In these years, it was apparent that she cultivated diligently.

Lu Qing, seeing this, did not disturb her and quietly left.

After a trip away, seeing old friends were well, Lu Qing felt relieved.

He no longer went out and stayed in the village.

Unfortunately, this trip lasted decades before he returned.

In the village, familiar faces were truly few.

The older generation had all passed away.

Those aunts and uncles who watched him grow up were no longer there.

Only some villagers detected with cultivation talent during the first batch remained alive.

However, due to talent issues, none had high cultivation levels, even though relying on the elixirs left by Lu Qing extended their life and health, they ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time, appearing rather decrepit.

One morning, someone came to seek Lu Qing.

The visitor was the current village chief of Jiuli Village, surnamed Zhou, named Zhou Mingde.

Zhou Mingde was also among the first batch of children detected with cultivation talent; back then he was only seven or eight years old, skinny and small, shyly looking at Lu Qing amidst the crowd.

Now, decades later, the childish boy had become an elderly man with gray temples.

"Zhou Mingde pays respects to Ancestor."

Upon entering, Zhou Mingde respectfully saluted, addressing Lu Qing as "Ancestor."

Lu Qing paused briefly at this title, then smiled wryly.

The term "Ancestor" always made him feel very old.

Indeed, by age, he was hundreds of years old, definitely an ancestor-level presence in mortal eyes.

But inwardly he felt eternally youthful.

"Rise, no need for formality," Lu Qing gestured lightly with his hand. "Zhou... Mingde, you’ve come to see me, is there something the matter?"

Zhou Mingde straightened up, looking at Lu Qing’s eternally youthful face with even greater reverence.

He remembered clearly that when he was a child, Lu Qing already looked the same.

All these years had passed, yet his appearance remained unchanged.

Little Yan Ancestor too, maintained the visage of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, as though time stood still for her.

Whereas he himself, that once scrawny child, had grown gray and wrinkled, with not many years left.

This is the difference between deities and mortals.

Zhou Mingde sighed inwardly, not daring to show it outwardly, respectfully saying, "Replying to Ancestor, tomorrow is the decennial day when newly born children in the village are tested for cultivation talent, Mingde boldly wishes to invite Ancestor to preside."

"Talent test?" Lu Qing was slightly startled.

He recalled that before leaving long ago, he had indeed set this rule.

Every ten years, the village tests newly born children for cultivation talent.

If any have good talent, they are taught the Cultivation Technique, guided by elders with high cultivation in the village.

The aim was to ensure Jiuli Village’s legacy continued and to give more children the chance to embark on cultivation paths.

He had forgotten the test coincided with his return.

"Very well," Lu Qing nodded, "I will go tomorrow."

Zhou Mingde was overjoyed upon hearing this, hurriedly saluting again, "Thank you, Ancestor! Thank you, Ancestor!"

Lu Qing gestured, indicating there was no need for formality.

Zhou Mingde exchanged a few more courtesies before respectfully leaving.

Early the next day, Lu Qing prepared to head to the ancestral hall.

Little Yan and Little Li, upon hearing about this, also followed with interest.

"Brother, I want to see too," Little Yan said with a smile, "It’s been so long since I’ve seen such young children."

Little Li said nothing, merely hopping onto Lu Qing’s shoulder.

Lu Qing smiled and did not refuse, bringing them along as he headed out.

The ancestral hall, located in the village center, was an ancient building, with blue bricks and dark tiles, flying eaves and carved beams, conveying solemnity.

A large crowd had already gathered at the ancestral hall entrance.

Men, women, elders, and children, densely packed, numbering at least close to a thousand.

They were all villagers from Jiuli Village, of various ages and genders, eagerly anticipating Lu Qing’s arrival.

As Lu Qing appeared at the hall entrance with Little Yan and Little Li, a commotion arose within the crowd.

"He’s here, Ancestor is here!"

"It’s really Ancestor! I saw him once when I was little, he looked exactly the same then and now!"

"Next to Ancestor must be Little Yan Ancestor, right? I heard she too is among the immortals, having lived for hundreds of years!"

"And that little beast, that’s Ancestor’s Spiritual Pet, isn’t it? So majestic!"

The crowd buzzed with speculation, eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

Lu Qing paid no mind to these gazes, leading Little Yan and Little Li straight into the ancestral hall.

Inside the hall was a spacious courtyard.

In the center stood a massive Jade Tablet.

The Jade Tablet was entirely white, about one zhang tall and three chi wide, its surface smooth as a mirror, with spirit light faintly flowing.

It was the Jade Tablet Lu Qing personally crafted back then, for testing cultivation talent.

Seeing this Jade Tablet, Lu Qing felt somewhat dazed.

When he made the Jade Tablet, he was a young man just beginning his cultivation journey.

Grandpa Zhang was still there, Brother Dashishi was still there, the village elders were still there.

They gathered around the Jade Tablet, curiously surveying it, chattering away.

Grandpa Zhang stood smiling beside him, watching him arrange the Array, eyes filled with satisfaction.

Brother Dashishi held his hand excitedly, eagerly asking this and that, wanting everyone in the village to be tested immediately.

Those scenes seemed like yesterday.

Yet now, the Jade Tablet remained, but those familiar figures were long gone.

Grandpa Zhang had passed, Brother Dashishi had passed, the village elders had all passed.

Only the Jade Tablet remained, quietly standing in the courtyard, witnessing the passage of time and generations of growth.

Things change.

A faint sentiment rose within Lu Qing.

But he, as a Unity Realm Stage cultivator, had a heart honed to unyielding strength.

This sentiment was momentary, quickly suppressed.

"Let’s begin," Lu Qing withdrew his thoughts and said blandly.

Zhou Mingde promptly nodded, turning to the children standing in the courtyard corner, loudly saying, "Come forth, line up, one by one."

Those children, hearing this, nervously stepped forward.

Altogether, there were over thirty children, the oldest eight or nine, the youngest just two or three.

They were dressed in new clothes, hair neatly groomed, evidently meticulously presented by their families.

But facing Lu Qing, the legendary "Ancestor," and surrounded by so many adults, the children were shy and silent, heads down.

Some of the youngest even hid behind older children, peeking curiously at Lu Qing.

Lu Qing watched the children, a faint smile forming on his lips.

He recalled his first time testing Zhou Mingde and the others, likely just as timid.

"Who will go first?" Lu Qing asked.

The children looked at each other, not daring to step forward.

As Zhou Mingde was about to exhort them, suddenly, a bold seven or eight-year-old boy emerged from the crowd.

The boy, with a tigerish face, bushy brows, and large eyes, though nervous, mustered courage and approached Lu Qing, mimicking adults with a respectful salute.

"Ancestor, I’ll go first!"

The boy’s voice, though immature, was firm.

Lu Qing’s eyes showed a hint of approval.

This child had courage.

"What’s your name?" Lu Qing asked.

"Answering Ancestor, I’m Zhou Hu!" the boy replied loudly.

Lu Qing nodded, then pointed to the Jade Tablet, "Place your hand upon it, close your eyes, and think of nothing."

Zhou Hu acknowledged, approached the Jade Tablet, took a deep breath, and pressed his hand against it.

Instantly, the Jade Tablet shone.

A gentle glow emerged from the Jade Tablet, enveloping Zhou Hu entirely.

The light was initially white, then slowly turned red, finally settling into a pale gold hue.

"Golden talent?"

Lu Qing, witnessing this, felt a bit surprised.