Chapter 481 - 450: Feigned Death

Chapter 481: Chapter 450: Feigned Death

Chen Che could see that after their trip to the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, the couple had reconciled. Lu Qinglian’s time in the Valley had also gradually diminished, though it wasn’t because she had found her family to lean on again and no longer needed Jinyun Valley’s support.

Rather, the couple had been constantly away, searching for the materials for the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill.

Their arrival now obviously meant they had gathered all the materials.

"There’s no need for such formalities."

Chen Che raised his hand, and two pumpons landed before them.

"Thank you for the seat, Senior."

Lu Yuntian cupped his hands and respectfully sat down, but judging by his agitated Qi and Blood, his mood was clearly not as calm as his expression suggested.

The Lu Clan had a legacy spanning over three hundred years. They hadn’t had many lucky breaks or a script for a meteoric rise; everything was built on the steady, step-by-step progress of their own people.

Without any lucky breaks, and assuming no accidents, the Lu Clan would have needed at least two hundred more years of accumulation just to qualify to approach the threshold of the Golden Core Realm. They never imagined that this very threshold was now right before them, within arm’s reach.

After taking his seat, he took out a Jade Box, opened it, and respectfully pushed it before Chen Che.

"My Lu Clan does not have a deep heritage, and we have few presentable gifts. This is the only thing of worth we could offer. I hope the Valley Master will not find it lacking."

A quick glance revealed a Jade Scroll nestled in the box. Recalling their previous conversations, Chen Che guessed it likely contained all the Lu Clan’s techniques for crafting Spiritual Boats.

And since they were offering it, they surely hadn’t held anything back.

"That won’t be necessary."

Chen Che, however, closed the Jade Box. "I said I would handle the refining for you, and I won’t go back on my word. By the way, have you gathered all the materials for the pill?"

"Yes."

Lu Yuntian nodded, secretly admiring Chen Che. ’His word is truly his bond.’

This craft had sustained the Lu Family’s development for hundreds of years, allowing it to flourish. With the grand canal about to open, it was akin to a hen that laid golden eggs. If Jinyun Valley were to acquire it, it would instantly become one of their pillar industries.

Yet, Chen Che had rejected it just like that.

At the same time, he secretly suspected Chen Che had other designs.

"If you successfully form your core, you must promise me one thing. Do you remember our agreement?"

Chen Che asked with a smile, pushing the Jade Box back toward him.

"I remember."

’A request from a Golden Core True Master would be anything but trivial.’

’He probably wants the entire Lu Family.’

That was why he had offered the craft of shipbuilding, only to be refused. Lu Yuntian cupped his hands and, filled with a mix of doubt and confusion, asked, "I have etched that promise in my heart and dare not forget it. May I ask what it is the Valley Master requires?"

"When the two of you were gathering the materials, did you ever reveal your identities?"

Chen Che didn’t answer, instead asking a question of his own. The couple both shook their heads, indicating that they had remained incognito and never revealed their identities while they were away. Hearing this, Chen Che said with satisfaction:

"Very good. Once this pill is refined, who will be the first to take it? If you two haven’t decided, then I will make the decision."

"Please, Valley Master, you decide."

Lu Yuntian glanced at Lu Qinglian. Seeing her give a slight nod, he said, "We will both abide by the Valley Master’s decision."

The couple had clearly already discussed who would be the first to attempt Crossing the Tribulation. But now that Chen Che had brought it up, they might as well disregard their previous agreement and leave the final decision entirely to him.

"In that case, Lu Yuntian will be the one to take this pill. As for my condition... it is to die..."

Chen Che said slowly.

Hearing this, Lu Yuntian looked up, stunned, as if he couldn’t believe his own ears.

...

Watching as the couple’s expressions shifted from shock to joy, Chen Che gave a slight smile and slowly shook his head.

’It’s not like I’m some deranged monster. I’ve had this idea ever since the Lu Clan first requested the Pill.’

After all.

The quota for the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill was limited, so he couldn’t perform the refining too often, or the Primordial Sect would undoubtedly come looking for answers.

The only solution was for Lu Yuntian to fake his death.

This move would not only conceal the fact that he was refining the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill but also allow him to hide one or two Golden Core masters as hidden assets. Of course, the price for faking one’s death was not small.

After all, the moment a clan produced a Golden Core cultivator, its status would immediately ascend to a new level.

’I’ve supported the Lu Family for so long. Asking for something this small isn’t an excessive demand to make of Lu Qinglian and her husband.’

"Alright!"

And so, the couple exchanged a look and immediately agreed.

"However, if you’re going to fake a death, you need to make it convincing. We don’t want any accidents that might expose the truth."

Chen Che added as a reminder.

With all the miscellaneous matters settled, Chen Che led Lu Qinglian and her husband toward the back mountain.

At the back mountain, Yu Qian was still in the middle of Artifact Casting.

Ever since that piece of Meteorite Iron had been delivered, Yu Qian had immediately put forging the Gourd’s outer shell on his agenda. For an Artifact Refiner, no one could look upon so many fine materials and remain indifferent.

However, compared to when he was forging the scissors, Yu Qian was several times more serious about this task.

This time, he didn’t even let Jia Chaoyuan and his apprentice help. Instead, he had them act as Fire-Burning Boys while he set up a small Array in a ravine on the back mountain. Thirty-two lifelike dragon-head sculptures were arranged in a fan shape.

Spirit Stones, Jade Bamboo, and various Spirit Woods served as fuel. The flames were channeled through an Array at the necks of the dragons before being spewed from their mouths, generating scorching heat.

Not far away.

Yu Qian, already stripped to the waist, sat cross-legged on a gray pumpon. He continuously formed Spell seals with his hands, transforming his True Essence into a hammer. Like a common blacksmith, he relentlessly pounded the mass of molten liquid metal, compacting it.

"What is this?"

Lu Yuntian froze when he saw this, unable to stop himself from asking in a low voice.

"Those dragon heads are a type of Magical Artifact that can focus flames. This fire aids in purification during Artifact Casting..."

Chen Che explained.

Lu Yuntian couldn’t help but nod, his heart filled with amazement.

’I originally thought I was just a hair’s breadth from the Golden Core, that once I crossed that threshold, I’d understand the realms beyond. But seeing Chen Che walk past this scene as if it were nothing, I realize now I was just a frog in a well, with so little knowledge of the Golden Core Realm.’

But Lu Yuntian had no way of knowing that the reason Chen Che didn’t bat an eye was because Yu Qian had already promised to forge a similar set of Magical Artifacts for him as well.

After all.

Alchemy also required such a device.

Earth Element Star had similar items, but given his current Cultivation, the Magical Artifact he required would have to be custom-made. Without an official order from an Immortal Sect, ordinary companies wouldn’t dare to take on such a private commission, so he planned to get a set from Yu Qian.

Of course, his payment would be to refine a Qingxu Guiyuan Pill for the Yu Family. It was a trade where both sides got what they needed.

Lu Yuntian paused, examining the dragon heads from afar and mentally estimating the price of each one.

But he soon shook his head.

Based on their exquisite craftsmanship and the temperature of the flames they spewed, he knew their price must be astronomical.

He glanced up again and saw that Chen Che had already taken out the Chixia True Cauldron. With another flick of his hand, the various materials transformed into streaks of Escape Light and flew into the Pill Furnace. Then, with a quick motion, the lid of the Furnace Cauldron sealed shut, and flames ignited beneath it.

Half a day later, the pill was complete.

For Chen Che, there was virtually no chance of failure when refining a Tier Three Middle Grade Qingxu Guiyuan Pill.

...

「Half a month later.」

Chen Che received a firsthand intelligence report from Jinyun Valley’s network:

Lu Yuntian had been killed by the Evil Cultivator Xiao Chan on his journey home. Not even his bones remained. He was one hundred and nine years old.

No one in Xuzhou doubted the news. In the eyes of the public, this Rebel Disciple of the Primordial Sect was a bloodthirsty character to begin with; for him to casually kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator he passed on the road was as common as squashing an ant.

But.

While the Lu Family was draped in white for mourning, its various factions began vying for the position of Patriarch.

Unexpectedly, during the clan assembly, the matriarch Lu Qinglian returned to take charge of the family. However, a clan elder attacked her for "improper conduct," declaring her unfit and attempting to seize control. But Lu Qinglian then revealed her cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, suppressing all who defied her.

She publicly vowed that she would not rest until Xiao Chan was dead.

What was surprising was that the Elders who had originally belonged to Lu Yuntian’s faction all gave their tacit approval, accepting Lu Qinglian’s control over the family.

This left the other clans, who had been waiting for the Lu Family to descend into internal chaos so they could make their move, utterly stunned.

But this was, after all, only a Foundation Establishment Clan. The incident’s impact didn’t even ripple beyond half the province.

Of course.

No one could have imagined that the two protagonists of this affair were currently drinking together in Jinyun Valley. The faked death was a success. Lu Yuntian now only needed to recuperate for a few months, cultivating his True Essence, Divine Sense, and Qi and Blood to their absolute peak, and then he could attempt Core Formation.

Even if Lu Yuntian were to travel in the future, he would do so under an assumed name. No one would ever connect him to a dead man.

And with that, a hidden piece was set on the board.

At the same time.

This also made Chen Che feel a pang of regret. There were only a few great Foundation Establishment Races he trusted, and they had either already achieved Core Formation long ago or were otherwise impossible to conceal in such a manner.

However, at that very moment, a second letter arrived at Jinyun Valley—

This letter was from the Primordial Sect.