from the eaves.

Behind the gauze curtain, a graceful woman was reclining on the daybed, holding a bamboo scroll and reading quietly.

Inside the pavilion, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, mixed with a faint scent of rouge. Lu Fusheng stood outside through the gauze curtain, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Lu Fusheng of the Lu family greets the Sect Master!"

The woman before them was Yue Qing, the sect leader of the Illusion Moon Sect, also known as Fairy Yue Qing.

Yueqing is not her name, but her Daoist name. Every elder of the Illusion Moon Sect has a Daoist name, and after becoming a Martial God, they will abandon their original name and only use their Daoist name.

"Master Lu, please excuse the formalities. Listen to the music and serve tea to Master Lu!"

When she spoke, her clear and melodious voice drifted across the pavilion, like fresh snow falling on jade bells, tinkling as it passed over the bronze bells on the eaves.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Lu Fusheng sat down at the table next to him as instructed, and a graceful woman served him tea.

As the tea steam rose, Yueqing asked again, "What brings Patriarch Lu here?"

"There is something I wish to report to the sect leader!"

"What's the matter?"

“Yang Zhengshan, the head of the Yang family in Lingxi, desires a position in a prestigious family. I am on good terms with the head of the Yang family, so he asked me to come and consult with the sect leader!” Lu Fusheng said.

"Yang Zhengshan of the Yang family of Lingxi?" Yue Qing raised her head, her previously nonchalant expression turning serious. "Who is this person?"

“The Yang family of Lingxi is just a small family in Shanggu County, while Yang Zhengshan entered the ancient ruins in the year of Jiazi and obtained a chance to become an immortal. He is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator!” Lu Fusheng said calmly.

Yue Qingming's eyes flickered slightly. "You're saying this Yang Zhengshan is a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"That's right, he just broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage not long ago!"

Yue Qing's cherry lips, as delicate as newly blossoming peaches, curled up. "I never imagined that someone could actually obtain a destiny of immortality within an ancient ruined formation!"

It's no secret that there are immortal cultivation techniques in the Transmission Hall of the ancient ruins.

In fact, over the centuries, the three major sects have obtained many immortal cultivation techniques from the Transmission Hall. In addition, many members of the twelve great families or some smaller families have also obtained immortal cultivation techniques. However, apart from the three major sects, it is almost impossible for others to achieve anything in the immortal path.

Firstly, those who entered the ancient ruins were all martial artists at the Heavenly Gang stage, which meant that they were not young. Even if they had spiritual apertures, it would be difficult for them to achieve anything if they switched to cultivating immortal techniques.

Secondly, the lack of resources for the path to immortality means that even a single Foundation Establishment Pill can keep the vast majority of people from even reaching the threshold of immortality.

Let alone aristocratic families and small clans, even the three major sects would find it extremely difficult to cultivate a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"I'm very curious, how did he complete the Foundation Establishment stage?" Yueqing asked.

She naturally knew the difficulty of establishing a foundation in the immortal path, and she also knew the help that Foundation Establishment Pills could provide.

Foundation Establishment doesn't necessarily require the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, but without them, the chances of successfully establishing a foundation are extremely slim.

"I don't know either!" Lu Fusheng shook his head slightly. Yue Qing stood up and walked out from behind the gauze curtain. She was wearing a snow-white gauze dress, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, like a fairy descended from heaven.

"Are you very familiar with this Yang Zhengshan?"

"Yes, to be honest, Sect Master, it was Yang Zhengshan who helped me out of the predicament when the evil spirits attacked the county town!" Lu Fusheng also stood up and said.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Yueqing looked at him with a half-smile.

Lu Fusheng cupped his hands, offering no argument, and simply said, "I hope the sect leader will forgive me."

Yueqing stared at him for a moment before smiling and saying, "Never mind!"

"Ask Yang Zhengshan if he's willing to join my Illusion Moon Sect!"

"Ah!" Lu Fusheng looked up at her in astonishment.

Yue Qing smiled gently, "A Foundation Establishment cultivator is still worth recruiting by my Illusion Moon Sect. As for aristocratic families, once they join the Illusion Moon Sect, their positions are nothing more than a chicken rib."

The three major sects have always been cultivating immortal cultivators. Especially after the passing of the Golden Core cultivator from Hidden Sword Mountain, they all hope that their sect can produce a Golden Core cultivator so that they can firmly control the Sea of ​​Spiritual Beauty.

Unfortunately, in the past three hundred years, they have not produced even a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone Golden Core cultivators.

The Illusion Moon Sect currently only has one Foundation Establishment cultivator, and that cultivator is nearing the end of his lifespan.

The Illusion Moon Sect desperately needs a Foundation Establishment cultivator to continue the sect's immortal cultivation tradition, and just at this time, Yang Zhengshan appears, so Yueqing naturally wants to recruit him.

Of course, if it were a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose background was unknown, Yue Qing would not so easily extend her intention to recruit him.

Yang Zhengshan is different. He comes from the Lingxi Yang family in Shanggu County. The Lingxi Yang family is just a small family, which is exactly what Yueqing wants.

Yang Zhengshan's plan to list the company through a backdoor listing was successful, but the plan deviated somewhat from his original plan.

“This…” Lu Fusheng hesitated.

"Never mind, bring him here, I'll talk to him myself," Yueqing said.

"Yes!" Lu Fusheng thought about it and also felt that this matter needed Yang Zhengshan to do in person, since he could not make the decision on Yang Zhengshan's behalf.

"Then I, Lu, will take my leave!"

……

Lianjia Town, the ancestral home of the Lian family.

The moonlight is cool and clear, the courtyard is secluded, and the room is dimly lit.

The Lian family patriarch sat cross-legged on a futon. At this moment, his face was ashen, and his whole body was filled with deathly aura. It seemed that even his breathing had become extremely weak.

"You don't have much time left. This is your last chance to choose!"

Behind him was another figure shrouded in darkness.

The Lian family patriarch opened his cloudy eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't cooperate with people who hide their true colors. Tell me who you are."

"Heh, you're about to die, and you're still thinking about these things. If you're unwilling to cooperate with us, it won't just be you who dies, but the entire Lian family!"

A figure in the darkness emitted a harsh, mocking sound.

"Tell me your identities!" the Lian family patriarch insisted.

"Since that's the case, what good will it do me to tell you? Mo Xuanyu, the Soul-Severing Blade."

The Lian family patriarch turned around stiffly. "Soul-Severing Blade, huh? Do you think I'm senile?"

"Alright, I knew I couldn't fool you. Let's get to know each other again. I am Mo Xuanyu from the Wuchang Ghost Sect." Mo Xuanyu emerged from the darkness, revealing a pale but handsome face.

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Lian family patriarch. "The Impermanent Ghost Sect, so the Soul-Severing Blade is backed by the Impermanent Ghost Sect!"

Mo Xuanyu grinned, his gleaming white teeth standing out eerily against his pale face. "Now that you know, you should understand that if you choose not to cooperate, you'll only face death!"

"Hehe~~" The Lian family patriarch let out a hoarse laugh, "Do I have any other choice?"

"no!"

"Then let's go!" The Lian family patriarch slowly stood up.

Mo Xuanyu looked at him and smiled, "A very wise choice."

After saying that, the two left the room and flew out of Lianjia Town under the dim moonlight, heading east for hundreds of miles.

Despite the fact that the Lian family patriarch looked like he could die at any moment, he showed no signs of fatigue as he traveled hundreds of miles.

At dawn, they arrived at a cave. The cave's exit was very well hidden deep in the mountains and forests, and it would be impossible to find without a careful search.

But upon entering the cave and venturing deep into the passageway, the stench of decay, mingled with a sweet, metallic taste, assaulted his throat. The blue bricks beneath his feet were stained a deep purple with blood, and dark red veins meandered through the cracks like congealed blood vessels. As spiderwebs hanging from the dome brushed against his forehead, the suddenly open underground space came into view of the Lian family patriarch.

The Lian family patriarch's cloudy eyes narrowed sharply, and a look of surprise appeared on his withered face.

A thousand-foot-deep pool of blood churned with thick, viscous plasma, its surface floating with half-bones and blackened limbs. The sound of bursting bubbles mingled with the clanging of dragging chains. In the center of the pool stood three colossal white bone pillars, each topped with a dripping bronze lamp. The lamp oil was made from the eyeballs of living people, and eerie blue flames danced within the pupils.

On a black stone platform carved with spiral runes beside the pool, twelve heartless corpses knelt in a circle, their chests pierced by barbed iron chains, the other ends of which were submerged in the pool. Suspended in the center of the magic circle was a half-rolled, charred ancient scroll, each crack oozing crimson mist, within which faintly appeared a grotesque face with interlocking fangs.

Such an eerie and terrifying scene was something even the Lian family patriarch, who had lived for three hundred years, had never witnessed before.

"what is this?"

"Hehe, the Yin Sha Blood Sha Formation!" Mo Xuanyu chuckled.

The Lian family patriarch looked at the dark red array patterns above his head and exclaimed, "This is Black Mountain Ridge!"

“That’s right!” Mo Xuanyu’s smile became even more sinister.

"So that's how it is!" The Lian family patriarch took a deep breath.

Black Mountain Ridge is not a famous place, and it didn't even have this name before. It was only after it became the main battlefield of the Netherworld Prison Sect and the Lingxiu Sect that this mountain range was called Black Mountain Ridge.

"So you started the war between the Netherworld Sect and the three major sects?"

"How could that be? We were just adding fuel to the fire! Hahaha~~" Mo Xuanyu laughed triumphantly and arrogantly.

Clearly, the Youyu Sect and the Lingxiu Three Sects played a significant role in the war that broke out between them.

The Lian family patriarch did not delve into these matters, as they were no longer of any significance to him.

"What do you need me to do next?"

"Enter the Blood Pool and become a Blood Corpse! Only in this way can you live on in this world, and the Lian family will not be wiped out because of your loss!" Mo Xuanyu looked at him with a smile.

"Heh, a blood corpse, not bad!"

Without any hesitation, the Lian family patriarch slowly walked into the blood pool.

Crimson blood flowed over his body until it completely submerged him.

(End of this chapter)