Profound Martial Ridge, Sima Family.

"Hmm, Thirteenth Sister is back!?"

The Sima Family Head, upon hearing the report, immediately rushed to the hall with an expression of surprise and joy.

These past days, with the family patriarch’s matters involving Blue Lake Mountain weighing on his mind, his role as the family head had been a daily torment.

Constantly, he was waiting for Sima Qiuhua to send back good news.

At the moment he heard of Sima Qiuhua’s return, his first thought was that the family’s issues had been resolved.

When he arrived at the hall and saw not only Sima Qiuhua but also two individuals in Qingyun Sect Enforcement Hall robes—a man and a woman—his expression slightly stiffened as he sensed something amiss.

"Thirteenth Sister."

The Sima Family Head addressed Sima Qiuhua, whose face showed a hint of fatigue, and then slightly cupped his hands toward the two Qingyun Sect disciples.

The two Enforcement Hall disciples exchanged glances and spoke up, handing the edict to the Sima Family Head.

"Thank you, Daoists."

Though the Sima Family Head felt something was off, he maintained his courtesy.

He took out ten Middle Grade Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to the two disciples.

The disciples accepted the stones without reservation.

After all, traveling this distance was arduous, and this counted as a little extra reward.

After taking the spirit stones, the two disciples stepped out of the hall to wait outside, allowing the Sima Family Head and Sima Qiuhua a private conversation.

"This..."

The Sima Family Head trembled violently as he read the content of the edict. His face turned deathly pale, as though struck by lightning.

He then looked at Sima Qiuhua in disbelief and said, "Thirteenth Sister, what is going on..."

"Originally, this matter had been handled by my master, and Real Person Chiyang already approved..."

"But Lu Changsheng saved the disciple of Caiyun True Immortal, Xiao Xiyue, years ago, which alarmed Caiyun True Immortal and led her to personally intervene..."

Sima Qiuhua spoke bitterly.

Previously, she had received a family message and went to request her master, Song Qingzhi.

She had thought the matter was resolved, with her master and grandmaster’s backing.

She even imagined she could leverage this achievement for resources from the family afterward.

Who could have expected it would provoke Caiyun True Immortal’s involvement, resulting in a harsh reprimand from her master, Song Qingzhi, and displeasure from her senior brother, Song Cheng?

"Caiyun True Immortal intervened personally!"

When the Sima Family Head heard this, his pale complexion turned ashen.

This act, personally handled by the Enforcement Hall Master, indicated the matter was already finalized and unchangeable.

Whatever the punishment might be, the Sima Family must accept it!

Moreover, if one were to account for the truth, it was indeed the Sima Family that instigated it first and was in the wrong.

"Additionally, following this matter, Lu Changsheng leveraged his status as a Third Rank Talisman Master to become a Visiting Noble Servant at Caiyun Peak. So..."

Sima Qiuhua sighed and continued.

Even though the Sima Family now faced massive losses and frustration, they could only admit defeat.

Should they dare seek trouble with Blue Lake Mountain again, it would equate to insulting Caiyun True Immortal.

"This..."

The Sima Family Head sat in a chair nearby as though drained, only recovering after a long while, his voice weak as he said, "Thirteenth Sister, I understand."

This compensation not only caused severe damage to the Sima Family’s vitality.

It also signified irreversible damage to the family’s reputation.

In the future, whenever people discussed Blue Lake Mountain or Profound Martial Ridge, this matter would inevitably surface, causing massive harm to the Sima Family’s prestige.

Reputation was intangible but had unavoidable indirect consequences!

Moreover, as the Sima Family Head, he became acutely aware of one critical issue.

That was the rapid growth of Blue Lake Mountain, achieved in just a few decades!

Previously, aside from the Sima Family, other forces such as the Dayuan Mountain Yuan Family, Golden Dragon Ridge Jin Family, Fuyun Mountain Luo Family, and Beast Taming Xu Family secretly suppressed Blue Lake Mountain to hinder its rise.

But now, Lu Changsheng had aligned with Qingyun Sect’s Caiyun True Immortal.

This meant other families had to weigh their actions before targeting the Lu Family and couldn’t act openly.

Without suppression and limits, at this growth rate, in a few decades, Blue Lake Mountain might rise to become the foremost False Core Family, potentially advancing to a Nascent Soul Noble Family!

Who could say if Blue Lake Mountain would then resolve to exact vengeance on the Sima Family?

The Sima Family Head felt a deep sense of heaviness pressing on his heart.

"I will go with you to meet the family patriarch and elders."

Sima Qiuhua gazed at her brother’s dispirited state and sighed.

Though this outcome was not one the Sima Family could refuse.

The patriarch and elders still needed to be informed for deliberation.

Not to mention, deploying such a massive sum of compensation required much planning and arrangement.

"Thank you, Thirteenth Sister."

The Sima Family Head cupped his hands in gratitude.

If he had to face the patriarch’s fury alone, it would be unbearable.

With Sima Qiuhua there, matters would be far more manageable.

...

Qingyun Sect.

Following a session of dual cultivation with Xiao Xiyue, Lu Changsheng did not continue cultivating afterward.

On one hand, a profound cultivation technique like the Sun Moon Samsara Technique emphasized moderation and avoided rash progress.

On the other hand, since awakening the Taiyi Divine Soul, his sensitivity and perception had heightened considerably.

In the inexplicable, he often felt watched, suspecting it was Caiyun True Immortal.

Thus, he believed constantly lingering under the gaze of that true immortal might unintentionally provoke her discontent.

After all, given the depth of their interactions over time, Lu Changsheng didn’t imagine Caiyun True Immortal could remain completely unbothered by him and Xiao Xiyue perpetually engaging in dual cultivation.

However, Lu Changsheng did not immediately leave Qingyun Sect.

Instead, he visited Lingyao Peak to spend time with Zhao Qingqing, aiming to strengthen their relationship and perhaps conceive a second child.

In the Hundred Herbs Garden, upon the bed.

Lu Changsheng held his beloved tightly, galloping into passion.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com