Chapter 184: Arrival at the Lu Family Household
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Young Master, back then, didn’t you tell me that once Big Gold achieves the Connate stage, then you will let it take my place? You only came back after so long,” said Little Gold as he looked at Zhou Donghuang indignantly. “Now, Big Gold is already in the ultimate Connate stage, but I’ve only just reached the Connate stage… ”
“Enough,” interrupted Zhou Donghuang. He turned to the corpse of the Primal Core demon and said, “You can have the corpse of the Primal core demon here… but you must leave its beak and claws to me. Besides this, you can also have the inner core of this demon.” Zhou Donghuang opened his hands to reveal a white orb the size of a child’s fist, and white mist appeared mysteriously around it. This was none other than the inner core of the early Primal Core demon that the tenth elder of the Divine Light sect, Lin Hantian, had ridden here.
The inner core of the demon was similar in effect to that of a human, but it could be perfectly maintained for a period of time after the death of the demon, only dissipating after that. This made it similar to the Buddhist essence of monks. However, as compared to the Buddhist essence, the inner core of the demon was more straightforward as it could be easily swallowed by another demon, which could digest it to increase its own level of power.
“Inner core?!” When he heard Zhou Donghuang’s words, Little Gold stared at the white orb in his hands, saliva dripping from its mouth. The inner core was an immensely precious treasure to any demon which had not achieved the Primal Core stage.
“Young Master, if I swallow this… can I use the inner Yuan within it to jump straight to the Primal Core stage and become a Primal Core demon?” Big Gold asked curiously, its eyes also transfixed on the white orb.
“Of course,” replied Zhou Donghuang.
Big Gold turned to Little Gold, smiling as it said, “Little Gold, why don’t we make a deal?”
“No chance! Don’t even think about it!” Little Gold knew exactly what Big Gold was thinking about and turned him down straight away. “If I have this inner core, I’ll be able to chase up to you in a short time. But if you take it, and become a Primal Core demon… how can I chase you? You think I’m a fool?” retorted Little Gold.
“Little Gold, you really are a fool! If I use this inner core to attain the Primal Core stage and become a Primal Core demon, I can bring you with me to hunt other Primal Core demons. Then, we will have no lack of inner cores,” said Big Gold.
Little Gold looked swayed by Big Gold’s words.
Before Little Gold could make a decision, Zhou Donghuang had already shot the inner core into its mouth with a flick of his finger. “Don’t be greedy… just focus on yourself first.”
“Yes, Young Master,” laughed Little Gold awkwardly.
Seeing this, Big Gold did not say anything. All that it had was given to it by its Young Master, and it naturally followed anything that he said.
…
Early the next morning, the two golden-crowned eagles lifted to the skies of the backyard of Yunxuan restaurant, flying towards the Yunfeng prefecture capital.
“Wait here for me… I will ask Lu Qinghu if he wishes to leave with me,” Zhou Donghuang said to the group of people on the backs of the two golden-crowned eagles, then he leaped off the back of Big Gold and headed towards the Yunfeng prefecture capital.
From above, looking down upon Yunfeng prefecture capital, Zhou Donghuang could easily spot one of the large courtyards, which was the residence of the Lu family household. Arriving above the courtyard, Zhou Donghuang realized that a group of people had gathered in front of the household, and tables were set up everywhere, filled with all types of food and drinks as if it was a buffet for everyone.
“A gathering?” The sight made Zhou Donghuang think of the Wei family party that he had attended with Yang Zixi and Ren Jiapei at the Chu royal city. However, the difference was that that one was hosted by the Wei family. However, this party was hosted by the first young master of the Lu family, Lu Yuan.
“Brother Lu Yuan, everyone knows that the Lu family is now the ruler of Yunfeng prefecture, far above the Zhao Governor’s household. You are being too humble.” In the courtyard, a well-dressed young man was complimenting Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan appeared more mature compared to back in the day. Faced with the compliment, he was calm and composed. “These things ought not to be said so lightly… the Zhao family is the true ruler of Yunfeng prefecture.”
“Brother Lu Yuan, you are too humble,” said another young man with a shake of his head. “Now, in the Yunfeng prefecture capital, everyone knows of how Elder Qinghu helped protect your second uncle and the current Lu family chief, Lu Bao. The person who came to create trouble was a level-nine adept from a tycoon family of a superior prefecture, but he was simply defeated by a single blow from your father. Your father is at least a Petty Consummate adept now, right?” asked the young man.
“I have never asked my father about this, so I am not too sure,” replied Lu Yuan. However, his eyes could hardly conceal his pride.
At the moment, in a corner of the courtyard of the Lu family household, two young ladies were looking at Lu Yuan intently.
“Li Rui, for people like us from the side family of a preeminent family, if we can lay our hands on the Young Master Lu, even if we are just his concubines, that would be an achievement for us,” said one of the ladies to the other. “Now, the Lu family’s status in the Yunfeng prefecture capital is unparalleled… two months ago, for the birthday of Elder Qinghu, the governor of Yunfeng prefecture even personally brought gifts here. If we are able to get close to the Young Master Lu, with the connection to Elder Qinghu, even the Zhao family would treat us differently.”
The other girl was none other than a side disciple of the preeminent Li family of Yunfeng prefecture, Li Rui. Since the death of the Li family chief, the Li family had another level-four adept and so was still a preeminent family, but they were much less well-off compared to the past. On the other hand, the Lu family had achieved new highs.
“Hong Qian, you said… the reason for the Lu family’s present glory is the work of Zhou Donghuang a few years ago?” Li Rui asked, her eyes filled with disbelief.
“Apparently… otherwise, how could the Lu family suddenly become so powerful? In the past, the Lu family never showed any potential, until Lu Qinghu got to know Young Master Donghuang. Then, the Lu family simply rose in prominence!” Hong Qian’s gaze turned intense as she spoke. “Apparently Young Master Donghuang achieved the Connate stage a year ago. He is the only “Teenage Connate” in the whole Yunyang country, and even in the history of the Sixteen Countries of the East Valley. What a pity… someone like that, we can only watch from afar. All we can aspire for is someone like Young Master Lu Yuan… unfortunately, even Young Master Lu Yuan would not be able to be secured easily,” sighed Hong Qian.
Hong Qian’s words had caused Li Rui’s face to darken. Zhou Donghuang. The youngster whom she had looked down upon back in the day, had not only entered the connate stage, but had even brought the Lu family to such heights?
Did she regret it? Of course. “If I had not treated him that way in the past, even if I did not end up marrying him, he certainly would not leave my mother and me out… I missed such a huge chance.” Li Rui was filled with regret.
Suddenly, a loud sound came from the skies. It was not load, but it was enough to cover all the noise and chatter in the courtyard. It sounded familiar to Li Rui.
“Lu Yuan.” In the skies above the Lu family household, a handsome young man in white was floating and staring directly at the first young master of the Lu family, Lu Yuan.
When everyone looked up and saw the young man in white floating in mid-air like a god, everyone’s eyes narrowed.
“Fly… flying?”
“He… he can fly?”
“I heard only Primal Core adepts can fly! He is a Primal Core adept?!”
“Primal Core adepts only appeared in legends, why would one appear in a place like Yunfeng prefecture?”
…
Everyone was shocked.
Hearing someone call his name, Lu Yuan examined the man floating in mid-air seriously… although it had been a long time, but the man’s features were exactly the same, and Lu Yuan recognized him immediately.
“Young… Young Master Donghuang?” Lu Yuan asked in a stutter. “You… you have achieved the Primal Core stage?” Only such adepts could float in the air.
“Yes,” nodded Zhou Donghuang. He went straight to the point. “I am here to find your father.”
“I will call him over right away!” Lu Yuan did not hesitate as he hurried towards the house like a crazed rabbit, leaving every group around him.
Even after he had left, there was not a sound in the whole courtyard. It was long after before someone recovered from the shock and stared in amazement at the young man floating in the air, whispering, “He… he is that Zhou Donghuang? The teenage connate who shocked the whole Yunyang country a year ago?”
“Lu Yuan would never have recognized the wrong person.”
“My goodness! A year ago, we heard that he was not even twenty years old, but had achieved the Connate stage. Now, in a year’s time, he has already reached the Primal Core stage?”
“He must be just twenty years old? A Primal Core adept at the age of twenty?”
…
In the courtyard of the Lu family household, every person there was in shock.
“Zhou… Zhou Donghuang… ” Li Rui stood in the corner, looking at the young man in the air. Her gaze was immensely complicated as her expression changed drastically.
