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!"