Chapter 10: Descendant of the Immortal Elder, the Meridian Heaven-Mending Furnace

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. No. Absolutely not. In his previous life, he had struggled at the bottom for a full ten years, living in humility. Now that he had a chance, no matter what, he could not choose to give up! If he didn't seize the opportunity now—not to mention the regret that might haunt him—once the upheaval began, it would be even harder to obtain what he wanted.

With that in mind, Lu Yuan looked up and continued, “I am indeed interested in this item. Manager Lin, could I trouble you to arrange a meeting with the seller? If it works out, I will be sure to express my gratitude.”

He didn’t know who the seller was; he could only rely on Treasure Pavilion to act as an intermediary.

“Mr. Lu, you flatter me,” Manager Lin replied. “You are an esteemed guest here. It is our duty to serve you. Since you’ve made the request, I will certainly do my best. However, you should be prepared—the seller was never very sincere. The asking price of twenty million is already excessive. There were other interested buyers before, but in the end, the seller couldn’t bear to part with it.”

“Couldn’t bear to?” Lu Yuan chuckled. “That’s only because he hasn’t met a buyer like me.”

The Eleven-Tiered Blood Pagoda was simply too important. Even now, he could not forget the scene when he first saw it. As long as he could secure it, twenty million was a trivial amount.

“Very well, Mr. Lu, just wait for my news.” Seeing Lu Yuan’s determination, Manager Lin nodded, promising to handle it with utmost effort.

Afterward, the two chatted idly for a while. Seeing there was nothing more he needed, Lu Yuan picked up the Ghost Seal and took his leave from the sixth floor.

Stepping out of Treasure Pavilion, he saw the sun was about to set. He got into his car and headed to another place—not the northern villa district, but rather an old neighborhood on the city’s outskirts.

On the way, Lu Yuan stopped to buy some fruit—nothing expensive, just the ordinary kind.

As it neared seven o’clock, he arrived at a modest bungalow. Outside was a small courtyard, and from outside the gate, one could see wisps of blue smoke curling upwards. If one sniffed carefully, they’d catch the scent of Chinese medicinal herbs in the air.

“Old Master Ge, I’ve come uninvited once more,” Lu Yuan called out as he pushed open the door, lifting the bag in his hand with a smile. “I brought you some fruit.”

At this moment, in the middle of the courtyard sat a thin, wiry old man of about sixty or seventy. He held a fan in his hand, fanning the medicine pot before him. Seeing Lu Yuan, he barely lifted his eyelids before returning his attention to the simmering brew, merely grunting a response without enthusiasm.

Lu Yuan was unfazed by this. After placing the fruit on the table, he came over, took the fan, and continued tending the medicine.

Old Master Ge frowned, but ultimately said nothing. He moved to a nearby rocking chair and lay down, making no further conversation.

Lu Yuan, however, felt a hint of delight within. Ever since his rebirth, he had come here every day. On the first day, the old man had thrown him out. But as time passed, not only was he now allowed inside, but he could also bring gifts and help out—signs that his persistence was yielding results.

In truth, Lu Yuan and Old Master Ge were not related, nor had they known each other before. His visits and efforts to build rapport had a purpose, though he never showed it.

For now, he simply played the role of a well-intentioned junior, helping the elder with his chores.

In the quiet courtyard, one old and one young—one sitting, one reclining.

Eventually, the old man couldn’t remain still. Sitting up, he said, “Alright, Xiao Lu, the medicine is almost ready. You should head home.”

“It’s fine. I’m not in a hurry,” Lu Yuan replied with a smile, remaining where he was.

Old Master Ge was helpless. He continued, “Xiao Lu, I know your family is well off and you’re a university graduate. Surely you’re not one of those people who believe the wild rumors outside—that my family is descended from Ge Hong?”

Ge Hong, known as Baopuzi, was a famed alchemist in Chinese history, reputed as an immortal. He also had an even more famous relative—Ge Xuan, one of the Four Heavenly Masters.

“Legends may not always be believable, but what if they’re true?” Lu Yuan smiled. “Besides, I’m not helping you for that reason.”

“Really?” The old man was skeptical.

“Really!” Lu Yuan replied firmly, but his eyes drifted casually toward a small cauldron not far away in the courtyard.

The cauldron was not large, three-legged, lidless, about the size of a basketball. It was clearly an antique, but poorly preserved and carelessly placed, its patterns worn smooth and impossible to date.

In the eyes of ordinary people, it was worth maybe a few hundred yuan at most. But only Lu Yuan knew its true nature—it was nothing ordinary, but a divine artifact. Though it appeared unremarkable, it was one of the rare items in the world that possessed mysterious powers even before the great upheaval.

For its true name was the Meridian-Heaven Mending Furnace, the very cauldron Immortal Ge used for alchemy.

As for how Lu Yuan knew, it was because he’d once possessed it. Thanks to this item, he had survived for a decade after the global mutation, though obtaining it had been a matter of fate and hardship. Yet it was also because of this furnace that, in the end, he was killed. To his dying breath, he had never been able to unleash its true potential.

It was his greatest regret.

Now was his chance to amend that regret.

Still, the furnace was not his only goal. He had other reasons for befriending Old Master Ge, though those were best left unsaid—being too obvious would only breed suspicion.

He had inquired about Old Master Ge, learned that the old man was not wealthy, but was stubborn and eccentric. This was why Lu Yuan didn’t simply try to buy what he wanted; with such people, only sincerity could win sincerity.

“Alright, I’ll believe you for now,” Old Master Ge said, shaking his head. Though his words betrayed doubt, he didn’t press further and lay back down.

Lu Yuan didn’t mind, patiently tending the medicine until it was done.

So time passed, minute by minute.

Night fell completely, and the medicine was finally ready.

“Old Master, it’s done. Do remember to eat the fruit—it’s good for you. I’ll be going now.” Lu Yuan stood, leaving the courtyard without looking back.

“This young man…” Old Master Ge was startled, wanting to scold, but in the end only muttered, “Not even a cup of tea…”

Leaving the old neighborhood behind, Lu Yuan finally headed home to his villa, though it was a long drive through the city center.

Seated in his car, he reviewed his plans while gazing at the city awash in neon lights. It was lively and tranquil, as if it would always remain so.

But Lu Yuan knew better.

In just over a month, everything would change. Skyscrapers would fall, the city would be ravaged, heaven and earth transformed. The new era would bring opportunities, but for most, it would be an unprecedented disaster.

Before long, it was near ten o’clock when Lu Yuan finally arrived home. But as he parked and entered his courtyard, he suddenly stopped in surprise.