Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

"Brother Lu, Pharmacist, I thought you weren't coming."

Zhang Dashan came out to greet them. Beside him stood a beautiful young woman who nodded shyly at the two of them as a greeting.

The girl's name was Zhou Meng'er, and she was an ordinary woman from the Zhou family.

Therefore, they were somewhat timid when they saw cultivators like Lu Yuan and the Pharmacist.

"You were the first of the four of us to get married, so how could we not show proper respect?"

Lu Yuan smiled.

"It's a pity that Ji Ming went out to the Jiuling Mountains and hasn't returned yet, otherwise the four of us could have had another good drink tonight."

The pharmacist expressed slight regret.

Then, he took out three porcelain bottles from his bosom. "Dashan, you're married now. These are Qi Condensation Pills that I recently refined. Consider them a gift."

Qi Condensation Pill... I refined it myself...

The Zhou family cultivator who brought the two men was about to leave when he heard this and paused, stopping in his tracks.

He hadn't expected it.

This big, clumsy guy also had an alchemist friend, so he immediately dropped his previous contempt.

Being able to refine Qi Condensation Pills means that one might be considered a first-level alchemist.

He cannot be underestimated.

Lu Yuan also took out a Qi Gathering Array Plate from his storage bag: "I carved this Qi Gathering Array Plate three days ago. If Manager Luo of Baibao Pavilion hadn't been urging me so much lately, I would have given you a larger one."

Zhang Dashan scratched his head and chuckled, "I'm already extremely happy that you could come. Let's not talk about this now, let's go in and take a seat."

They were invited inside, where a feast had already been prepared.

The Zhou family cultivator did not follow. He had already stood there stunned when Lu Yuan took out the array plate, and gasped in shock.

"Array Master!"

He still remembered the arrogant demeanor of that first-tier array master when he came here decades ago to set up an array for the Zhou family.

If what these two people say is true, then among the Zhou family's son-in-law's friends, one is an alchemist and the other is a formation master. This matter is sufficient to report to the family head.

A moment later, he realized what was happening and hurried away.

As Lu Yuan entered the house, he caught a glimpse of the Zhou family cultivator leaving out of the corner of his eye, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

I exchanged a smile with the pharmacist.

Lu Yuan and the pharmacist had already planned their visit to the Zhou family. Their main purpose was to offer their congratulations, and secondly, to support Zhang Dashan.

The point was to tell the Zhou family that Zhang Dashan has connections in his "maternal family," and they shouldn't underestimate him.

Even a son-in-law should be treated with respect.

That's why he publicly identified himself and took out his congratulatory gift.

These two gifts are not of great importance, but the fact that he is an alchemist and a formation master is enough to make the Zhou family value Zhang Dashan in the future.

really.

Not long after, the Zhou family cultivator and a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor, dressed in a blue robe, entered the courtyard.

"The head of the family has arrived."

The woman's father was the first to recognize the middle-aged man.

He was just an ordinary member of the Zhou family, and usually only saw them from afar. He never expected that the head of the family would visit on his daughter's wedding day, and he was immediately excited.

"Master of the family."

He hurriedly stood up and stepped forward to bow.

"Um."

The Zhou family head probably didn't recognize him at all. He nodded and then turned his gaze to Lu Yuan and the pharmacist.

"I am Zhou Qingyun, the head of the Zhou family. Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. May I ask your names?"

According to rumors circulating in the market, the Zhou family has three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators stationed there, who rarely show their faces. All of the Zhou family's affairs are managed by Zhou Qingyun, who is at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

This must be the person standing before me.

Lu Yuan stood up and cupped his hands: "Patriarch Zhou, please don't be so polite. I am Lu Yuan, a guest array master of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Jiuling Market. This is my elder and Da Shan's elder. We live in the market together and he is now an alchemist."

When you're out in the world, you give yourself your own identity.

Although they have not actually reached the first rank yet, their identities are genuine, and it is difficult for others to find fault with their self-proclaimed status.

Zhou Qingyun cupped his hands in return.

Then his gaze was fixed firmly on Lu Yuan.

Alchemists are not uncommon in the market, practically a dime a dozen, but array masters are highly sought after.

Having heard that Lu Yuan was able to become a guest elder in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, even if he hadn't reached the rank of senior, he must have some skills, so naturally they dared not underestimate him.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is so young, yet he is already a guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I also have some acquaintance with Manager Luo. To be favored by him, Fellow Daoist Lu's skill in formations must be quite profound."

Zhou Qingyun squinted and smiled, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Lu is interested in joining the Zhou family?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint Patriarch Zhou, but I have no intention of leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

"Alright. Qingyun won't force you."

Zhou Qingyun came here simply to make himself known.

At the same time, showing respect for Lu Yuan and Yao Lao's identities, and having achieved his current goal, he exchanged a few more pleasantries and then left the table first.

Before leaving, he gave Zhang Dashan a few more words of encouragement, saying that as long as he had two offspring with spiritual roots, any children born after that could be named Zhang.

And after he left.

The banquet at the villa was upgraded in scale. Several beautiful maids appeared out of nowhere, dressed in light gauze, flitting about like butterflies, serving up delicacies and wine from time to time.

Only a lingering fragrance remained beside Lu Yuan.

Clearly, this was also at Zhou Qingyun's behest.

"This Zhou family head is quite worldly-wise and has none of the arrogance typical of scions of noble families."

Seeing this, the pharmacist nodded in satisfaction and then joked, "Anyone you like?"

Lu Yuan smiled wryly and shook his head.

The two achieved their primary goal in coming to the Zhou family.

Zhang Dashan's future life in the Zhou family can be somewhat reassured.

After the banquet, Lu Yuan and the pharmacist did not linger. After chatting for a long time, they left together as the sun began to set.

Before leaving.

Lu Yuan then took out a Qi-gathering array plate and handed it to Zhang Dashan separately.

He didn't know who would end up with the previous congratulatory gift, so he made two preparations.

On this point, the pharmacist shared his view.

He then took out two more bottles of Qi Condensation Pills and handed them to Zhang Dashan separately.

Zhang Dashan was by no means the big, simple-minded guy the Zhou family cultivators described. He naturally knew that everything Lu Yuan and the pharmacist had done after arriving was for Zhang Dashan's future stability within the Zhou family.

Therefore, I couldn't help but burst into tears.

Just as they were saying goodbye to Zhang Dashan and about to leave the Zhou family's protective formation, they suddenly saw three streaks of light fly up and disappear into the night ahead.

At the same time, dozens of Zhou family cultivators rushed out from behind and sped forward.

As they passed by Lu Yuan and his group, a tall cultivator stopped, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoists, several junior members of the Zhou family have encountered enemies ahead. We are going to provide support. To avoid harming our esteemed guests, please do not leave for the time being."

He finished speaking.

Several people, covered in dust from their journey, charged forward.

"Could it be the Wang family?"

Zhang Dashan was startled, then turned to Lu Yuan and the pharmacist and said, "I am now a member of the Zhou family, and I also have the responsibility to protect my family."

With that, he turned and went back into the house, carrying a steel rod, and like an arrow released from a bow, he caught up with the group of Zhou family cultivators.