Volume 8, Chapter 502 – Failure to Delay the Wedding (Part 2)

Lü Ze’s sons and grandsons shared the same thought, and thus, their faces were all painted with unease.

Especially Zuo Ying. As Elder Zuo’s own granddaughter, if Lü Dao decided to hold her accountable, she wouldn’t even have a chance to defend herself.

Once the rest of the family had left, Lü Dao finally spoke, his tone deceptively calm.

“Second Brother, I’ve recently heard some rumors. They say that Elder Zuo has been running around to various immortal factions in the cultivation world, seemingly trying to introduce those nine monsters to potential marriage candidates. Is that true?”

“Uh… I’m not too sure about that.”

Lü Ze’s expression changed drastically, his reply hesitant and evasive.

His sons and grandsons also stiffened, their eyes flickering away guiltily.

“You’re his in-law, yet you don’t know? The person he’s been promoting is none other than my fiancée, Cheng Hongling. You owe me an explanation.”

Lü Yi’s tone was domineering, completely disregarding the hierarchy of elders and juniors.

“How could such a thing happen?”

“Exactly, how could we not know about this? How can you take rumors seriously?”

Lü Ze’s sons and daughters-in-law were terrified, stammering in an attempt to muddle through.

“Rumors? I’ve exchanged Thousand-Mile Communication Tubes with some of those nine monsters. Should I verify it with them right now?”

Lü Yi pressed aggressively.

Lü Ze’s descendants immediately fell silent, their faces twisting with discomfort. After all, Lü Dao was the patriarch of the Lü family, and its only Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert. Lü Ze couldn’t protect them.

“I was aware of this matter. In fact, it was I who instructed my in-law to do so.”

To their surprise, Lü Ze openly admitted it.

“Then I demand an explanation! Otherwise, even if you’re my elder, I won’t show you any courtesy.”

Lü Yi’s expression turned vicious.

“Ah! Watch your tone. How can you be so disrespectful to your elders? Do you really think your granduncle would harm you?”

Lü Dao played the mediator, his goal merely to intimidate the second branch of the family, not to push things to the point of no return.

“As expected, Eldest Brother understands me best!”

Lü Ze seized the opportunity to step down from the confrontation and explained:

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“In truth, I did this for your sake, Eldest Grandson. If we divert the attention of those nine monsters toward Cheng Hongling, then no one will compete with you for those three girls with immortal bloodlines. Compared to them, Cheng Hongling is far inferior.”

Lü Ze’s descendants let out a quiet sigh of relief, this reasoning was at least plausible.

“So I should thank you, then?”

Lü Yi sneered.

“No need. We’re family, after all.”

Lü Ze replied shamelessly.

“Let me make this clear, I don’t need your interference. I will have Cheng Hongling, and I will also have those three women with immortal bloodlines. If you or that Zuo old man try to obstruct me again, don’t blame me for turning hostile.”

Lü Yi was no fool, and his warning was sharp.

“It won’t happen again. Since you have such grand ambitions, I, as your granduncle, will naturally support you wholeheartedly.”

Lü Ze quickly acquiesced.

His descendants, however, grew even more displeased. Being threatened by a junior was a humiliation no one could swallow easily.

“I told you to mind your tone. Since it was a misunderstanding, clarifying it is enough.”

Only then did Lü Dao pretend to mediate.

Having sufficiently intimidated the second branch, Lü Dao smoothly changed the subject.

“Second Brother, if I recall correctly, you’re about a hundred years younger than me, yes?”

“Correct. One hundred and twenty years, to be exact.”

Lü Ze answered dutifully. For cultivators with long lifespans, siblings separated by a century or two were common.

“If we calculate based on cultivation, your lifespan is nearing its end.”

Lü Dao continued conversationally.

“Indeed. A Divine Realm cultivator can live up to around five hundred years, and I’m already past four hundred and seventy.”

A trace of desolation flickered across Lü Ze’s face, even ants cling to life.

“Second Brother, you must understand. Five hundred years for Divine Realm, six hundred for Heavenly Tribulation Realm, these are merely theoretical limits. Any of us could pass at any moment. Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps tonight.”

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Lü Dao sighed.

“Who could deny that? But what can be done? Old relics like us can only extend our lives if we break through. Yet I haven’t even gathered all the ingredients for the breakthrough elixir.”

Lü Ze laughed bitterly.

“Take it easy. Breaking through would be ideal, but if not, living five or six hundred years is already a blessing.”

Lü Dao consoled him.

Lü Ze smiled noncommittally, thinking privately, ‘That’s easy for you to say. I refuse to accept fate.’

The two families were united in appearance but divided at heart, so the gathering didn’t last much longer before they parted ways.

“Grandfather, will a simple warning like this really work?”

Lü Yi asked uneasily.

“No. This matter concerns the future of our descendants. He will fight to the end.”

Lü Dao shook his head without hesitation.

“Then why did you have me play along?”

Confusion flashed across Lü Yi’s face.

“I just wanted to vent my anger. Your grandfather isn’t the type to swallow grievances without retaliation.”

Lü Dao replied airily.

“But Father, this doesn’t address the root of the problem!”

Lü Gao voiced his dissent.

“Which is why I have another plan.”

A smug smile curled Lü Dao’s lips.

“What plan?”

The family members asked in unison.

“Daughter-in-law, inform your father. Have him spread the word as soon as possible. When my grandson marries, he will gift a Blazing Breakthrough Pill as a wedding present.”

Lü Dao instructed Lü Yi’s mother.

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“Ah? But Father, we don’t have a Blazing Breakthrough Pill!”

Lü Yi’s mother looked troubled. Though she came from an ancient alchemy family, the Blazing Breakthrough Pill was an exceedingly rare treasure. Just a few of its ingredients were priceless and nearly impossible to obtain.

“It doesn’t matter. No one else knows, especially not your second uncle.”

Lü Dao raised a brow meaningfully.

“Father, you mean…?”

Lü Gao’s eyes lit up.

“You guessed it. Exactly. I intend to use the Blazing Breakthrough Pill to keep him in check.”

The corner of Lü Dao’s mouth twitched.

“What do you mean?”

Lü Yi frowned.

“The Blazing Breakthrough Pill is essential for metal-attribute cultivators attempting to break through to the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. You know that, right? Your second grandfather has been stuck at the peak of the Divine Realm for decades due to his mediocre talent. Now, the only way he can advance is with this pill.”

Lü Gao reminded his son.

“I see. You’re using this pill as bait to make him stop sabotaging my marriage?”

Lü Yi caught on immediately.

“Precisely. He’s a smart man, and a selfish one. He’ll take the bait.”

Lü Dao spoke with absolute certainty.

“Father, it’s a brilliant plan. But if my father spreads this rumor and we can’t produce the pill later, won’t it damage our reputation?”

Lü Yi’s mother hesitated.

“It won’t matter. Only our family will know what gifts were actually given. When the time comes, we’ll simply say we received it.”

Lü Dao reassured her.

“In that case, I’m relieved. For the sake of my grandson’s future, I’m sure my father will cooperate.”

Lü Yi’s mother finally relaxed.

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Just as Lü Dao predicted, Lü Ze’s family was not deterred. After returning, they continued scheming to delay the wedding.

However, on the third day, Lü Yi’s maternal family spread the news. They would gift a Blazing Breakthrough Pill on his wedding day.

The moment this was announced, the entire cultivation world of the Weiyuan Empire was shaken. The Blazing Breakthrough Pill was an invaluable treasure for metal-attribute cultivators seeking to force a breakthrough into the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, its worth was beyond measure.

But the most excited of all was Lü Ze.

For him, this was the hope of reaching the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Instantly, he abandoned all plans to delay the wedding.

His family raised no objections, after all, if Lü Ze could ascend to the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, he would gain another century of life, and the Lü family would ultimately fall under their branch’s control.

“But Grandfather, the pill is meant for Lü Yi. How will you obtain it?”

Zuo Ying asked warily.

“Granddaughter-in-law, have you forgotten? I’m over a hundred years younger than my elder brother. Chances are, he’ll die before I do. Once his protection is gone, that pill will be mine for the taking.”

Lü Ze analyzed smugly.

“That makes sense! Then… do we still need to cooperate with Cheng Hongling?”

Zuo Ying sought his opinion.

“No. Lü Yi’s wedding must proceed. I must obtain that Blazing Breakthrough Pill.”

Lü Ze issued his command.

Thus, it wasn’t long before Qi Huang received word from Elder Zuo that their plan to delay the wedding had failed.

“Why did it fail? There’s still a year left! Don’t you want to try again? Don’t you care about your granddaughter’s life?”

Qi Huang demanded furiously.

“There is no ‘why’. Our cooperation ends here.”

Elder Zuo’s tone was icy as he severed contact.

“Heh. I expected as much. Relying on others is never as good as relying on oneself.”

Qi Huang let out a self-deprecating laugh before her lips curled into a smirk.

“You think this can stop me? Just you wait, you nine monsters of the Central Continent. I’ll show you what a real monster looks like!”