476: Chapter 491 Uncle Lu is such a good person!!

*Gulp!*

Zhuge Yunshu swallowed hard.

At this moment, he didn't pay any attention to how Lu Ming addressed him; he was still immersed in the scene of near-slaughter from just now, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

Too strong!

Luo Tianxing was a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, after all, yet he was crushed like a bug, completely powerless to resist.

Especially that ancient bell—dozens of Golden Core Cultivators were easily crushed like ants, having no time to even let out a scream.

He hadn't even seen clearly how this person made his move.

Oh, or rather, that person didn't "make a move" at all.

He simply summoned a Magic Treasure, and then it was all over, so fast that one couldn't react in time.

Just what was this person's cultivation level?

Late Golden Core Stage?

No, more than that; he had definitely reached Golden Core Perfection, or perhaps even...

Zhuge Yunshu's heart was churning with stormy waves over his own speculation.

He was also at the Late Golden Core Stage and considered himself no weakling among his peers.

But if he were the one facing that group from the Luo Family, let alone a counter-kill, whether he could even escape would be a question.

Yet the person before him killed them as easily as slaughtering chickens.

What made his heart turn even colder was that he saw the way the other party looked at him—it seemed a bit off.

That gaze was as calm as water, carrying an undisguised scrutiny.

It was like looking at a piece of cargo, evaluating its worth.

It made Zhuge Yunshu's skin crawl, feeling as if he were prey being targeted by a hunter.

He instinctively felt uneasy and wanted to get away from this person.

But he didn't dare!

This person could easily crush dozens of people from the Luo Family; crushing him would be no harder than crushing an ant.

Zhuge Yunshu could only suppress the fear in his heart, keeping his head low as he waited for the other to speak.

Lu Ming stood above the canyon, looking down at Zhuge Yunshu.

At this moment, the expression in his eyes was inscrutable. His gaze lingered on that young face for a moment before moving to the top of his head.

There, a mass of mist invisible to the naked eye was churning.

That was Luck, it was destiny, the sympathetic connection between a Cultivator and the world.

And clearly, Zhuge Yunshu's Luck was very prosperous.

It was as vigorous as smoke, steaming upward, with a faint momentum of rising straight into the blue clouds.

Though not as dazzlingly brilliant as the Prodigies of those Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, he could still be considered blessed by Luck with an extraordinary destiny.

With such potential, if properly nurtured, he might not fail to become the next Zhuge Xuanji in time.

Lu Ming was calculating in his heart whether he should just directly control this person and then infuse him with the entirety of Zhuge Mingyi's memory Legacy, forcing him to condense the Law of Karma.

With the resources in his hands and Zhuge Mingyi's lifelong insights, this boy would be able to undergo a complete transformation before long.

However, as soon as he had this thought, the Luck above Zhuge Yunshu's head suddenly changed.

That vigorous mass of mist churned violently, as if stirred by an invisible hand, beginning to become chaotic, disordered, and fragmented.

The Luck that was originally steaming upward began to plummet like a cliff, as if its Foundation had been pulled away, becoming teetering and unstable.

It was as if if he took one more step to interfere, this person's destiny would completely collapse, turning him into a discarded pawn.

Lu Ming's heart chilled slightly.

Luck cannot be forced.

The Heavenly Dao will not tolerate anyone interfering with the flow of destiny using crude methods.

Once one tries to forcibly control another's Luck or rush the Law of Karma, they will only end up with a pawn abandoned by Luck.

No matter how good his talent or how thick his Foundation, without Luck on his side, he would struggle to take even a single step in this Cultivation World.

Forced melons are not sweet; forced fruit is not ripe.

Lu Ming suppressed the thoughts in his heart. his expression softened slightly, and his gaze became gentle.

"Nephew, are you alright?"

His voice was warm and carried a hint of concern, like a kindly Elder greeting a Junior.

Zhuge Yunshu was stunned. He looked up at Lu Ming's suddenly gentle face, unable to react for a moment.

"Sen... Senior..."

"Sigh, why call me Senior!"

Lu Ming feigned displeasure and waved his hand, his tone carrying a bit of reproach.

"Call me Uncle Lu."

"Ah?"

Zhuge Yunshu was even more dazed.

Only then did he notice that the way the other party addressed him was also a bit strange.

"Nephew"?

Could it be that this person really had a past connection with some Elder in the Family?

But how could he not remember any ancestor mentioning such an "Uncle Lu"?

Doubt filled his heart, yet he didn't dare to ask too much.

This person's strength was unfathomable, and he had just saved his life. If he were to ask questions rashly, wouldn't it seem somewhat ungrateful?

Moreover, he was currently the fish on the chopping block; how would he dare to speak out of turn!

But he really wanted to know the other's identity, so he bolstered his courage and asked in a timid voice:

"Sen... Uncle Lu, may I ask who you are..."

"Me?"

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow and stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze looking into the distance as if falling into some distant memory.

"I can be considered an old acquaintance of your Family Elders, especially your Second Elder, Zhuge Mingyi. Back then, we were close friends, brothers in Life and Death."

He paused and sighed, his tone carrying a hint of sorrow.

"Brother Mingyi and I knew each other for hundreds of years. We braved Secret Realms together, faced enemies together, drank wine together, and cursed the heavens together. It's just a pity... that Heaven did not grant him more years."

Zhuge Yunshu's heart tightened.

"Uncle Lu, the Second Elder, he..."

"He has fallen."

Lu Ming's voice was low, and a flash of pain crossed his eyes.

Well, at least it looked that way.

"Is it truly so..."

A flash of gloom appeared in Zhuge Yunshu's eyes.

He knew that something might have happened to the Second Elder, but the matter hadn't been settled yet, and the Family still held a glimmer of hope and fantasy.

After all, although Zhuge Mingyi's Soul Lamp had dimmed, it had not completely extinguished. Clearly, his Karma still existed in the world and had not fully dissipated.

So the Family had blocked news from the outside, but internally they had always claimed that Elder Zhuge Mingyi was merely missing.

But now, hearing this "Uncle Lu" confirm it personally, an irrepressible sense of desolation still surged in his heart.

Lu Ming saw that the atmosphere was sufficiently prepared, so he continued.

"When I received the news, Brother Mingyi was already at the end of his rope, unable to even send news back to the Family."

"However, on his deathbed, he entrusted me to hand this object over if I ever encountered a Junior of the Zhuge Family."

"What object?"

Zhuge Yunshu suppressed his emotions and asked with a hint of doubt.

Lu Ming didn't speak. He simply flipped his palm, and a crystal-clear Soul Crystal appeared in his hand.

The Soul Crystal was about the size of a thumb, its entire body a deep, mysterious blue. Inside, countless fine runes seemed to flow, emitting a profound aura.

"This is..."

Zhuge Yunshu's pupils contracted slightly.

He recognized this thing.

In the Cultivation World, before many Family or Sect Elders fall, most will use their own Soul Power to condense their lifelong cultivation insights, the results of their technique comprehension, and their entire understanding of the Dao into such a Soul Crystal.

It could serve as a Legacy item for a Family or Sect. Even for the wealthy and powerful Zhuge Family, this could be called a priceless treasure.

"Before Brother Mingyi fell, he used his last bit of Soul Power to condense this Soul Crystal."

Lu Ming handed the Soul Crystal to Zhuge Yunshu, his tone solemn.

"He said that everything he gained in his life came from the Family's nurturing, and now he is returning his Dao to the heavens, but he didn't want to fail the kindness of the Family's upbringing.

Therefore, he left this behind.

When a fated or exceptionally talented member of the Zhuge Family's younger generation is encountered, this can be given to them to directly absorb his lifelong insights, serving as an aid for them to ascend the Immortal Path.

Only then can he rest in peace in the afterlife."

Listening to Lu Ming's words, Zhuge Yunshu took the Soul Crystal, his fingers trembling slightly.

Second Elder Zhuge Mingyi was one of the pillars of the Zhuge Family, one of the few experts in the Family who had made significant achievements in the Dao of Karma.

His fall meant that the Zhuge Family's top-tier combat power had lost one more person.

And among the Family's younger generation, no one was yet able to take up his mantle.

Perhaps it was exactly because he considered the Family's situation of having no successor.

Therefore, the Second Elder made such a move.

Zhuge Yunshu gripped the Soul Crystal, secretly guessing the other's intentions.

At the same time, his last bit of defensiveness toward Lu Ming vanished into thin air.

This person not only saved his life but also handed over the Second Elder's relic to him.

If he had designs on the Zhuge Family, he could have just kept this Soul Crystal for himself; why go to such great lengths?

It seemed he truly was the Second Elder's close friend.

Zhuge Yunshu looked up, his gaze toward Lu Ming filled with a bit more gratitude and closeness.

"Uncle Lu, thank you. The Second Elder's spirit in heaven will also be grateful to you."

"What's with all this 'thank you' talk? Just work like a beast of burden in peace."

"What?"

Zhuge Yunshu suspected he had misheard.

*Cough, cough...*

Lu Ming gave a dry cough to hide his embarrassment.

His mouth really had no filter; how could he speak the truth out loud.

So he waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

"Brother Mingyi and I were friends; this little matter is nothing."

Seeing Lu Ming's righteous appearance, Zhuge Yunshu was moved once again.

Uncle Lu really is a good person!

"By the way, Nephew."

Lu Ming suddenly changed the subject and looked at Zhuge Yunshu.

"Why was the Tianshui Luo Family hunting you down? What grievance do you have with them?"

Zhuge Yunshu sighed and briefly explained the sequence of events.

From how he performed a divination for that Loose Cultivator, ruining the Luo Family's plans, to the death of the Luo Family Head's son during the investigation, the Luo Family blaming it on him, and finally today, where the Luo Family came out in full force to set an ambush.

He told everything, hiding nothing.

After listening, Lu Ming frowned, a bit of anger appearing on his face.

"This Luo Family is so unreasonable!"

He snorted coldly, his tone full of righteous indignation.

"Performing a divination for someone is your duty. The Luo Family's own incompetence led to their Young Lord's death; what does that have to do with you?

To actually blame it on you is simply going too far!"

Zhuge Yunshu felt a warmth in his heart.

Although he had just met this "Uncle Lu," the man was considering his well-being at every turn, making him feel a long-lost sense of care.

"But Nephew."

Lu Ming's tone changed, becoming earnest and well-meaning.

"This time you were lucky and just happened to run into me.

But what about next time? Or the time after that?

You can't expect someone to come and save you every time.

The Cultivation World is a place where the strong prey on the weak; strength is the only hard truth.

If you aren't strong enough, even if you have the best destiny, you can only be slaughtered at will."

Zhuge Yunshu lowered his head, remaining silent.

He naturally knew this principle, but knowing it was one thing, while achieving it was another.

Heavenly Secret Masters were inherently not good at fighting; he had made it this far by relying on deduction and divination, not by fighting and killing.

"When Brother Mingyi gave me this Soul Crystal, he said it was fated for a Junior of your Zhuge Family."

Lu Ming looked at Zhuge Yunshu, guiding him patiently.

"I see that you, Nephew, have outstanding talent and prosperous Luck; you are exactly the kind of person Brother Mingyi spoke of.

If you refine it and absorb Brother Mingyi's lifelong insights, your cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds.

When that time comes, let alone the mere Tianshui Luo Family, even if a few more came, you wouldn't fear them."

Zhuge Yunshu gripped the Soul Crystal, feeling somewhat moved, but he quickly became hesitant again.

"Uncle Lu, I... I'm not the most prominent in the Family.

I want to take this Soul Crystal back to the Family and leave it to the Clan Elders to decide. Perhaps there is someone in the Family more suitable to absorb it than me..."

Idiot! Moron!

Lu Ming cursed inwardly, but his face remained impassive.

"Nephew, you are wrong there."

He shook his head, his tone carrying a bit of regret.

"Why do you think Brother Mingyi entrusted this Soul Crystal to me instead of giving it directly to the Family?

He was afraid those old fogies in the Family would stick to conventions and lock this Soul Crystal away, wasting its value for nothing."

He paused and looked into Zhuge Yunshu's eyes, his tone becoming serious.

"I see that your Luck is prosperous and your destiny is extraordinary; you are certainly not a creature of a small pond.

In my eyes, you are bound to have great achievements in the future, and even restoring the glory of the Zhuge Family might not be impossible.

If Brother Mingyi's spirit is in heaven, he would also hope for this Soul Crystal to be inherited by you."

Zhuge Yunshu was instantly stunned by those words.

In the Family, he seemed to have never been praised like this.

After all, although he was a standout among the younger generation, there were several even more outstanding clan brothers above him, who were usually more favored by the Old Ancestor and Elders.

Now, he suddenly heard someone praise him so much, saying he was blessed by Luck and would surely have great achievements in the future.

A warm current suddenly surged in Zhuge Yunshu's heart.

"Uncle Lu, do you... do you really think so?"

"Of course."

Lu Ming patted his shoulder, his gaze full of encouragement.

"We are all Family; why would I lie to you.

Refine this Soul Crystal and absorb Brother Mingyi's lifelong insights.

With your talent, Nephew, it won't take long for you to undergo a complete transformation.

At that time, you will be the pillar of the Zhuge Family, the hope for the Family's revival."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that Zhuge Yunshu felt a bit lightheaded.

From beginning to end, he never thought this was a trap.

Because all traps are driven by profit; no one would go to such great lengths to do such a thankless task, right!

Besides, meeting Uncle Lu today was a coincidence. The other party certainly wouldn't have prepared in advance.

So, after taking a deep breath, Zhuge Yunshu gripped the Soul Crystal in his hand.

"Okay."

He looked up, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Uncle Lu, please act as my Protector."

"Don't worry, with me here, no one will disturb you."

Lu Ming smiled slightly, smiling like a fox.

Zhuge Yunshu didn't notice any of this; he just sat cross-legged, placed the Soul Crystal at his brow, and closed his eyes.

The Soul Crystal slowly merged into his Sea of Consciousness, and a faint blue light enveloped his entire being.

Lu Ming stood by with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on the top of the boy's head.

That mass of Luck began to churn.

Under Zhuge Yunshu's active absorption and Fusion, this mass of Luck showed no signs of decline; instead, it began to grow vigorously.

The Legacy within the Soul Crystal resonated with his destiny, and his Luck was like oil added to a fire, steaming upward and growing stronger and stronger.

It was as vigorous as smoke and as vast as clouds, with a faint momentum of soaring to the sky.

Seeing this scene, the corners of Lu Ming's mouth curled up slightly.

The first step is complete!