Chapter 10. The Immortal's Descendant, the Meridian Heavenmend Furnace

Lu Yuan sat in silence, deep in thought. Eventually, he shook his head firmly.

No.

Absolutely no way.

In his past life, he had struggled at the bottom rung of the social hierarchy for ten long years, and suffered a decade of humiliation and insignificance.

Now, this was his chance. No matter what, he would not give up! If he didn't grab this opportunity now, regret would be the least of his worries. After the global awakening, acquiring a divine treasure like this would be way more difficult.

With that in mind, Lu Yuan looked up and said, "I'm really interested in this item. Manager Lin, help me arrange a meeting with the seller. If we manage to strike a deal, I'll make sure you're handsomely rewarded."

He didn't know who the seller was and could only request the Treasure Pavilion to make that connection for him.

"Mr. Lu, no need for such courtesy," Manager Lin replied with a smile. "You're a valued guest of ours and it's our duty to serve you. Since you've asked, I'll definitely give it my best shot.

"However, I need to kindly ask you to be mentally prepared. This seller was never really sincere about his listing. Asking for twenty million was already a bit overpriced. There were others who expressed interest before, but in the end, he couldn't bear to let the item go."

"He couldn't bear to?" Lu Yuan chuckled. "Well, that's only because he hadn't met a buyer like me."

The Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda was far too important. Even till date, Lu Yuan could not erase the scene of that overwhelming power from his mind.

If he could get his hands on it, twenty million was nothing in comparison.

"Understood, Mr. Lu. Please wait for my good news." Manager Lin nodded. He had clearly sensed Lu Yuan's determination to acquire the item.

The two then chatted idly for a while longer before Lu Yuan decided that it was about time to leave. He picked up the Ghost Seal, and left the sixth floor.

He stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion just as the sun was beginning to set. Getting into his car, he drove off. As per before, he wasn't heading back to his villa in the Northern outskirts. Instead, his destination was an older district in the outer ring of the city.

On the way, he even made a quick stop to pick up some fruit. Nothing expensive, just the ordinary kind.

Near seven in the evening, he pulled up in front of a modest, one-story house.

The house came with a small courtyard and from outside, one could see wisps of smoke curling lazily into the air. If they were to sniff carefully, they could even detect a distinct scent of traditional herbal medicine mingled within the smoke.

"Gramps Ge, I've come uninvited again," Lu Yuan said as he pushed open the door. He lifted the bag in his hand and continued, "I also brought you some fruit."

In the center of the courtyard, a thin old man who looked to be in his late sixties or early seventies was standing before a simmering medicine pot and fanning it with a bamboo fan.

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's voice, he merely lifted his eyes to look at the former before turning his focus back on the bubbling medicine. He let out a noncommittal grunt devoid of any warmth or welcome.

But Lu Yuan didn't take it to heart. He was accustomed to it by now.

He placed the fruit on the wooden table before he walked over, took the fan from the old man's hand and continued tending the concoction.

Gramps Ge's brows furrowed together but he didn't say anything in the end. He merely moved to a nearby rocking chair and lay down. He clearly didn't want to make any small talk.

Yet, Lu Yuan felt a small leap of joy. Ever since he regressed, he had made it a point to visit Gramps Ge every day.

On the first day, the old man had unceremoniously thrown him out.

But over time, the old man began to soften. At first, he merely allowed Lu Yuan through the door. Now, he not only accepted Lu Yuan's gifts but also let him lend a hand with the chores.

To Lu Yuan, this was a good sign. At least his persistence was paying off. Truth be told, he was not related to Gramps Ge at all. They hadn't even known each other in his previous life.

But there was a reason for his repeated visits and efforts to build a relationship. He just hadn't revealed that purpose yet.

For now, he was merely playing the part of a kind-hearted junior, helping an old man brew medicine and take care of daily matters.

One old, one young. One sat in the chair, the other lying in a rocking chair.

Eventually, the old man became restless. He straightened up and said, "Alright, Xiao Lu, the medicine's nearly done. You should be heading home."

"It's okay. I've got plenty of time," Lu Yuan replied with a smile, not moving from his spot.

Gramps Ge let out a helpless sigh and said, "Xiao Lu, I know your family's well off and you have also been to college. Don't tell me you actually believe those ridiculous rumors going around that my family descended from Ge Hong?"

Ge Hong, also known as Baopuzi, was a legendary alchemist in Huaxia's history. He was well known for his reputation and some even believed that he was an immortal sage.

However, he had an even more renowned relative? Ge Xuan, one of the Four Heavenly Masters.

"Rumors might not be believable at times, but what if there's a grain of truth in them?" Lu Yuan replied with a chuckle. "Besides, I've been helping you out these days not because of that."

"Really?" the old man asked; he was clearly skeptical.

"Of course!" Lu Yuan replied with a firm and sincere nod. At the same time, his gaze flickered briefly to a corner of the courtyard, where an old furnace rested.

The furnace wasn't that big, only the size of a basketball. It stood on three legs and was lidless. Though clearly an antique, it had been poorly preserved and left exposed for years. The intricate patterns once carved into its surface had long faded, making it impossible to determine its exact age.

To most people, the furnace looked worthless, no more than a hundred yuan at best.

But Lu Yuan knew better. The unassuming furnace was far from ordinary. It was yet another divine treasure. Despite looking extremely plain, it was one of the rare few items that possessed mysterious properties even before the global awakening.

Its true identity was the Meridian Heavenmend Furnace, used by none other than the Immortal Ge himself to forge pills.

And how did Lu Yuan know this? Because he had acquired this very furnace in his previous life.

It was thanks to this artifact that he managed to survive ten years in the harsh world after the global awakening. It had been a twist of fate that he managed to obtain the furnace, and he had endured much hardship to claim it. Yet ironically, it was also this very furnace that caused Lu Yuan to be pursued and killed.

He never got the chance to unlock the true power of the Meridian Heavenmend Furnace and it remained one of his greatest regrets.

But now, he had the chance to make things right.

But aside from the furnace, Lu Yuan had another reason for being here. Of course, he couldn't say it out loud bluntly as it would make things too obvious and would probably annoy the old man.

Lu Yuan had done his homework on Gramps Ge. The old man didn't have much money but was known to be stubborn with a notoriously bad temper. That was why he hadn't tried to throw money at the old man to get what he wanted.

He believed that people like that had to be approached with sincerity.

"Fine, I'll believe you, for now." Gramps Ge said, shaking his head. Despite his words, his doubt was apparent as he simply leaned back into the chair.

Lu Yuan didn't mind; he patiently continued tending the fire.

Just like that, time ticked by. Darkness soon set in and the medicine was finally ready.

"All done, Gramps. Don't forget to eat the fruit, they're good for your health. I'm heading back now," Lu Yuan said as he stood out and walked out of the courtyard without looking back.

"This kid..." The old man was stunned. He wanted to flare up but eventually muttered under his breath, "He didn't even stay for a cup of tea..."

After leaving the rundown neighborhood, Lu Yuan was finally on his way back to his villa. However, the drive was long as he had to cut through the heart of the city.

Sitting behind the wheel, his mind wandered as he smoothened out his plans while watching the neon-lit skyline beyond the windshield.

The streets bustled with life, wrapped in a blanket of calm. It felt like this sense of normalcy would last forever.

But Lu Yuan knew better. Everything would change in less than two months.

Skyscrapers would fall. Cities would crumble. Both sky and earth would be reshaped beyond recognition. A new era would arrive. It was a rare opportunity for some, but for most, it would be an unprecedented calamity.

Very soon, it was close to ten at night. Lu Yuan finally reached home. Just as he alighted from his car and stepped into the yard, he froze.