Due to Lu Changsheng's breakthrough to the Third Level of Qi Refinement, they were delayed in setting out on their journey.
Thus, worried about missing their three-year appointment, the two traveled day and night without stop.
It took them only nineteen days to rush from Qingzhu Mountain to Ruyi County City.
The journey was very smooth; aside from encountering several fierce birds and beasts, they faced no real danger.
When they arrived at Ruyi County City, the sky had already darkened.
"Is this Ruyi County City?"
Lu Changsheng looked at the city before him with some surprise.
This Ruyi Prefecture was several times more prosperous and grand than he had imagined.
The entire city was majestic and immense, resembling a giant beast sprawled out.
The lights within the city were as bright as daylight, and the closely arranged residences, buildings, and shops were bustiling with activity.
The streets were filled with bustling crowds, weaving through like shuttles, and from afar, one could see several towering structures that reached into the clouds.
"It seems that this world's mundane realm is more prosperous than I had imagined."
Lu Changsheng gazed at the bustling city before him, feeling a surge of emotion.
Before his memories had awakened, he was just the son of an ordinary farmer, and the furthest place he had been to was Qinghe County.
Not to mention Ruyi Prefecture, he had never even been to Nanyu Prefecture, which was above Qinghe County.
This also made him quite unfamiliar with these big mundane cities.
Now looking at Ruyi County gave him a feeling similar to a country person arriving in the grand Shanghai.
After entering the city, the two asked for directions and made their way to Ruyi Tower.
Ruyi Tower, as expected as Ruyi Prefecture's largest restaurant, was more than ten zhang high.
A jade Ruyi hung in front of the building, with the three characters "Ruyi Tower" engraved on it, very splendid.
Red lanterns adorned each corner, and the walls showcased murals of illuminated landscapes and beautiful women.
Li Feiyu stepped forward and stated they were looking for Hong Yi.
The doorman had already been instructed, and upon hearing this, immediately went in to notify.
Soon, a tall figure clad in a vestment robe and opulent attire emerged from Ruyi Tower.
"Brother Li, Brother Lu!"
Hong Yi greeted the two warmly upon seeing them.
But when he saw Lu Changsheng, he couldn't help but take a few extra glances, as if he could hardly recognize him.
Now, Lu Changsheng, both in appearance and temperament, had quite a noticeable change from three years ago.
"Brother Hong, you look as though you don't recognize me?"
Seeing the other's reaction, Lu Changsheng also joked.
"If Brother Li weren't here, with such a change in Brother Lu, I really would have hesitated to recognize you right away."
Hong Yi shook his head, his face filled with a smiling sense of awe as he spoke.
He was much more enthusiastic and generous than he was three years ago.
"Every time I meet him after a few months, I feel he has changed too much, let alone the long separation you've had."
Li Feiyu chimed in.
He would meet with Lu Changsheng every few months to catch up on old times.
He didn't feel much at the moment, but looking back, he always felt that Lu Changsheng had some indescribable transformation.
"Indeed, Brother Lu, what's going on with this change? It's massive. Brother Li, on the other hand, hasn't changed much."
Hong Yi nodded and continued, "This is not the place for idle chat. I've already reserved rooms and a private booth at Ruyi Tower. Brother Li, Brother Lu, you've been traveling all the way here; let's go upstairs to welcome you properly and wash away the dust of the journey."
"Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin haven't arrived yet, but they should be here within the next couple of days."
Through the conversation, Hong Yi led the two into Ruyi Tower.
Inside, it was resplendent with gold and jade, and the eaves and rafters were intricately carved. In the center stood a spiral staircase.
The three ascended the stairs and arrived at an elegant private booth on the ninth floor. Through the windows, they could directly enjoy the beautiful night view outside.
"Brother Li, Brother Lu, it's been three years since we've seen each other. How have you been in the Lu Family of Qingzhu Mountain?"
After taking their seats, Hong Yi enthusiastically served the two tea and asked.
"It's been all right,"
Li Feiyu responded succinctly.
He felt there wasn't much to talk about his own situation.
"I've been managing,"
Lu Changsheng replied concisely as well.
"If Brother Li says so, I naturally believe it, but with you, Brother Lu, I don't buy it."
"Over the past few years, I, Hong Yi, have frequently interacted with people, and I consider myself to have some discerning ability. Speaking of which, Brother Lu, that garment you're wearing, if I'm not mistaken, it's a vestment robe, right?"
"Moreover, if I had not previously met and gotten to know Brother Lu, I would have certainly mistaken you for a noble scion from a cultivation family with your appearance and temperament."
"So, Brother Lu, you're not being truthful, not treating me as a friend, huh?"
Hong Yi said with a smile, adopting a somewhat exaggerated posture of being upset.
Even though the three of them hadn't been particularly close before, under Hong Yi's words, they seemed to become much closer.
"I truly haven't hidden anything from Brother Hong."
"If anything, it's that I discovered my talent for talisman making in the Lu Family and have now become a talisman master, so my living conditions are quite decent."
Lu Changsheng shook his head and spoke thus.
This wasn't him trying to show off.
Rather, there was no need to hide such matters.
Coming to this meeting, he did have some objectives in mind.
He wanted to connect with Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin, the three disciples from the Immortal Sects, and maintain their friendship.
But to maintain a relationship, one naturally needs to have capital.
Otherwise, what reason would the son-in-law of a cultivation family have to socialize with disciples of the Immortal Sects?
Currently, being a First Grade Talisman Master was the capital he had on the table.
"Sss, who would have thought Brother Lu had such talent!"
"To think that in just three short years, you've become a talisman master. I'd like to offer a toast to Brother Lu with tea in place of wine!"
Startled by these words, Hong Yi gasped, his demeanor warming considerably as he raised his cup of tea.
"Brother Hong is too kind. I'm just an elementary talisman master after all, nowhere close to Brother Hong's free and easy manner."
Lu Changsheng also lifted his tea in response.
The lord of Ruyi County City was none other than the Marquis of Ruyi.
And that was Hong Yi's father.
Within secular society, his status was certainly out of the ordinary.
But seeing how warm and polite the latter was now, a stark contrast to three years ago, it seemed he had endured quite a few setbacks over the years.
"I'm merely an extraneous son, my status is hardly worth mentioning, certainly nothing compared to Brother Lu."
"Besides, Brother Lu has become an elementary talisman master in such a short time, which shows extraordinary talent, a true rare gem among men. It's very possible that you could become a Second Grade Talisman Master in the future."
Hong Yi shook his head in admiration, then spoke with a sincere expression on his face.
"You flatter me, Brother Hong."
Hong Yi's words indeed made Lu Changsheng feel quite comfortable.
He remembered how, three years ago, there was an arrogant air about Hong Yi.
Although he didn't belittle him and Han Lin with cold ridicule or do anything hostile,
his actions and mannerisms had a certain air of superiority, a disdain for them.
Thus, the stark change in his attitude was surprisingly pleasing to Lu Changsheng.
Of course, Lu Changsheng wasn't so proud as to leverage his status and engage in empty pleasantries with Hong Yi because of his changed attitude.
With Hong Yi driving the conversation, the three of them gradually became more familiar and engaged in more intimate discussions.
It was as though they were old friends reuniting after many years.
In this way, under Hong Yi's enthusiastic hospitality, Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu stayed at the Ruyi Tower for three days.
Three days later, Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin arrived in Ruyi.
Receiving the news, Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu came downstairs with Hong Yi to welcome them.
No sooner had they descended than they saw Xiao Xiyue and her companions.
"Brother Feiyu, Young Master Hou, are you Lu Changsheng?"
Xiao Xiyue, dressed in a long white dress as pristine as snow, with an extraordinarily beautiful oval face, greeted Lu Changsheng and the others with a bright smile as she approached.
Her frank disposition and easy grace shone through her smile, brightening up everyone around her.
Zhao Qingqing gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Her hair was simply done up, and she wore a long, verdant dress. While her appearance couldn't be called stunning, it was delicate and pretty.
Especially standing next to the exquisitely beautiful Xiao Xiyue, she seemed overshadowed, merely a green leaf serving as a foil.
But she had fair skin and a tall, outstanding figure, with her slender legs and waist particularly eye-catching.
"Brother Changsheng, Brother Feiyu, Young Master Hou,"
Han Lin also greeted everyone.
Compared to the two women, he appeared quite ordinary with no particular presence.
Dressed in a grayish-brown robe with somewhat dark skin and unremarkable features, he was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin.