To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 775: Chapter 338: Transcending the Original Intention

After arriving at Baling City, the master of Feishuang Tao led a few trusted followers into the city, while the rest of the sect members continued to travel south by boat, heading towards the Tianshu Mountain Region.

There, they would be registered as citizens through the cooperation of the local authorities and officially become Chu State’s people.

Under the strong influence of Chu State and Lu Yuan, even those who pursued ascetic practices could not escape taxes and labor services.

At most, they would receive some preferential treatment due to their special status.

However, it was absolutely impossible to establish an independent kingdom within Chu State.

This matter had already been clarified when the Feishuang Tao sect and Lu Yuan talked about partnership, and it was the premise of all cooperation.

Fortunately, Feishuang Tao showed a sincerity in cooperation and did not think about going against Chu State’s rules, which had been in place for more than 20 years.

Therefore, both parties compromised and accepted this.

After entering the city, the master of Feishuang Tao contacted disciples from other sects in the city and dispatched someone to pass the message to the King of Chu, arranging a meeting.

The news quickly reached the palace.

Upon learning of the master’s arrival, Lu Yuan did not delay and summoned him for an audience immediately.

It was still in the Meichang Garden where they had met previously.

Today, there was no heavy snow, and the sky was clear, with the golden sun hanging high in the Heavenly Vault, shining brightly.

Although the sun was bright, the sunlight did not give people any sense of warmth, still feeling bone-chillingly cold.

In the garden, many plum blossoms had accumulated thick layers of ice and snow under the recent heavy snowfall, causing the branches to bend slightly.

Fortunately, the paths within the garden were cleared, and a small winding path paved with blue stone extended from the entrance into the Plum Forest, allowing people to walk deep into the forest and appreciate the beautiful scenery.

Lu Yuan was dressed in a pure white robe, hands clasped behind his back, leisurely walking on the path, admiring the plum blossoms around him with satisfaction, smelling the faint fragrance as if his mind had merged with Heaven and Earth.

Following behind him was an old man in a white robe, who showed the same indifferent expression, but also mixed with a chilling coldness, as if he was more in harmony with the natural world than Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan noticed this while he walked and couldn’t help but feel a little wary in his eyes. On the surface, he smiled and said: “The cold snow and beautiful scenery are lovely, but many ordinary people shy away from the cold and dare not come out to appreciate the magnificent world.”

In my early years, I loved plums and admired their tenacity to bloom even in harsh winter.

Unfortunately, even though the past winters were cold, wearing a few more layers of cotton-padded clothes was enough for ordinary people to withstand the cold and move freely in the open.

I could also take advantage of this time, inviting one or two friends, going to the Plum Forest with green plums and boiled wine, and discussing our hobbies and aspirations.

Nowadays, it is bitterly cold, and even wearing three or four layers of cotton-padded clothes cannot withstand the bone-piercing chill.

Times change, and people change as well.

Now it is difficult to find one or two close friends, steal some leisure from our busy lives, and have fun and laughter.”

As he spoke, Lu Yuan gazed at the plum blossoms in front of him, as if lost in thought, with a hint of melancholy in his expression.

Upon careful reflection.

Although his growth over the years had been rapid, since he decided to enter the mortal struggle, he had built up such a vast foundation in just over twenty years.

Even his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of this world and was still growing rapidly.

However, despite gaining so much, the happiness he felt was far less profound than the pure joy he experienced in those days at Plum Flower Town.

In those days, he simply needed to devote himself to practicing martial arts and appreciate the hardships of it, and be delighted with every bit of progress made in his Inner Strength.

When he was tired of martial arts, he would study Buddhism and Taoism classics, anecdotes, and gain various knowledge and nutrients to hone his state of mind.

When he grew bored at home, he could go hunting in the mountains to experience the wild nature of the deep woods.

Or visit the tavern in town, listening to the bustling gossip of merchants and travelers, and learn about interesting events from all around.

When Sun Siwen had time, he could also go with his good friend to travel and admire nature, drinking wine and discussing the Dao in the Plum Forest just outside the town.

When supplies of herbs and medicine ran out at home, he could travel a dozen miles to the city, find Doctor Zhou, chat about medical scriptures and pharmacy, the chaos of Jianghu, and sigh about the hardships of life and its difficulties.

At the end, he could still tease young Zhou Qing, watch her embarrassed and troubled, and then leave with a hearty laugh.

Those days were so carefree, unburdened, and free-spirited.

In comparison.

Now, although Lu Yuan had become the ruler of a kingdom, a grandmaster of the world, and possessed power and wealth beyond common people’s imagination, his life was full of heavy responsibilities and endless calculations, schemes, and struggles.

From the moment he decided to enter this turbulent world, these burdens seemed to have never left him.

Instead, they accompanied his growth, entangled with his present self, and became inseparable from him.

Under the pressure of external concerns, although Lu Yuan had achieved much and fulfilled many of his wishes,

At the same time, he sometimes felt that what he had once longed for was not as beautiful as he had imagined, and the joy he derived from his achievements was not as pure as he had hoped.

In recent days, after learning about the impending calamity and realizing the gap between himself and Heaven and Earth, Lu Yuan gradually awakened from his grandiose ambitions.