The cabin the steward assigned to Yang Jing was a mere two zhang square and quite cramped.

Space on a transport Flying Boat was precious. More room for cargo meant more Spirit Stones earned. As a result, with the exception of the quarters reserved for truly honored guests, all other cabins were quite small.

Compared to the Qi Refining Realm Cultivators who had to squeeze in with the bulk cargo, this was considered excellent treatment.

Yang Jing took a Meditation Cushion from his Storage Bag, sat down, and began to extract and refine the Spiritual Qi from the Spiritual Eye Object within his Inner World.

A single Tier Four Spiritual Eye Object was more than enough to supply the cultivation needs of just Yang Jing, Chi Yu, and Yellow Foot.

The Spirit Stones Yang Jing had offered earlier proved quite effective. As soon as the steward finished his duties, he came to request an audience.

By this time, Yellow Foot had already taken out a Red Mud Fire Stove, lit a fire with Spirit Silk Charcoal, and was brewing a pot of tea.

He poured the tea with fluid, graceful movements, filling the cups of everyone present.

The steward accepted the Spirit Tea. He noticed that while the young boy was using the most common Tier One Spirit Tea—Cui Feng Tea—the resulting brew was incredibly aromatic. Its scent was refreshing to the mind, and a single sip left a pleasant aftertaste and made his whole body feel lighter.

"Your grandson’s skill with tea is quite remarkable, Daoist Master."

Yang Jing took a sip of the Cui Feng Tea. ’In terms of flavor alone, this tea is actually on par with many High Tier Spirit Teas,’ he thought. ’It simply lacks their various special properties.’

"And what is your surname, Steward?"

"My surname is Wang."

Steward Wang savored another sip from his cup. Cui Feng Tea had a wonderful flavor, but it came with a major drawback: it required exceptional skill to brew properly. Otherwise, the delicate wisp of Spiritual Qi in the leaves would dissipate, leaving nothing but a bitter taste.

"How long has it been since you left your homeland, Daoist Master?"

"I entered the Five Elements True Spirit Sect when I was twenty. It has been over two hundred years now."

Using the Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting technique, Yang Jing had completely altered his body into that of an old man nearing the end of his life. His vitality was failing, and his sparse white hair was barely managed into a Daoist Bun. His entire being, from his internal organs to his very limbs, exuded the heavy air of impending death.

Even a Nascent Soul Cultivator standing right in front of him would be unable to see that he was actually a Golden Core Cultivator in disguise.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Steward Wang’s eyes. The lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was around two hundred and forty years. Furthermore, in the last two or three years of their life, their Essence Qi would decay to the point that they were completely unable to fight.

’This old Daoist only has about twenty years of life left. His value is greatly diminished.’

"I have been away from my homeland for a long time and am no longer familiar with the state of affairs in the Lu Kingdom," Yang Jing said. "Furthermore, this grandson and granddaughter of mine have limited talent and would struggle to find their footing in the sect, which is why I considered returning. I must ask you to enlighten me, Steward Wang."

Despite his inner disappointment, Steward Wang didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect toward Yang Jing.

"Speaking of the Lu Kingdom, one cannot fail to mention its foremost Golden Core Cultivator, Master Wu Jingyuan. The Master’s talent is astonishing. He reached the Perfect Golden Core Realm in just two hundred and seventy years and is now preparing to attempt his Nascent Soul breakthrough.

"With him in their ranks, the Qingyan Wu Family has become the de facto premier Golden Core power in the Lu Kingdom. Even the patriarch of my own Royal Family’s Lu Family was defeated by him. The Lu Kingdom hasn’t produced a single Nascent Soul Cultivator in sixteen hundred years. Everyone agrees that he has the best chance in the last millennium of making the breakthrough."

Even as a steward for the Royal Family’s Lu Family, he couldn’t help but speak of Wu Jingyuan with admiration.

The Lu patriarch’s defeat at Wu Jingyuan’s hands was already common knowledge in the Lu Kingdom, so Steward Wang made no attempt to hide it.

"In that case," Yang Jing said suddenly, "is there not a fear of history repeating itself—of the Lu Family being replaced, just as they once replaced the Zhang Family?"

An unnatural expression flickered across Steward Wang’s face. Seven thousand years ago, the Lu Kingdom had been the Zhang Kingdom. But the ruling Zhang Family of that era grew decadent, each generation weaker than the last. Meanwhile, a powerful local clan, the Lu Family, produced a genius who successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Through the Lu patriarch’s various machinations, the Bishui Zhang Family had no choice but to relinquish their status as the Royal Family.

At the time, the Lu patriarch was wary of the Zhang Family’s web of connections within the Profound Pure Sect, so he did not exterminate them. Instead, he selected a Tier Three Spirit Vein and allocated it to the Zhang Family.

But that Lu patriarch could never have imagined that his own Lu Family would one day find itself in the same predicament as the Zhang Family of old.

"You jest, Daoist Master. My Lu Family boasts seven Golden Core Cultivators. How could we possibly fall into the same circumstances as the Zhang Family?"

Steward Wang said, clearly displeased.

Yang Jing quickly apologized, then changed the subject, asking about the current state of various other Immortally Cultivation Clans in the Lu Kingdom.

Steward Wang simply assumed Yang Jing was looking to join a clan as an Honored Guest Elder, so he explained in great detail everything he knew about the circumstances of the various families.

"Speaking of which, what has become of the Bishui Zhang Family?"

Yang Jing had been chatting for a long time before he finally guided the conversation toward the Bishui Zhang Family.

"A phoenix that has lost its perch is no better than a chicken. Take my advice, Daoist Master, and don’t get involved with the Bishui Zhang Family. The Zhang Family may have a long and storied history, but at this point, their house is on the verge of collapse."

In light of the Spirit Stones he had received, Steward Wang gave him a piece of blunt honesty.

Yang Jing feigned a look of great shock.

"The Zhang Family’s lineage stretches back tens of thousands of years! Their history is even longer than that of my Five Elements True Spirit Sect. How could they possibly have fallen into such dire straits?"

Steward Wang chuckled.

"It is precisely because of that long heritage that they are facing this catastrophe. Wu Jingyuan’s Qingyan Wu Family was originally just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Clan. It was only by a stroke of luck that they produced a cultivator like him, who reached the Perfect Golden Core Realm. The family has absolutely no inherited insights or legacies from predecessors on how to achieve the Nascent Soul breakthrough."