NOVEL ONLINE FREE CHAPTER 251
Chapter 251: The Elder's Arrival
On the 235th day of the Black Mist Calendar, at noon, as Lu Ming was heading for lunch, Heluo approached him with a respectful bow.
"Mr. Lu," she greeted him politely.
Lu Ming swallowed a mouthful of meat. "Hello, what's the matter?"
Heluo smiled. "Mr. Lu, an Elder from the Eternal Clan's Sky Monitoring Bureau arrived in Archean City this morning. He's expressed a desire to meet you. Are you available?"
Lu Ming considered briefly. "Sure."
On their way to the living room, Heluo filled him in. Two days ago, reinforcements from the Eternal Clan had arrived, led by her grandfather, He Qing, a quasi-Divine Realm expert from the Sky Monitoring Bureau.
"He's not here for the Dream Virus," Heluo clarified. "His purpose is to address the matter of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree." She paused, a hint of awe in her voice. "When Grandpa takes action, he never fails. He once single-handedly quelled a rebellion in the outer territories, subduing a horde of mutated beasts in a matter of hours."
Indeed, in just one day, He Qing had completely eradicated the Dream Virus plaguing Archean City.
"There's also the matter of your generation of Tribulation Transcenders..." Heluo's eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly as she looked at Lu Ming. She had only learned a couple of days ago that the man before her was a contemporary tribulation transcender! He had become a powerful superhuman in less than two years!
Such strength and talent had even earned praise from the quasi-Divine Realm expert, Heluo’s grandfather, He Qing.
Lu Ming modestly shook his head. "I was just lucky."
As they chatted, they arrived at the meeting room.
The room buzzed with quiet conversation as Lu Ming entered, spotting Roda, Huo Sheng, Zhuang Zun, and others. At the head of the table sat a slightly disheveled old man. His unkempt silver hair framed a face etched with wisdom and experience. He wore a loose, ill-fitting robe stained with oil and grime, and his feet were clad in open-toed sandals.
The old man perched cross-legged on the high-backed chair, absently pinching his ankle while sipping the hot tea offered by Roda. The clinking of the porcelain cup against the saucer punctuated the hushed atmosphere.
When he saw Lu Ming walk into the room, the old man's eyes lit up with a spark of curiosity. He rose from the armchair and approached Lu Ming, his gaze sweeping over the young man, occasionally clicking his tongue in appraisal.
Lu Ming felt a slight unease under the old man's scrutiny. Heluo, sensing his discomfort, whispered, "My grandfather means no harm, he's just..."
"A little curious," He Qing interjected with a hearty laugh, walking up to Lu Ming and clapping a hand on his shoulder. A gentle force pulsed through Lu Ming's body, a concealed surge of Origin Power probing his defenses.
This is a test from a quasi-Divine Realm expert! Lu Ming realized, his heart tightening.
Testing was inevitable. His rapid growth defied all logic, and now, facing He Qing's inquisitive gaze, Lu Ming wouldn't hide. The strong had no need to conceal their power from the weak.
He Qing retracted his hand, his keen eyes searching Lu Ming's face for any reaction, but finding none. A booming laugh erupted from the old man, breaking the tension. "Good! You're indeed an excellent seedling!" he declared. "Compared to the super geniuses in our Eternal Clan, you're not inferior at all!"
As a prominent clan of the current era, the Eternal Clan did indeed have super geniuses who had broken through from the Mortal Realm to the Origin Realm in less than two years. But such feats were rare, only possible with unlimited resources. Lu Ming, on the other hand, had risen from obscurity and was already considered exceptional.
"However," Old Man He Qing continued, his voice taking on a cautionary tone, "the appearance of the Tribulation Transcenders marks an era where monstrous talents are produced. While Little Brother Lu is impressive, don't become complacent."
He Qing patted Lu Ming's shoulder again, this time with a lingering touch. A subtle pulse of Origin Power throbbed beneath his palm, probing deeper into Lu Ming's meridians. Another test, Lu Ming realized, his muscles tensing involuntarily. The energy felt different this time, more invasive, seeking out any hidden secrets. But Lu Ming remained impassive, his expression carefully controlled.
Lu Ming remained unfazed, an inscrutable mask hiding his thoughts. He Qing, unable to glean any further insight, settled back into the high-backed armchair with a sigh. "Little Brother Lu," he said, a warm smile softening his weathered features, "don't blame me for being meddling. It's just that we have to be careful in these turbulent times."
Lu Ming nodded, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Careful indeed," he thought, "but for reasons you might not suspect."
Outwardly, he maintained his composure. He couldn't deny a certain fondness for the old man. Despite his penchant for impromptu tests, He Qing was surprisingly easy-going, devoid of the arrogance Lu Ming had come to expect from those in power. Moreover, he was a captivating storyteller, his words laced with humor and wisdom.
"It's said that every generation of Tribulation Transcenders is chosen by the Supreme Gods," He Qing mused, swirling the fragrant jasmine tea in his cup. Its delicate aroma filled the room, mingling with the anticipation hanging in the air. "And inevitably, there will be great talents among them. It seems that Brother Lu Ming is probably the 'giant whale' among this generation of tribulation transcenders."
Lu Ming raised an eyebrow. "Giant whale?"
He Qing chuckled. "Hmm, it's a more colloquial expression. You can also call it a leader or a big brother who takes the lead. Anyway, it means something like that." He waved his hand dismissively. "But that's a minor detail. I've also heard about you Southerners from my granddaughter. Our Eternal Clan tolerates all races. If you want to seek refuge, you've come to the right people."
He Qing leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a generous offer. "Coincidentally, our Eternal Clan has vast territory, and I have control over a province located near the Hundred Thousand Mountains."
"Why don't we allocate a piece of land in Qinghe Province for your Nanxiang people?"
As he spoke, the old man, He Qing, glanced at Heluo, and he saw her nodding with a satisfied smile, clearly approving of her grandfather’s arrangement.
He Qing also smiled dotingly. "Let’s go with that, then."
It was unclear whether it was due to Lu Ming’s influence or if Huo Sheng and Meng Jie had whispered something to Heluo, but she had clearly exerted significant effort in this matter.
Now that things were mostly resolved, Lu Ming could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He thanked He Qing sincerely, and He Qing chuckled, "By the way, I have a few grandchildren at home who are not doing well. When you go to Qinghe Province, you can give them some guidance and set an example for them. It will save those little rascals from loafing around and not doing anything productive."
Lu Ming paused, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "To be honest," he began, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "I’m not planning to go to Qinghe Province."
Upon hearing this, Old Man He Qing was slightly taken aback.
After a brief pause, He Qing nodded in understanding. "I see. As a giant, you wouldn't want to be confined to a corner."
"However, Little Brother Lu," he continued, his tone turning serious, "I believe you'll have to move this time, even if you're reluctant..."
Lu Ming frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
He Qing raised a hand, his smile reassuring. "I'm not threatening you. It's just that Archean City and the Hundred Thousand Mountains are about to face a crisis..."
End of Chapter 251