I, the lazy prince, am the darling of the ladies of destiny.

Lu Cangqiong bowed deeply to the old man seated on the throne, his tone filled with unprecedented respect:

"Senior, why did you summon Yang'er and me here?"

Even Lü Yang, who was usually calm and indifferent and held the reins of the family, showed a clear sense of awe in his eyes at this moment.

Before he became the head of the family, he had never paid much attention to this seemingly ordinary old servant who spent his days with dragons and beasts.

It wasn't until after the inauguration ceremony that his grandfather, Lü Cangqiong, took him deep into the ancestral hall to formally meet this "Senior Yu" for the first time.

According to my grandfather, this elder existed from the very beginning of the Lü family's existence.

In fact, the reason why the Lü family was able to rise from humble beginnings was due to a chance encounter with a kind act by the first patriarch of the Lü family, which earned him a tiny bit of "appreciation" from this senior.

Just how strong is this senior?

Lu Cangqiong once said something to Lu Yang that he still remembers vividly:

"If I were to fight Senior Yu... the odds would be 30/70."

"Within three breaths, I will split open seven hundred million times."

At this moment, Old Yu slowly took a sip of wine, his cloudy eyes looking at the two respectful figures below.

It landed again in the southern night sky, which was stirred by sword energy and spear intent, and in the western guild headquarters, which was confined by space.

He smacked his lips, his voice aged and calm, yet carrying a sense of worldly wisdom and detachment:

"It's quite lively outside."

Old Yu took another swig of wine, his cloudy eyes glancing at Lü Yang below with a half-smile.

"Xiaoyang, did you arrange this?"

"I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself in front of you, senior."

Lu Yang bowed, his voice steady, showing no embarrassment at being seen through.

He wasn't surprised that this mysterious senior could see through everything.

"Ugh."

Old Yu put down his wine gourd, sighed, and there was a hint of genuine regret in his sigh.

"You're a good child in every way, except for this personality... you're too stubborn. If you can't let go of what happened back then, and your heart remains unresolved, how can you ever achieve true freedom and ease?"

"What you are cultivating concerns the carefree order of the mind and nature."

"The most important aspect of this path is the clarity of mind, free from all attachments and hindrances. If one can comprehend this, one will achieve sudden enlightenment and reach the pinnacle of the Dao Ancestor realm, where one's future will be limitless."

Old Yu shook his head, "What a pity, such a promising future wasted here."

He paused, his tone slightly sarcastic: "Even that kid from the Lin family who was defeated by you back then has now quietly touched the threshold of the Dao Ancestor."

"Three Dao Ancestors in one family? It sounds impressive, but they haven't even touched the edge of the supreme order. They're just trash."

Lu Yang's expression changed almost imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to normal, only his fingers in his sleeve curled up slightly.

He remained silent for a moment before whispering, "I will remember your teachings, senior. However... some knots in my heart cannot be untied by words. If they were easy to untie, I wouldn't have been trapped in this state for so long."

"That's enough, that's enough." Old Yu waved his hand, looking dejected. "In the end, it's your own path, your own tribulation. This old man can't interfere anymore."

He picked up the wine gourd again, his tone returning to its detached calmness: "Back then, I made an agreement with the first generation of your family that I would stay in the Lü family and at most guide a few juniors who I find pleasing."

"As for whether the Lü family will rise or fall in the future... that's none of my business."

"However," he changed the subject, "that matter, your Lü family must accomplish for me. That's the agreement."

Lu Cangqiong quickly bowed and said, "Senior, rest assured, the Lu family has always remembered this and has never dared to forget it!"

Old Yu nodded, seemingly satisfied with the Lü family's attitude.

"I called you here today because I want to borrow your son," Old Yu suddenly said.

"Xuan'er?" Lu Cangqiong and Lu Yang looked up at the same time, speaking in unison, a hint of surprise and concern flashing in their eyes.

"Not bad." Old Yu nodded. "Originally, based on my own limited understanding of cause and effect, I was able to glimpse a corner of his future trajectory."

"But just yesterday, his fate took a sudden turn."

The old man paused, and in the depths of his cloudy eyes, it seemed as if countless threads of cause and effect flashed by before finally disappearing into the silent mist.

"His fate is no longer within the course of destiny, nor within the established rules, and even... faintly detached from the Way of Heaven."

He uttered four words with unusual solemnity:

"Different Fate, Changing Calamity."

"A different fate, a calamity?" Lü Yang's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but ask, "Senior, is this kind of fate a blessing or a curse for Xuan'er?"

At this moment, Lü Yang truly revealed a bit of the anxiety and worry that belonged to a father, no longer the shrewd and authoritative head of the Lü family.

"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; it's hard to say whether it will be good or bad."

Old Yu shook his head. "But at least, the 'death calamity' that was originally entangled in his fate has quietly dissipated."

"And the person I'm waiting for... perhaps, is him."

"A death throes?!" Lü Cangqiong and Lü Yang's expressions changed drastically. They had no idea that Lü Xuan had narrowly escaped death at yesterday's birthday banquet!

If this senior hadn't mentioned it, they wouldn't have even noticed!

They believed Old Yu's words without a doubt.

According to the oral tradition passed down through generations of the Lü family patriarchs, this senior guarding the Dragon Stable possessed a cultivation level that far surpassed the Dao Ancestor realm, reaching a level they could not comprehend.

Throughout history, the Lü family faced several life-or-death crises on the verge of extinction, and each time they were saved thanks to the guidance of this elder with just a few words.

Old Yu seemed unconcerned about how astonishing the news he had revealed was, and continued slowly, "However, I need to put him to a test."

"If he fails, he is not the one I am waiting for, and I will continue to wait. If he succeeds..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the meaning was already clear.

"Senior, please give your orders! As long as it benefits Xuan'er, the entire Lü family will cooperate fully!"

Lü Yang immediately expressed his opinion. He had no doubt that this senior would harm Lü Xuan.

If the elder had harbored ill intentions, the Lü family would have ceased to exist long ago.

Old Yu pondered for a moment and said, "In a few days, the 'Fire Kingdom' of Zhongzhou will send an envoy to request an 'elixir of immortality'."

Lu Cangqiong and Lu Yang exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

The elixir of immortality is a general term for divine medicines that can heal flesh and bone, revive the dead, and even have miraculous effects on those severely injured at the Dao Ancestor level.

Even for the well-established Lü family, it is an extremely valuable strategic resource; even Lü Cangqiong would feel the pinch if he gave away just one.

"Don't worry, we won't let you give it away for nothing." Old Yu seemed to see through their thoughts. "The Lü family can give it, but how they give it, and to whom, are all conditions."

"The one who came from the Fire Kingdom to ask for medicine this time should be their princess, Zhu Yue, who is known as the 'future imperial princess'."

A meaningful glint flashed in Old Yu's eyes. "The condition is that this princess of the Fire Kingdom go and talk to Lü Xuan."

"Furthermore," he emphasized, "you must clearly inform Lü Xuan that his task is to make this Zhu Yue 'submit' to him."

"Remember, it is submission to Lü Xuan himself, not the Lü family."

Submit to Lü Xuan personally, not to the Lü family!